The Lifesavers

The Trailblazers of the Second World War Who Took Blood into Battle

De: Roderick Bailey

Brought to you by Penguin.

A remarkable true story about saving life in wartime, not taking it

THE LIFESAVERS were a small number of men and women who during WW2 were at the forefront of global progress in saving lives through collecting, preserving and courageously delivering blood -- trailblazers whose work was then adopted around the world. This tiny and short-lived service (1939-45) created ground-breaking advances to improve survival rates with an impact comparable to the discovery of penicillin.

In this compelling story from bestselling historian Roderick Bailey, we meet the nurses who built and tapped the bank of volunteer donors (1.5m registered by the end of the war); the unsung technicians responsible for storing, preserving and moving the blood; and the specialist medical officers who risked their lives in traversing battlefields across the globe to give transfusions.

From Britain to the Balkans, Sicily to Japan, this trailblazing work was adopted around the world, and its lessons are still being taught today as NATO turns to methods from WW1 and WW2 in preparing for future conflicts.

‘Roderick Bailey is a fluent writer, with a fine eye for personalities' TLS

© Roderick Bailey 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Reseñas de la Crítica

'The dazzling story of the heroic, extraordinary efforts by small groups of doctors to overcome every impediment to achieve a remarkable aim: to save lives by introducing blood transfusions on the battlefield . . . This account by a master historian is fresh and vital, history at its best.' (Rob Lyman, author of Victory to Defeat)

'A story destined to be told. A fascinating history of blood for the front line. Humbling, awe inspiring and life affirming.' (Sue Black, author of All That Remains)