Based on childhood recollections
of a working class area in north London.
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.
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.
The arrival of the wounded soldiers
If you have an old photo which would illustrate
this page, I would very much appreciate a copy.
Pat
Cryer
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
many of the solders were extremely badly wounded. When we children saw them
coming along Silver Street, we would run along beside them and cheer.
The wounded soldiers' hospital uniforms
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 lightweight flannel material, and they wore bright red ties.
The wards and the nurses
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. Click for a larger version.
The two photographs show the uniforms of the various grades of nurse, as
well as the suits worn by the patients who were well enough get dressed. The
first photograph is set in a ward and the second at a wedding in a nearby house.
Wounded soldiers and nurses of Edmonton Military Hospital
as guests at a wedding party in a nearby house, 1918. Photo courtesy of
Bruce Robinson, whose grandfather, Edmond McKee, is in the back row, marked
with a cross.
Support for the wounded soldiers
If you have an old photo which would illustrate
this page, I would very much appreciate a copy.
Pat
Cryer, webmaster
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. 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.
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.
Memorabilia
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.
This website Join me in the 1900s is a contribution to the social history of everyday life in early to mid 20th century Britain, seen through personal recollections and illustrations, with the emphasis on what it was like to live in those times. It is © Pat Cryer.
