The life of a Monaghan doctor who fought in World War 2 is being highlighted in a newly published book.
The book, Irish Doctors in the Second World War, aims to tell the stories of Irish doctors who served during the war between 1939 and 1945. One of these doctors, Alexander Draffin, came from Ballybay. He qualified from Belfast in 1939 and volunteered for the R.A.N.C, becoming the medical officer of the 2nd battalion of the Royal Norfolk. He travelled to France with the battalion in 1939, and was captured by the Germans during the invasion of France in May 1940. The Ballybay native remained a prisoner of war until 1944, and was even transferred to Colditz castle. He ultimately survived the war, becoming an ear, nose, and throat doctor, pioneering the Draffin bipod, a device to keep the mouth open during surgery.
Speaking to the Joe Finnegan show, one of the authors of the book, Joe Duignan, says although Alexander Draffin was held prisoner for most of the war, he kept escaping!
“He was captured when the Germans invaded France in May 1940 and remained in prison for most of the war however he was a troublesome prisoner because he kept escaping! He was eventually transferred to Colditz Castle and he remained there until September 1944”.
