Third Western General Hospital, Neath 1919

[pippylong]

The old Neath Hospital was originally a place for injured soldiers during WWI, for their recuperation, so maybe that was why he was a long way from home.

[Holker]

Thanks pippylong, I guess we'll never be absolutely sure why he was there and not in a Salford hospital.

[Ladkyis]

he was sent to Neath instead of Salford because the army were in charge of placement.
Like when my dad was injured in WW2 he was sent to Stoke on Trent and not South Wales because - and here I quote my dad - "The train in front of mine was going to Cardiff but mine was going to the Midlands so that's where I went."

Not much you can do when you are lying on a stretcher on a station platform is there.

[Izzycat]

I did my nurse training at Penrhiwtyn / Neath General hospital in the early 1980's. The original wards were Nightingale in layout with wooden block flooring & very high windows. I lived in the nurses home during my training & that was a lovely building too.

[mary wheeer]

The old Neath Hospital was originally a place for injured soldiers during WWI, for their recuperation, so maybe that was why he was a long way from home.

I have just received (saturday) after a long time of searching, the death certificate of my grandfather (inlaw) which stated he died at Penrhiwtyn, Neath 1923 age 30.Which I've now discovered was the old neath general (thanks to this site) I too was baffled why he died there because he lived in Senghenydd, which was quite a distance for family to travel in those days, if they did at all? - then while looking up Penrhiwtyn on the Internet I came across this forum.
He was a soldier in WW1 and it looks as though he was on a pension The certificate states he was a pensioner and also shows his army service number which we recognised. This was of course the time of 'Poor Law' and well before the NHS - so being an army pensioner he was able to be looked after there. So glad we've found it now - does anyone know where I can get a photo of Penrhiwtyn/Old Neath General Hospital?
I'll be very gartefull, thanks Mary W.

[colandel]

Hi Holker' You had the right hospital it use to be a war hospital then it became a Neath general hospital.But now it as been taken down and build he new one what Pete wrote down.I have a book showing pictures of the hospital what it was like when the war was on. If you like i can try and scan a picture of the hospital and send it on.Mark

Hi Mark,
I have recently managed to contact my daughter for the first time since 1974 following an acrimonious divorce. My daughter was born at Heath General Hospital, but has never seen it as her mother moved away when she was very young. I would appreciate a copy of any picture you have been able to scan in, or details of the book you refer to, and the publisher, so I can try to obtain a copy of it for her. Alswo are you aware of the full postal address rather than just the post code which is a little vague when trying to locate the site.
I would appreciate any help you are able to afford me with this.
regards. Colin

[helachau]

Regarding your grandfather's (in law) status of Pensioner, the Times, Aug 12 1920, carried the following job advertisement

"A vacancy exists for a Full Time Pathologist at the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Neath, Glamorgan........"

There is also an item dated 14 April 1919 where the National Eisteddfod Committee allocated £1,000 of its profits to ".... the building of a General Hospital in Neath, provided it is built within 5 years" and describing it as a "charitable contribution".

[Julesuk51]

My grandfather was in this hospital from 1916-17. He was from Runcorn, but was enlisted in the Hereford Regiement and then to the Kings Own Shropshire Regiment. They went to a training camp at Cardiff and also for gas training at Reeceheath Hall (now Agricultural College). In 1916 during training he suffered internal injuries and was then sent to Neath Hospital as a patient and whilst recuperating worked as an orderly at the hospital. I hope this is of use to you.