A Woman Made It Her Goal To Restore The Faces of Severely Injured WWI Veterans And It Is The Coolest Thing

What a selfless act, that gave these soldiers a hope they had long lost.

Angie

• Published in Interesting
• August 1, 2018

Some people shine a beautiful, bright light in this world. 

World War I was full of tragic losses and bright spots in humanity. The weapons used then were different, but they still caused horrific injuries. Brave soldiers came back from war disfigured, but there weren't many options back then to help them live a seemingly normal life. Opinions from others were different back then too, so many of the returning men were concerned about public perception about their injuries. 

Thankfully there are wonderful people in this world. Francis Derwent Wood, whose occupation was a sculptor, opened the "Tin Noses Shop" that created face masks for WWI soldiers who returned from war disfigured. An American woman, Anna Coleman Watts Ladd, who was also a sculptor, moved to France around that time in 1917 with her husband. She was inspired by Wood's work and opened her own business, "Studio for Portrait-Masks". 

Anna was a wonderful person.

The work she did for these soldiers was priceless

It was psychologically damaging for men in this time period to be injured and have to constantly worry about what other people think of their appearance

Pictured here with one of her clients

They were sometimes referred to mutiles. Some were so badly wounded that you could barely recognize them.

She created masks that fit the contours of their faces so it would look as natural as possible

They were sometimes called "the most tragic of all war's victims" due to the mindset of society at the time

You can barely tell!

An awesome transformation

She not only helped them, she changed their lives

Wow!

Her molds

In 1932 the French Government bestowed upon her the honor of being made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour

More picture of her work

People loved the Anna's story.

That she gave freely and willingly!

Agreed!

Exactly!

Right! 1917!

Angie