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The History of our Hospital
The C.O. Tells How the Hospital Came into Being — Part One
Lt.Colonel Bruce Bruce-Porter
The medical arrangements of the Army were excellent for the peace establishment and for a small campaign, but to cope with possible mobilisation of the Territorial Force Sir Alfred Keogh planned T.F. medical organisation. The branch with which we are most concerned is that of the General Hospitals, which were to be the Base Hospitals of the Force. These hospitals existed, till mobilisation, mostly on paper, their only permanent staff being the C.O., the Registrar, the Quartermaster, and forty-one N.C.O.'s and men, the remaining officers and the nursing staff being only available for duty after mobilisation.
In London there were to be four General Hospitals, 1 and 2 City, and 3 and 4 County.
The 3rd London General Hospital is naturally the one in which we are interested. The Medical and Surgical Staff of the Middlesex, St. Mary's, and University College Hospitals provided practically the whole of the officers available on mobilisation. The N.C.O.'s and men who kept our Unit alive during the most depressing period of the T.F. (at a time when the enthusiast in favour of universal service felt he was best serving his country by helping in the early death of the Territorial Force, and so would not join, and the slacker who had no intention of giving up his amusement, made the plea for universal service his excuse, and so did not join) came from the City firm of Messrs. Hitchcock and Williams.
[What's this all about - "early death", "slacker" etc? . "City firm of Messrs. Hitchcock and Williams" - who they? See vg on the company during WWII: https://alondoninheritance.com/thebombedcity/operation-textiles-city-warehouse-29th-december-1940/]
During the early days of August, 1914, we were hourly expecting the word "mobilise," but we had to carry on as though war were a thing remote. The Unit accordingly went to Aldershot for the Annual Camp on the Saturday night of August 1st, and, having pitched tents and made the camp as comfortable as possible on the first day, we went to bed tired out.
At 11 p.m. on Sunday a telegram was handed to me ordering our immediate return to London. On Tuesday night, at 11 o'clock, another telegram arrived at Headquarters: "Mobilise, act accordingly." The first difficulty was that there was nothing to say what the word "accordingly" meant. There had never been a rehearsal, and nothing positive was known as to the source of supply of equipment. Who was to give the order to take over the building and how it was to be done were equally indefinite problems. The only safe course appeared to be to act first and to get authority afterwards.
Major Miller accordingly arrived at Wandsworth at 6 o'clock on Wednesday morning with twenty N.C.O.'s and men with orders to empty the "Patriotic School" building, taking over on charge anything of use. I myself went to the T.F. Association at the Duke of York's Headquarters to find what was to be done about equipment. Here I met with the first series of shocks. The list of equipment was that of a Field Hospital, and was quite unsuitable for a hospital in a building such as this.
Next, even the furnishing firms of repute, who had in June written that, being in touch with all the bedstead makers, they could at a moment's notice supply us with unlimited bedsteads, when asked for 1,000 bedsteads were incapable of supplying one. Fortunately I found from a friend that an order for 300 beds had been placed with the Hospital Contracts Col, to send to France, and these I was able to secure, and by means of promises of further orders, the delivery began the next day. The fact was that there were many bedsteads in the country at the time, but private houses were being converted by their owners into hospitals (without the least prospect of their being used), and so the big hospitals were handicapped.
Sir Alfred Pearce Gould, our senior surgeon, with Sir Victor Horsley, next took over the task of selecting the surgical instruments. Captain Humphris meanwhile secured the only X-ray installation at the time on the market in London, for, the German sources being cut off, the shortage was acute until America could supply. This X-ray installation was complete, and a trial photograph was actually taken, five days after mobilisation was ordered.
The general difficulties were increased, as I have said, by an extraordinary error on the part of those responsible for the carrying out of Sir Alfred Keogh's scheme. The equipment was to be ordered from a Field General Hospital list, and intended to be carried in carts. Naturally, this was quite useless for a fixed hospital. For example, oil lamps and entrenching tools in quantities were sent here.
Moreover, one of the committee responsible for the equipment, with the best of intentions and a supreme desire to relieve our anxiety as to bedsteads, told us of a supply of which he had control, and from which we might have hundreds. By this time I was very suspicious, and so, fortunately, decided to run no risks by letting go of what I knew was good on the chance of better — till I actually saw the better. I told Colonel Thorne, through whom the offer had been made, that I would take 150 of these beds.
