Title: War Surgery and Medicine

Author: Stout, T. Duncan M.

Publication details: Historical Publications Branch, 1954, Wellington

Part of: The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945

This text is the subject of: ‘Something of Them Is Here Recorded’: Official History in New Zealand

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Graduated Training and Physical Fitness

During the war constant reference was made to the importance of adequate, and especially graduated, training of the soldier in marching. Complaints were made from the 2 NZEF that men were sent overseas without adequate military training and especially without having done any marching. In New Zealand a special remedial training camp was established at Rotorua, where graduated physical training was given to men with weak feet to render them fit for service. The type of man chosen was mainly the underdeveloped and undernourished man who had led a sedentary life and had not taken part in any physical sport. The medical authorities were alive to the importance of the physiological aspect of the problem.

In the 2 NZEF it was quickly realised that foot disability was largely a question of fatigue, and that graduated training would enable many men with abnormal feet to become fully efficient. Radical surgical procedures were discountenanced. Special remedial training groups were formed at the base camp where graduated training was carried out. The treatment by physiotherapy in the hospital was discouraged as likely to make the soldier foot-conscious.