A Doctor at War

Matthew Hall brings to life the fascinating story of Colonel Martin Herford, the most decorated doctor of World War II, covering his service in the Spanish Civil War until the end of World War II.

Even though the doctors, nurses and stretcher-bearers of the military are every bit as courageous as the front line soldiers, they are very seldom written about. The image of a team of medics tucked away behind the front lines is far from accurate as very often the wounded were treated in the midst of battle with bullets flying and shells exploding all around.

A Doctor at War charts the fascinating account of one man's wartime experiences. Born in Geneva in 1909, Colonel Martin Herford served in the Spanish Civil War, then, on the outbreak of World War II, he saw service in Finland and across Europe as the Allies drove the Germans back to their homeland. Herford was even present at the liberation of Belsen, the notorious concentration camp.

A testament to Churchill's famous maxim 'when you're going through hell, keep going', Herford is an inspiration, and this book is a moving account of his heroism, utilising contemporary diaries, letters, notes and official dispatches.