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Military hospitals in Birmingham WW1

O

O.C.

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Rubery Hill Lunatic Asylum opened in 1882 it was taken over by the war office when it was realised over 60,000 beds would be needed to cope with the wounded, the mentally ill were moved to other hopitals when the Asylum War Hospital Scheme came into affect, Ruberty became Birmingham War Hospital No 1
Hollymoor Hospital was Hospital No 2 and used throughout the Great War for wounded servicemen. Photo shows the complete cast of “Babes in the Wood” and full orchestra from the Alexandra Theatre giving a performance for the first time in England at a Hospital as the men were so badly injured they could not go out. 50 of the cot-cases were placed at the front
 
The Great Hall at the Birmingham University was used as a Military Hospital as other buildings were from 1914-1919. As long ago as 1909 it was desided to use the University as a War Hospital by forward thinkers in the War Deparment
Known as 1st Southern Hospital
 
Does anyone know what happened to the inmates of Rubery during this time?
 
On of my uncles has 2 wound stripes on the sleeve of his uniform. Are there any surviving registers of the war hospitals Cromwell?
 
Di. Its all according to when he was wounded, I did all the wounded lists for the R.W.F from 1914 till 1918 all from the Birmingham Newspapers as thay was punlished nearly everyday so its all their you just have to look (If you can, I mean) Regarding the inmates that were moved out it, they were moved to other various hospitals in the Midlands
I do believe a plaque has been put outside  of the hospitals a few years ago  in memory of all the men who died their
 
Cromwell, you may be interested in this pc. taken from a book I have about Rubery and Hollymoor.

In March 1915 both Rubery and Hollymoor were taken over as military hospitals. Dr.Suffern became temporary Lieutenant Colonel working under the authority of a Military Medical Commander.
Rubery Hill was occupied by the War Office until 1919, but Hollymoor was retained by the Ministry of Pensions until 1922. Official recognition of the assistance rendered was accorded to the hospital authorities at the end of the war. The Report states:

"I desire to place on record the great service to the country during the recent war by the Visiting Sub-Committee of the above institutions {Rubery Hill and Hollymoor} and by others who assisted them in transferring the insane patients elsewhere and adpting and equipping the building for the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers. It was an achievement of which the City of Birmingham has every reason to be proud".

Reconstruction work began immediately after the war. The War Office paid compensaion of £25,000 but it cost the city authorities a further £60,000 to bring the building up to a state of efficiency.
 
Thanks Cromwell. I haven't yet discovered which regiment my uncle served in. I do know that he was transfered to the Norfolks , probably after he was wounded.
 
A Drumhead service in the grounds of the General Hospital Birmingham
by Dr.Wakefield Bishop of  Birmingham on the 2nd Anniversary of the declaration of war
Second Photo shows The Footballers Battalion at a church service conducted by Dr.Wakefield
 
Highbury Hall that great home of Joseph Chamberlain was converted into a V.A.D 30 Hospital  for
orthopaedic patients and had about 140-50 beds.
Aftre the war it was used by convalescent ex-soldiers who were disabled
 
Highbury Hall which was a Birmingham V.A.D.Hospital
Now you can hire it for weddings which my brothers wife did for her sons wedding
 
1st Southern General Hospital (Birmingham University) 1914 Replacement image - may vary from original

image.png
 
Cromwell, did the Birmingham & District Hospitals tend soldiers who came from our area, or were the men from all over the country and our overseas allies?
 
Sylvia, The Idea was for men to go to their own areas but it all got out off hand by the sheer number of casualties as the hospitals filled up, even our allies ended in our hospitals for one reason or another, French Indian, Australian etc.
Most of the Mansions and Stately Homes all round the Midlands opened the doors to the Soldiers.  I also have a lot of photo's of Longleat at Bath showing the soldiers but I am trying to just keep to the Birmingham Hospitals.
 
Thanks Cromwell, I just wondered, of course if the men could go to their "home" hospitals it would have been easier for their families to visit, but as you say the sheer scale of the wounded would have put pressure on the hospitals, and I suppose some were too ill to travel far once they got back to England.
 
Postcard of another view of Highbury V.A.D. Hospital which was an annexe to 1st Southern General Hospital
 
Two of the biggest movie and music hall stars of the day were, Seymour Hicks and Miss Ellaline Terris who later were married.
They put on a spectacular show for 3000 wounded soldiers and sailors at the Theatre Royal Aston Cross in 1915, thousands of people lined the streets to give the wounded heroes a rousing reception.
Photo 1, shows Miss Ellaline Hicks arrived with Major Hall-Edwards the famous one-armed   X-ray scientist
Photo 2, is a small portrait of Seymour Hicks
And the photos 3, and 4 show the badly wounded soldiers arriving at the Theatre Royal
 
Another photo showing the walking wounded arriving at the Theatre Royal
 
Cromwell, I went to Colmore Road infant & junior schools in Kings Heath.
They were used as a 225 bed hospital in 1915 the children were transferred to Institute Road School Kings Heath until 1919.

Colin
 
Colin B Now you have got me there, I have all the hospitals listed (yet to post) but I suppose casualties were so great schools must have come in to service because at the first year of the War the wounded soldiers were sent all over England as my Wounded List Shows
Thanks for that, I suppose it is not there anymore is it?
 
One of the wards in Dudley Rd Infirmery which was a section of 1st Southern General Hospital
 
The wounded slowly start to be bought home by ambulance, here is one on its way to Bournebrook
 
Another Hospital that was housed in a private house was at the Hermitage Solihull which was built in 1869 and loaned to the Red Cross by the owner. Known as Vad 50 and opened up as a hospital in 1914
 
Cromwell,thats ok .Didn't want to post the link in case it spoilt a article you were going to cover.

Colin
 
Kenh The last book I got involved in we had to fork out our own money to get it printed and stood to loose £2000 but we broke even as we demanded a deposit from everyone before the book was printed
but its a hard thing to do.
 
Cromwell I'm sure you will be interested in the following.I worked at Uffculme Clinic in Moseley,during my time in the NHS,and following your posting on The War Hospitals of Birmingham 1914-18,I made contact with a colleague who still works there.He confirmed that this plaque was still displayed in the building ,and today I visited there and with permission was able to take photos of the plaque and the building.I was also introduced to a member of staff who has quite a large amount of information and pictures of the hospital,who is prepared to share this information with me ,watch this space.
In the second picture,I'm sure I have seen a old photo of the building with a number of patients sitting in wheelchairs,on top of the grass bank,I will see if I can locate one for comparison.

Colin
 
Colin Well done and Thanks a lot for that info. now you have taken a photo I will show you two postcards I have of Uffculme

As soon as I have scanned them
 
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