Chris Bulstrode: volunteered for the army as a trauma surgeon in his 50s

Chris Bulstrode’s wish to join the army elicited loud laughter in the recruiting office. He was 56, 20 years over the maximum standard enlistment age, but he was a Boys’ Own kind of man and the army was desperately short of doctors. He was also—surprisingly—a highly controversial, left leaning, non-conformist pacifist.

He had exemplary credentials as professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Oxford’s Green Templeton College, and consultant at John Radcliffe Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. Having taken up his chair in 1992, he left in 2008 to become the oldest officer trainee at Sandhurst royal military academy. He said, “I found myself there with all these 20 year olds, learning to polish boots and dismantle a rifle.”

It was not an easy time. Bulstrode was fit and strong for a man of his age, but he lost two stones in six weeks. He was such a bad marcher that he was taken out at dawn by a sergeant major for additional practice before the passing out ceremony.