Major Miller 'phoned me later in the day that the first load of these bedsteads had arrived. Behold, they were racks, one tier above another, meant for bunks for men sleeping at their work in time of strike. Mr. Howard Williams, however, was a good friend, and made purchases of bedding for us in the City, and he helped in many other ways.
NLady Gladstone, too, who had just returned from South Africa, collected from her own friends, and, with the assistance of the wives of our officers, had by the end of the first week handed over 1,000 night-shirts, 500 bed-jackets, and innumerable other things.
Ten days after mobilisation we were ordered to prepare for 500 in case of need, and that night, by 9.30, 520 beds were made up, not all, it is true, on bedsteads; to be exact 350 were on bedsteads and the rest were on mattresses on the floor. Two operating tables were ready, and the sterilisers were going all night. The surgical staff were in part here, and the others were at the end of the telephone. It may be added that the whole of the alterations necessary in the sanitary and ventilation arrangements were carried out in such a manner that at the end of each day the wards were put ready for patients.
(to be continued)
[Third London General Blogspot: Link.]
The CO continues his account of the history of the hospital
The orderlies who joined on mobilisation were young men mostly enlisted from Messrs. Hitchcock and Williams, and I shall always remember the amount of work crowded into a few days by those youngsters and the nursing sisters who came at the beginning. There was no eight-hour day; it was work, work, work till the place had been emptied of all the school equipment and converted into a hospital. The chapel was used as a store-house, as it was essential that the children's things should not be mixed. The hundreds of small pairs of boots, each on its own rack in what is now the dispensary, had to be strung on string and numbered so that they could be identified. The lockers in the recreation room contained the treasures of the little ones, and those who understand children will realise what grief would have been caused by the loss of old toys.
My friend Lady Gladstone worked all the first night with friends, and by the next day sent me 500 bags, each to hold a child's toys. These were numbered with the locker number, and, when the toys were packed, were tied and stored in the chapel.
Rooms admirable for children to use as dormitories were not suitable to be filled with septic cases. The windows were replaced by Hopper sashes, which allow of open air without draught. Additional lavatory accommodation was put in, and baths were installed on every floor. I thought I had a good idea of the number of nails required to fix a partition, but till I tried to sleep in my office while the carpenters were working all night fixing a partition on the floor above I little realised how securely they fix 'temporary' work — and I felt glad it was not intended to be 'permanent.'
We were very fortunate in our early days in having Captain Dodson, who had for years been doctor to the Patriotic School. He knew the building and the district, and we owe much to him for the way in which he found suitable houses for the nursing staff, and gave help in many other directions.
There cannot be much doubt as to the sanitary condition of this hospital, since Captain Willcox, the Home Office expert, sacrificed many hours to the superintending of the alterations, and we had the assistance at all times of Sir Shirley Murphy, whose suggestions were of very great value; also of Colonel Russell, Chief Engineer London District, who supervised the plans and general construction.
The receiving ward was not suitable for a ward for patients to sleep in, but ideal for reception purposes, and so the number of beds expected to be housed in the building was reduced by forty; another forty to be housed in the chapel, and forty more in the recreation room; these places not being suitable as wards diminished the available space. Mr. Pain Clark drew up the plans for the hut wards, and these were duly put in hand; the operating theatre was built, the infirmary made into an officers' hospital to provide twenty beds; and by the end of eight weeks, the huts being finished, the 520 beds were ready and in use.
In September, the equipment having been provided and the staff working smoothly, I considered the moment to offer the hospital for service abroad. The suggestion was put to the staff, and practically the whole of the officers, nurses and men volunteered for general service, but the War Office decided that these hospitals were not to go abroad.
Though the disappointment was great to many, the reason is now fairly obvious. The hospitals being staffed as they are by the teaching hospitals, they have to remain in England so that the officers from them can continue their lectures and help with the civil hospitals. Besides this, the more serious cases are brought to England, and we have often had cases in these wards within thirty-six hours of being wounded.
Once it was decided that the hospital was to remain in England, I allowed those orderlies physically fit to exchange, and they have now gone to various units abroad. Today the whole of the detachment, with the exception of some N.C.O.'s, is made up of men over 38 and young ones under 19, and those who have been rejected for service abroad.
