My grandfather was invalided out of the army after being wounded at the Somme. He had part of his right hand shot away, so he could no longer fire his rifle. The army sent him back to UK after being first treated in a field hospital. I know this from his war record. However, I have been unable to find out which hospital he was sent to. His regiment was the Gloucestershire, but he, like many others, arrived on a casualty train and was just sent to whatever part of the country had empty beds. He landed up in Birmingham, and when he left hospital he decided to remain there. He met his future wife, and they were married in 1920 in St Andrew's church, near to where the football ground is now.
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Thanks for your replies, they are very interesting and makes me realise even more what these chaps went through during WWI, and WWII for that matter and indeed any war!
What I find difficult to understand is that he first attested into the army Militia on 21 Feb 1890 and did Annual Training in 1890 and 1891. On the 5th August 1891he is attested on a Short Service Attestation and discharged on 4th September 1891 and on payment of £10 within 3 months of attestation to come out of the army. Then it appears he attested: 10th November 1914 (and received £5 for rejoining?) and was discharged 14th December 1918. All service was in the North Staffordshire Regiment. I cannot find a service record for this last period of service but guess he would have been 43. Would he have been sent abroad? His pension says Bronchitis.
What I find difficult to understand is that he first attested into the army Militia on 21 Feb 1890 and did Annual Training in 1890 and 1891. On the 5th August 1891he is attested on a Short Service Attestation and discharged on 4th September 1891 and on payment of £10 within 3 months of attestation to come out of the army. Then it appears he attested: 10th November 1914 (and received £5 for rejoining?) and was discharged 14th December 1918. All service was in the North Staffordshire Regiment. I cannot find a service record for this last period of service but guess he would have been 43. Would he have been sent abroad? His pension says Bronchitis.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
“Rubery Hill was occupied by the War Office till 1919. The hospital was adapted and equipped for the sick and wounded soldiers. This cards message of June 29th 1916 reads. "I have been outside this afternoon. Have got the bandages off at last."
From A Postcard from the Lickeys (published 1989)
From A Postcard from the Lickeys (published 1989)
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
“Much reconstruction work took place after the war. New buildings were added, including a Male Nurses home, which later became the Nurse Training Centre. The War Office paid £25000 and the city authorities spent a further £60000 to bring the hospital up to standard. Very little work had been done during the War as there was a shortage of labour.”
From A Postcard from the Lickeys (published 1989)
From A Postcard from the Lickeys (published 1989)
For those interested in the military hospitals in WW1, a zoom talk from a researcher at Birmingham university. Register to obtain link to talk
www.eventbrite.co.uk
The 1st Southern General Hospital, Bham and role of Nursing Service in WWI
Join Sue Worrall as she explores the role of women working in the Territorial Force Nursing Service during WWI.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
