A SERIES of free talks are to be held in Worcester on Armistice Day to explore the impact the First World War had on medicine across the county.

They will take place at The Hive history centre from 1pm until 3.30pm on Saturday, November 11, the project being a collaboration between the George Marshall Medical Museum, the former Worcester Royal Infirmary and the Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme.

Three experts in their fields, doctors Emily Mayhew, Rebecca Wynter and Alice Brumby, will talk about three specific medical areas that impacted Worcestershire.

“Stretcher bearer, stretcher bearer” was a common cry on the battlefields and was highlighted in Dr Mayhew’s book Wounded, the story of a journey from injury on the battlefield to recovery in Britain.

It is the story of the soldiers themselves, from the aid post in the trenches to the casualty clearing station in the rear, from the base hospital to the ambulance train returning them to England. But it is also the story of those who cared for them - stretcher bearers and medical officers, surgeons and chaplains, nurses and ambulance drivers.

Dr Wynter will investigate the first female resident medical officer at Worcester Infirmary, Dr Martha Stewart. She was appointed in 1915 and had to carry out the orders of senior staff, manage the medical work, and do morning ward rounds. She was also on-call 24 hours a day at a hospital where patient numbers had increased to more than 100, as 50 beds had been offered for the use of the War Office.

Dr Brumby will present research on how the war impacted on medical developments in Worcestershire and beyond. She will explain the effect this industrial war had on the soldiers, creating terrible injuries and wounds and how medical men both at the front and at home had to find new ways of dealing with these new problems on a larger scale than ever before, as well as the long term implications for disabled soldiers after the war.

Dr Adrian Gregson, Worcestershire World War One Hundred project manager, said: “Worcestershire played an important role in medical developments during World War One both in terms of those working in medicine but also those who benefitted from these new techniques.

“I look forward to hearing more from our expert speakers on Armistice Day. Visitors on the day can also join us as The Hive falls silent at 11am for their own remembrance as well as take the opportunity to visit our World War One Bell Tent to find out more about how the Great War affected Worcestershire.”

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund the Worcestershire World War One Hundred team is also keen to hear from people across the county who are willing to share their ancestors’ experiences and memorabilia from WW1 for inclusion in a county wide exhibition, the People’s Collection, planned for 2018. Visit the website to find out more on how to submit your stories.

The Hive will fall silent at 11am to remember the fallen. The silence will be marked by poppies falling inside The Hive from floor three on to the World War One Hundred Bell Tent which will be pitched inside the building.

Discover History will take up residence inside The Bell Tent throughout Armistice Day to bring the First World War to life and talk to visitors about the impact it had across Worcestershire.

Tickets are free for the talks but should be booked in advance via the website.