BOOK REVIEW
Sad Joys on Deployment
by Greg Bruce
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd; Canary Wharf, London; 2020;174pp; ISBN 978158905909;RRP $10.50
Sad Joys on Deployment is an account of an orthopaedic surgeon deployed into war zones, peacekeeping operations and natural disasters as part of an Australian military response. Recruited into the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve Dr Greg Bruce was absent from his civil medical practice in Sydney during operational deployments ranging from Rwanda, to Vanimo in Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Bougainville, Iraq and Afghanistan.
While an early chapter provides a chronological overview of his 10 deployments, the book is not a chronological description of his experiences. Instead, it contains vignettes of his experiences with each chapter describing different aspects of deployed life and operational experiences. These range from military hardware and weapons and their effect on the human body, a surgeon’s comfort zone in a combat environment, the workplace, local citizens, hostile forces, UN and NGOs.
He has a very easy writing style and a down to earth approach blended with a delightfully ironic sense of humour. He addresses a wide variety of issues without confusing the reader. Descriptions of the environment and circumstances that he found himself in are detailed and interesting, easily absorbing the reader’s attention. The vignette style enables the book to be put down and easily taken up again. However, I didn’t have a ready inclination to put it down. It will have an instant appeal to those who have experienced operational deployments, reminding them of the excitement, pleasure, frustration and sense of achievement that deployments bring. It will also provide an informed, entertaining insight for those not in the military or who have not been on an operational deployment.
Dr Bruce does not shrink from graphic comment on the nature of wounds and injuries caused by the impact of high velocity rounds, grenades and improvised explosive devices. He describes situations that a deployed orthopaedic surgeon routinely deals with.
Similarly, descriptions of the strengths and weaknesses of a deployed medical organisation are frank and balanced, as are his opinions of local populations, and Allied and hostile forces. Livings conditions varied significantly on each deployment and are recounted in detail that takes the reader into tropical, dusty, wet, arid, comfortable and spartan living spaces shared on deployment. There is an excellent description of the planning, organisation, training and specialist logistics needed to deploy a military hospital into the field and the wide spectrum of demands placed on it. He also makes an interesting comparison between the efficiency of a deployed military hospital and a civilian organisation at home.
A military surgeon is faced with dilemmas not encountered by his civilian counterpart. Medical training instils an obligation for a doctor to do his utmost for his patient. In a combat zone, this presents difficult challenges. For example, when swamped with mass casualties hard decisions can result in the most serious injuries being neglected so that a larger number of casualties can be given a chance of survival - a most vexing situation for a civilian surgeon deployed to a war zone.
While Dr Bruce highlights the strengths of a military medical organisation on deployment, he does not ignore the weaknesses. He also expresses disappointment concerning the United Nations, noting that an organisation responsible for the welfare of the world should be so uncaring and ineffectual. He adds that while organisations such as the International Red Cross and the Salvation Army provide excellent care in the field, there are many Non-Government Organisations that only serve to make the UN look good. His comments are frank and unflinching.
The challenges when returning from deployment to the “mundane” of civilian life are interesting and highlight some of the many sacrifices made by medical personnel when serving as Reservists. Issues not faced by permanent Defence personnel.
Dr Bruce was born and educated in Adelaide, South Australia. He gained his medical degree in Adelaide University in 1970, moved to New Zealand immediately after graduation for his intern years and trained as an orthopaedic surgeon. Two years in London followed. He returned to an academic position in Sydney and then into private practice. He was recruited into the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve as an orthopaedic surgeon in 1988 receiving honours and awards during his service, including Member of the Order of Australia.
Sad Joys on Deployment contrasts the comforts of civilian surgery and the challenges of military surgery on deployment and provides a fascinating account of a surgeon’s perspective on military conflicts. The exciting challenges and professional achievement, the joys, and the dreadful nature of war and natural disaster-related injuries, the sad, will appeal to a wide range of readers, military and non-military, medical and non-medical, alike.
787 words Bob Treloar
