What if this house could speak? It would tell tales of innovation and healing. This is the house where Sir Harold Gillies lived. The blue plaque marks the home of a pioneer. It says: “Sir Harold Gillies 1882-1960 Pioneer Plastic Surgeon lived here”.
Sir Harold Gillies revolutionized plastic surgery. He was born in New Zealand in 1882. Gillies studied medicine at Cambridge. He later worked as an ENT specialist. World War I changed his path forever.
The war brought unprecedented facial injuries. Gillies joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. He saw the limitations of existing treatments. Eager to improve outcomes, he visited Hippolyte Morestin. Morestin was a renowned oral surgeon in Paris. Gillies watched Morestin perform groundbreaking surgery. He covered a patient’s tumor removal with skin from the jaw. This inspired Gillies to champion facial reconstruction.
Back in England, Gillies persuaded the army to establish a facial injury ward. It was located at Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot. The ward quickly became overwhelmed with patients. A new hospital was needed.
Queen’s Hospital opened in Sidcup in 1917. It had over 1,000 beds. Gillies and his colleagues developed innovative techniques there. They performed over 11,000 operations on over 5,000 men. Queen Mary’s Hospital now stands on the site of Frognal House.
Gillies didn’t stop there. Between the wars, he built a private practice. He lectured and taught advanced techniques worldwide. In 1930, he invited his cousin Archibald McIndoe to join him. McIndoe also became a pre-eminent plastic surgeon.
During World War II, Gillies consulted for the Ministry of Health. He also consulted for the RAF and the Admiralty. He organized plastic surgery units across Britain. After the war, Gillies trained doctors from Commonwealth nations.
Gillies continued to break barriers. In 1946, he performed one of the first female-to-male gender-affirming surgeries. In 1951, he and his team conducted one of the first male-to-female surgeries. He used a flap technique that became the standard.
He once said about his work: “If it gives real happiness, that is the most that any surgeon or medicine can give.”
Sir Harold Gillies died in 1960. He left behind a legacy of innovation. He transformed the field of plastic surgery. His home at 71 Frognal is marked with this blue plaque. It serves as a reminder of his remarkable contributions.
So, next time you pass by, remember Sir Harold Gillies. He was a pioneer who changed lives. He gave hope to those who needed it most. His work continues to inspire surgeons today.