"...and I have to tell you that this country is now at war with Germany..."
Seventy years after Neville Chamberlain broadcast those famous words, launching this country into six years of war, it is fascinating to look back at the role the College played in the preparations for civilian safety prior to September 1939.
Within the College archives is a series of correspondence between the then President, Sir William Fletcher Shaw, and the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, Sir Arthur MacNalty. From as early as October 1938, Sir William fought bitterly for trained obstetricians to have a responsible and authoritative hold on maternity services offered to evacuated women, only to admit in October 1939 that the extent of College influence on ministerial policy was ‘disappointing’. The College issued a formal report in January 1939, using information collated from regional maternity centres and hospitals, offering the College’s expertise and suggesting that registers of skilled obstetricians and midwives be drawn up and active co-operation between local medical officers and skilled consultants become the basis of emergency maternity services.
Describing his dealings with the Ministry of Health as being akin to ‘flogging a dead horse’, Sir William was eventually forced to beg the Ministry to appoint an obstetric expert in all areas to which pregnant women were to be evacuated ‘to take clinical charge’ (August 1939). Obstetric advisors were eventually appointed to the regions, but the Ministry’s insistence on their honorary position meant that their effectiveness was minimal. Sir William withdrew into uneasy silence, convinced that the College could do more to exert its influence in a quiet way rather than engage in battle with ministerial machinery.
These details can be found within the personal papers of Sir William Fletcher Shaw (Archive Reference S34), together with College papers covering wartime activities of staff and Members and Fellows. For further details on the collection see here or contact the RCOG archives.
By Penny Bonning
Archivist & Records Manager
