author
Arthur Anderson Martin
1876–1916
A New Zealand surgeon who turned front-line experience into vivid wartime writing, he brought the realities of military medicine to life with unusual clarity. His work blends memoir, observation, and the hard lessons of service in war.
1 Audiobook
A surgeon in khaki
by Arthur Anderson Martin
About the author
Born in Milton, Otago, on March 26, 1876, he trained in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, earning his medical degrees before building a career as a surgeon. He also served as a civilian surgeon during the South African War, an experience that shaped both his medical work and his writing.
After returning to New Zealand, he worked at Palmerston North Hospital and became known for his skill as a surgeon, including work in cancer treatment. During World War I he served with the British Expeditionary Force and the Royal Army Medical Corps, and his book A Surgeon in Khaki grew out of his direct experience caring for wounded soldiers near the front.
His life was cut short during the Battle of the Somme: he was wounded on September 17, 1916, and died the same day in France. That gives his writing a special force today—it is not only a record of wartime medicine, but also the voice of someone who lived the dangers he described.