RE: Barnsley Hall EMS - WW2

[fwr_user]

At the onset of the second WW there were a series of Emergency Hospitals (EMS) built by the Ministry of Works around the country.

One such hospital was one built in the grounds of Barnsley Hall Mental Hospital near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. I lived no more than 300 meters from its boundary and remember some of the badly wounded men wandering around the grounds.

I am finding it very difficult to find any information about this part of the story which I find really intriguing because it was a very substantial undertaking having more than 1000 beds. Strange so very little evidence remains?

I have done a thorough search at the local Worcestershire archive at the "Hive" but can find very little as regards the actual use of the hospital. i.e. were they all military patients or were there civilian ones as well?

Which branch of the services did they come from - Army, Navy, Air-force etc?

Have any members further information regarding the Hospital and patients at all???

Regards

Bill Holden

[christanel]

This is a list of records and where they are held. As it underwent a few name changes it may help to search under any/all the names. I found this by using the name it was known by in the 1949 - 1966 period.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/h...ls.asp?id=2222

Apart from the above the only reference I found is on Wikipedia which says " but it was heavily populated when it was used as a military hand emergency hospital during the two World Wars.

Christina

[Joyoustimes]

I was a nurse at this hospital starting there in the late 1940s until it closed. We looked after army patients and also the air raid victims from Coventry. I would be quite happy to help with anything else you would like to know.

[1948Milton]

I was a nurse at this hospital starting there in the late 1940s until it closed. We looked after army patients and also the air raid victims from Coventry. I would be quite happy to help with anything else you would like to know.

My mother was a nurse at this hospital but I'm not sure exactly when, I think it was towards the end of WW2. Her name was Evelyn M. Bayes. Did you know her?

[Nephrititi]

I appreciate this is not a recent topic but I have only recently joined this site.

I also would like to apologise if I am posting my query in the wrong section.

Having recently received a copy of my fathers army records (who served in the 2nd world war) it is noted that he was admitted to Barnsley Hall Emergency Hospital (due to injuries received) on 17th June 1945 and discharged 7th July 1945. After a little research I contacted Worcester County Council Archives and advised this fact and enquired as to whether they held the said patient records. They replied that they did, but I would need to get authority from Herefordshire & Worcestershire NHS Care Trust due to the 100 year ruling for closed records. They also advised that once I had the said authority I would need to forward this to them plus I would need to pay a search fee of £50.

Having been granted authority from H&C NHS Trust this was forwarded to the Archives along with my fee.

I have now been advised by the Archives that despite searching their records they cannot find any trace of my father being admitted there and receiving any treatment as a patient.

In fact - they have also added they they DO NOT actually hold the records for Barnsley Hall Emergency Hospital.

Would anyone know who would hold the records I am looking for and if they are available to be released to me.