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.
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.
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Convoy of ambulances leaving a London station
transporting wounded WW1 soldiers to the military hospitals. Screen shots from
film in a TV history programme. |
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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.
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.
If you have an old photo which would illustrate this page, I would very much appreciate a copy. Pat Cryer
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.
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 the hospital chaplain, courtesy of Glenn Newson.
MORE ON WORLD WAR ONE:
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wounded soldiers: Edmonton Military Hospital
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air raids
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munitions factory explosions
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food rationing
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miscellaneous recollections
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street peace party
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