hospitals for injured ww1 soldiers

[helen]

Does anybody know if there were particular places/hospitals where Australian WW1 soldiers may have gone if they were injured. Family folklore of injured grandfather being injured during the war and letters from England written by a nurse to his wife in Australia. He never returned home to her, but maybe staying in England with nurse or returning to Australia to live with her here.

Any clues?
Helen

[Colbara]

My G.uncle, from Australia, fought in WW1 and on looking through his army papers I see that in 1915 he was returned from France to England with Trachoma - defective vision and he was taken to the General hospital at Bristol Southmead.


My grandfather was also in hospital and as his wife was in London he was transferred near there - it was not far from London as my nan visited him. Most probably Hertfordshire the family tbink.

Hope that helps.

[helen]

thanks you have given me a strating point. I am waiting on his war records from the National Srchives in Canberra, so I hoping that there may be some additional info in there.

helen

[Procat]

Hi Helen,

You may get lucky with his war service record but they are often sketchy with regard to medical records. My grandfather was gassed and hospitalised in England but there is no mention of this in his records.

Why is no medical record included?

For WW I, the only medical information that normally exists is the brief information contained on the service record. During WW II separate medical files were created. These records are now either with the Department of Defence or were passed to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Because of the personal information they contain they are not generally available under the Archives Act. If you have a special need for access to the information they contain, you will need to apply to the Department of Defence (where the information is likely to be for the war period only) or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (where there is likely to be war period information and post-war veteran’s information) for access under the Freedom of Information Act.

Regards,

[helen]

you are right, I am expecting that I may get a brick wall when I receive the file. I thought that they may withhold some sections. I am wondering if there will be any reference to my grandmother perhaps making some contact with them after the war as she tried ti find out what happened to her husband. I wait with excitement.

[Procat]

you are right, I am expecting that I may get a brick wall when I receive the file. I thought that they may withhold some sections. I am wondering if there will be any reference to my grandmother perhaps making some contact with them after the war as she tried ti find out what happened to her husband. I wait with excitement.

You may well have better luck with that. I have several sets of records. In one of them there is a letter from one of my my grandfathers requesting information regarding his uncle and another contains numerous letters from a wife requesting personal effects and medals - along with the response that she was unable to claim them as the deceased soldier had made a Will leaving everything to another person.

Regards,

[Geoffers]

Does anybody know if there were particular places/hospitals where Australian WW1 soldiers may have gone if they were injured. Family folklore of injured grandfather being injured during the war and letters from England written by a nurse to his wife in Australia. He never returned home to her, but maybe staying in England with nurse or returning to Australia to live with her here.
Helen

Around where I live there are many large manor houses. I know that some of these were used in WW1 as temporary hospitals and places for soldiers to recuperate. A few years ago I was speaking to an old boy who was a teenager during the Great War and could remember soldiers using one of them. He said that there were many different nationalities in this manor house and remembers how usnusual this seemed. This may of course be a one off, but I somehow doubt it, I believe that the manor house concerned was mostly used for recuperation. I don't know if this helps or hinders you.

The only reason I know where my grandfather was treated is becasue he told me, I've found nowt on official documents.

Good luck
Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Fulhamster]

Queen Marys Hospital, Roehampton, London, England?
I shall pop into the archives office on Monday 18th Oct.
(tomorrow) and have a word with the archivist.
I am sure we had some ANZAC troops here. The hospital
was world famous for its false limb factory. Douglas Bader
had his limbs made here.

[Fulhamster]

Hi Helen!
I have just been to the hospital archives office and it would appear that I was given the wrong information. The office is actually open on Wednesdays and not Thursdays as I was led to beleive. I will, of course, try again next Wednesday and will get back to you as soon as possible. (Next Wed: 27/10/04)
All the very best,
Reg.

[Fulhamster]

Hi Helen,
Have been off work this week, so I will have to try again next week (3rd Nov. '04). Sorry but it could not be helped!
All the very best,
Reg