During my busiest days I was often interviewed by a very nervous young man of a local paper in search of news. Once when he called I was very, very preoccupied and tired, and, having answered his questions, he kindly informed me that he would call again next week. The prospect of another visit from this nervous youngster was not inspiring, and I suggested that by that time I expected he would find me sitting in a room then in course of preparation — a room which would be padded all round. He evidently meant to be very polite, and so replied that he sincerely hoped so! Some day he may find me there, who knows?
(Final part to come)
[Third London General Blogspot: Link.]
Our History — Part three
The History of Our Hospital
Final part by Lt. Colonel Bruce Porter
In March a further expansion of the hospital was proposed and buildings in the neighbourhood suggested, but for various reasons these were not suitable. Adjoining us, however, lay a field then in preparation for a playground for the young folk of Wandsworth. The matter appeared urgent, and by a series of 'fortuitous coincidences' Sir Alfred Pearce Gould was seeing the Director-General on matters connected with the London University, and had in his pocket my copy of the plans. The Director-General saw the plans, and in a very short time sanction was obtained from the L.C.C. to use the ground — the plans were passed — and the work was put in hand. While this extension was actually in the course of erection a further extension was sanctioned, so that today we have equipped and open a total of 1,500 beds.
The first huts (the 'letter' block) were War Office pattern, but in the new extension we were allowed to submit other plans, and thus obtained sanction for wards with continuous windows of the Hopper type. The effect is to give the interior of these wards almost as much air as the open air itself, but without exposure to rain or wind. One of the most striking features is the entire absence of the smells so often met with in hospitals.
Another feature of our new extension is the bath-house, where a patient may go at any time and have a hot bath; there is also a new X-ray block, a new operating theatre, kitchens, and a large dining hall which is used as a recreation room and has been turned into a very fine billiard and writing room. The nominal officers' accommodation of this hospital was 20, but this has been increased to 160 by taking over men's wards; the number of patients in a ward is greater than would be the case either in nursing homes or private hospitals, but the wards are very comfortable. The officer patients have their own kitchen and dining and recreation rooms.
Concerts are held in the old recreation room in the main building. And, speaking of concerts, brings me to a point at which I would like to refer to the various entertainments which have been and are being held in this room. Always three evenings, often four a week, since the hospital opened, we have had first-class entertainments here. Only those who live in hospital can appreciate the help these concerts are to the sick and wounded. Men are brought into the room on a stretchers and on trolleys, and before we had these trolleys I have seen four men who were wounded in the arm carrying a pal on a stretcher who had been wounded in the legs.
I have seen many entertainments in one place and another, but a few stand out as things apart. One of these was a tea party given in September by Mr. Howard Williams. It was a couple of days after we had taken in a convoy of exchanged wounded, and the sight of the Receiving Hall when looked down on from the balcony was one I shall never forget. Five hundred and thirty men were seated at tables in that hall — men from every part of the Empire, of every regiment, and with all sorts of injuries received in the defence of all we hold dear.
The wounded exchanged prisoners, men of the 1st Army, those who helped to check the tide of savages who were trying to over-run France and then England — men who were only taken prisoners when, because of their wounds, they could fight no more — were there seated at tables decorated with the flags of the Allies and loaded with food such as they doubtless dreamt of during the starvation period of their confinement. The ones who were helpless and blind were assisted by the less severely injured, and all were waited on by the sisters and nurses and the young ladies from Mr. Howard William's firm in the City. The noise and laughter were like that of a big school treat, and for the time all pain appeared blotted out and everyone was happy.
If I were to be restricted when the war is over to keeping but one pleasant memory of my work at the 3rd London, I should without hesitation choose that room and all it held at that tea party.
There is one other concert I shall always remember. It had an element of sadness in it, but the more pleasant elements crowd out the sad.
On New Year's Day thirty of the senior girls of the Royal Victoria Patriotic School came and sang to the patients. It was sad in that the girls are orphans; it was pleasant in the way in which the call of the blood shows. It goes without saying that amongst the professional singers whom we have here week by week the voices of children cannot compete for training, but no vocalists have ever had a reception to beat that given to these children. They were soldiers' orphans, singing to soldiers, and the men loved them. After this concert we had nearly 300 children to tea in their old playroom and gave them an entertainment, and as the children went away the patients lined the hall and passages to give them a good send-off. This afternoon forms another pleasant memory I shall retain amongst those of the 3rd London.
I hope we shall be able to repeat this entertainment this Christmas season, and show the small folk that though we of the 3rd London may have been obliged to drive them from the school we have taken them into our hearts.
[Third London General Blogspot: Link.]
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