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Christ’s College, Cambridge: Bespoke Innovation for Debilitated Soldiers

Developing items to help rehabilitate servicemen who had lost a hand or arm

During World War over 41,000 servicemen lost one or more limbs.

Cambridge professor Arthur Everett Shipley, Master of Christ’s College from 1910-1927, had read zoology. His work on parasitic worms resulted in a 1915 publication β€œThe minor horrors of war” highlighting the tiny creatures that lurked in the trenches and how to treat them.

After observing the wounded at the 1st Eastern general hospital and the men he helped to convalesce at his college quarters he set about to invent some aids to help those who had lost limbs.

For those who had lost hands, a page turner for books propped on pillows and for the one armed a deep sided plate and egg cup holder to allow independent feeding.

Shipley continued to write throughout his career and supported the men on the front line by sponsoring a YMCA Christ’s College hut at Flanders; sending books and gramophone records to boost morale.

Location: Christ’s College, St Andrew’s Street, Cambridge CB2 3BU
Image: An egg stand invented by Professor Shipley. Photograph courtesy of Science Museum London.

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4 minutes

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