9781422277577

Fleming was a brilliant student, earning most of the awards in his class. When he took his final University of London examinations, he got honours in five subjects and was awarded the university gold medal. Still intending to be a surgeon, he also took the fellowship examination for the Royal College of Surgeons. Fleming’s outstanding success in examinations might give the impression that he worked very hard and studied all of the time, but this was not the case. He had a very good memory and he found the work interesting and easy. He managed to find plenty of time for his sports—shooting and swimming. For a second time, athletics would play a vital role in determining the course that Fleming’s career would take. A young doctor in the bacteriology department named John Freeman was on the lookout for people who could strengthen the St. Mary’s shooting team. He knew that Fleming was a good shot and badly wanted him to stay at the hospital. Unfortunately, there was only one surgical vacancy at St. Mary’s, and despite his school accomplishments, Fleming was not sure to get the spot. After a good deal of persuasion, Freeman managed to win Fleming over to the idea that he should work in the bacteriology department. All that Freeman now had to do was to convince his “chief,” Sir Almroth Wright, to make the invitation. This was not difficult, as it turned out. Freeman did not try to hide his reasons for wanting Fleming. He pointed out quite bluntly that Fleming was good with his hands, worked well, and had a scientific mind—but most important of all, he was a good shot and would be just the man for his precious shooting team. Wright was amused, and so Fleming was welcomed aboard.

Opposite page: Wounded soldiers are removed from the battlefield in this illustration made during the Boer War. Fleming joined a regiment in London that was part of the Territorial Army, a reserve force that would remain to defend England, allowing regiments of the regular army to be sent to South Africa.

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