World War One: wounded soldiers and the Edmonton Military Hospital

North Middlesex Hospital, during World War One, a Military Hospital.

North Middlesex Hospital which was a Military Hospital, during World War One.

During the early stages of the 1914-18 war, the hospital in Silver Street (now the North Middlesex Hospital) became the Edmonton Military Hospital for wounded solders. It was a great centre of interest to local people with its two large red crosses on the front door.

We children were always excited when a convoy of wounded soldiers was expected. They had been brought back to England by ship, then by train to a London Station where ambulances met the convoys. My father was one of the drivers. The ambulances moved only at a slow walking pace to try to prevent unnecessary jarring, as a lot of the solders were extremely badly wounded. When we children saw them coming along Silver Street, we would run along beside them and cheer.

Design of the uniforms of the recovering wounded soldiers from Edmonton Military Hospital in World War One

Wounded soldiers at Edmonton Military Hospital, showing the suits they wore, described by my mother as saxe blue of what looked like a type of flannel material, with bright red ties.. Photo courtesy of Glenn Newson whose grandfather John Martin, known as Jack) is on the right.

When the wounded soldiers were well enough to go out, they were very noticeable in the street as they were dressed in saxe blue suits made of what looked like a type of flannel material, and they wore bright red ties.

Naturally everyone was very kind to the wounded soldiers. America sent tins of tobacco which were very attractive. They were about three inches long and curved to fit comfortably into a breast pocket. I remember that the name on the tin was Tuxedo and there was a picture of a man in a dinner jacket. The Americans also sent grapefruit, and my father had some, presumably a perk of the job. We had never seen them before and tried to eat them like oranges. So we didn’t like them at all because they were so bitter.

Ward 1 of Edmonton Military Hospital in World War One - photo courtesy of Jeannette Shepherd whose grandfather George Arthur Harvey is second from the right.

Suits worn by the wounded soldiers of World War One in Edmonton Military Hosptial: saxe blue with bright red ties

Detail from the above photo - again reaffirming the suits (which were saxe blue) and ties (which were red).

My father's uncle, E. G. Cole, was very much involved in setting up the hospital for military use, for which he was awarded an MBE.

A soldier leaving hospital - probably the Edmonon Military Hospital after being gassed in WW1

This photo which is courtesy of Sheri Friedman is of her great grandfather, Richard Charles West at his release from a north London hospital after being gassed during WW1. Sheri suspects that the hospital was the Edmonton Military Hospital because of its similarity to the first photo with the profusion of ivy on the walls and the shape of the windows.

When the war was over, the hospital had a Peace Tea, and, as my father was on the staff, my mother and I were invited too. There was food galore and it was the first time I had trifle with sherry in it.

If you have an old photo which would illustrate this page, I would very much appreciate a copy. Pat Cryer

Visiting card of the chaplain of Edmonton Military Hospital, C.D. Drury, dated 25 August 1915

Visiting card of the hospital chaplain, C.D. Drury, dated 25 August 1915, courtesy of Glenn Newson. His grandfather's name "Martin, J" is handwritten in the 'To' space.

Pocket prayer book, probably given out to wounded soldiers by chaplain of Edmonton Military Hospital in World War One

Pocket prayer book, probably given out to wounded soldiers by the hospital chaplain, courtesy of Glenn Newson.

World War One: wounded soldiers and the Edmonton Military Hospital

This website Join me in the 1900s is also known as Join me in the 1900's and is © Pat Cryer.