Remembering when wounded World War One soldiers were cared for at Red Cross Hospitals, in Bury St Edmunds

Historian Terry O’Donoghue looks into how hospitals in Bury St Edmunds, treated soldiers wounded in France during World War One.

On August 4, 1914, at the outbreak of the Great War, the perennial but predictable problems in running the old West Suffolk Hospital, in Hospital Road, were suddenly and unexpectedly eclipsed by new challenges, the effects of which lasted the four years of war and well beyond.

Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, the hospital was classified as a ‘war hospital’ and destined to receive wounded soldiers from the British Expeditionary Force fighting in France.

Bearing in mind that this was some 34 years before the founding of the NHS, the West Suffolk Hospital was a voluntary hospital, reliant on subscriptions, bequests and other general fund-raising activities.

As a consequence, the managing committee constantly negotiated and on occasions, argued with the War Office over payments for treating the wounded.

Whatever the financial pressures, the hospital took on its new role with enthusiasm from the start.

On August 11, 1914, only days after the outbreak of hostilities, the committee instructed the matron to look at the provision of extra drugs and dressings.

It also reached out to the British Red Cross to work in partnership – a partnership that saw the setting up of Red Cross hospitals in Northgate Street and local country houses at Ravenwood Hall, Hengrave Hall and Ampton Hall.

In 1915 the Red Cross paid for a marquee to be installed on the hospital recreation ground to provide extra beds and kitchen arrangements.

Not all wounded combatants appeared to be welcome, as when asked by the War Office to accept wounded Belgian soldiers, they were rebuffed saying that space and the conscription of medical staff precluded them agreeing to this.

The hospital reported it had treated 317 soldiers in 1915, being paid £1,125 by the War Office.

In 1916 that number exceeded 412.

Then, in November 1917 the Marquess of Bristol held an extraordinary meeting in the Guildhall appealing for funds, as the 4/-, (the equivalent of 20p a day) allowance from the War Office did not cover costs.

Despite a generous donation of £350 from the Red Cross, the hospital remained in serious deficit.

The wealthy as well as local businesses contributed and a public collection was sanctioned by the mayor, with representatives in each parish helping to raise funds.

From 1916 conscription was an issue and house doctors and surgeons came and went from the hospital with some speed.

The hospital porter sought exemption from conscription due to his unique knowledge of the hospital utilities.

Col Hervey, who sat on the tribunal, at first objected to any deferment from service, but within weeks changed his mind and supported the exemption – perhaps the fact that his kinsman, the Marquess of Bristol, was chairman of the hospital committee and had some influence on this change of heart.

While these challenges were mounting, it was not obvious to the patients.

Throughout the war all civilian patients were treated and none turned away.

The public, who recognised the wounded soldiers in their ‘hospital blue’ uniforms, ensured that they were afforded as many treats as possible, especially at Christmas.

The Marquess and other wealthy landowners provided meat and produce from their estates; the mayor, plum puddings and other treats.

The medical and nursing staff laid on entertainments both in the hospital and at the Red Cross Hospitals.

Just after Christmas 1917, on December 29, the Bury Free Press said: “We have been requested to inform all those who sent donations and gifts in kind for all the wounded soldiers in Bury and district that they are heartily welcome to the entertainment at the Athenaeum on Monday next at 5:30pm.”

The entertainment for the wounded and others included state-of-the-art silent films.

A few days later Mr and Mrs Rivers, managers at the Suffolk Hotel, laid on tea, entertainment and games in the courtroom and council chamber at the Guildhall.

For both these events Mr L Fulcher provided motorised transport for the wounded to and from the various hospitals around the town.

The arrival of the armistice in November 1918 found the hospital left with an exhausted staff and dilapidated buildings.

Worst of all, it was immediately overwhelmed by the Spanish Flu pandemic, which took up three out of four wards and led to 18 deaths, including one nurse.

Major E Lake headed up a committee to modernise the hospital and, with a grant of £6,000 from the Red Cross and a further £3,500 from others, worked tirelessly in the early 1920s to refurbish the hospital.

These works, and the building of the Bristol Annexe, were only just completed before the country and hospital were yet again engulfed by global conflict in 1939.