Stories and events from Ravenhill Hospital
Ravenhill House of Rugeley has been offered by Lady Zouche as a hospital for wounded soldiers. This will be a VAD hospital run by the Commandant Miss Lambert. The staff will be members of the VAD and there is accommodation for 20 patients. In addition to putting the house in thorough repair Lady Zouche gave £50 towards expenses.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Evening Dispatch – Tuesday 9th March 1915. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Miss Andrews and pupils put on entertainment in the Town Hall and a sum of £9 was donated to Ravenhill hospital
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 23 July 1915. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The wounded had a very happy Christmas. Wards were elaborately decorated by the patients with holly and evergreens and flowers obtained from Hawksyard, there was streamers also. The main passage in the hospital was especially of note with pictures of the King and Queen and prominent officers from the Army and Navy all in frames of evergreens. A phrase ‘God bless our nurses and staff’ that lit up in the evening by coloured lanterns. On Christmas Eve a short service was conducted by Reverend E Samson (the rector from Armitage) this was then followed by carols. Afterwards Mr Grummitt brought a party who gave an enjoyable concert. On Christmas day every patient went to a place of worship in the morning. Afterwards they took part in a dinner of turkey and plum pudding. In the afternoon members of the Rugeley Parish Church Choir sung carols which were appreciated by the soldiers.
In the evening the patients and nurses indulged in music and singing and after supper dancing took place. At 9 o’clock God Save the King and Auld Lang Syme were sung. On Boxing Day the patients were entertained by the nurses and in the evening they went to a tea dance in the town hall with Miss Lambert and Sister Hetton. On the Tuesday a very enjoyable concert was given by Miss Andrews, her friends and pupils and each patient was presented a plum pudding. On the Wednesday a whist drive took place and a guessing competition which was won by Nurse Hettersley and PTE Cumberbald. On the Wednesday evening a concert was given by Mr John Walbanks’s party which included songs, piano, mandolin and banjo selections. Many ladies donated a variety of gifts.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 31st December 1915. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
New Year at Ravenhill hospital. Everyone from the hospital went to Birmingham on New Year’s Eve to the pantomime at the Theatre Royal. They went to the matinee performance followed by an excellent tea at Fletchers café. They then had dancing back at the hospital. At Christmas Lady Zouche gave a silver cigarette case to each of the wounded.
On New Year’s Day they were all then entertained at the Riddings for tea and games at the kindness of Mr RH Lander. On the Monday a concert was given by some of the nurses of Beauty and the Beast. On the Tuesday a whist drive was held by the nurses, and then on the Wednesday they attended the residence of Mrs RS Williamson, The Grainge in Hednesford.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 7th January 1916. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
A football match was held to raise funds for the hospital. The match was between Mr T Lyons Aston Villa elevens And Officers from Penkridge Bank Camp. The match was arranged by Lieutenant Hutchinson (9th East Yorkshire regiment) and Mr T Lawley-Brown. The match was kicked off by Miss Lambert, the Commandent at 3 o’ clock. At half time Aston Villa were winning 1-0 and the final result was Aston Villa 4 – 0 Officers Penkridge Bank.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 21st January 1916. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
A hunt took place that the wounded soldiers were invited to watch arranged by Sir Villiers Forster. This was with the South Staffordshire Hounds.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, The Herald – Saturday 15th April 1916. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
A garden party was held at the hospital organised by Miss Lambert and the staff nurses in order to raise funds for the hospital and in support of the wounded heroes. Lots of people turned up to help. Attractions included tennis, croquet, a hat trimming competition, nail driving competition, cake guessing competition and a time guessing competition. There were no expenses and everything was donated by the Red Cross. During the afternoon the Band of the Durham Light Infantry played.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 30th June 1916. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
A concert was given in Rugeley Town Hall by The Top Kanha Wallah which means The Gun Feeding Man. They were a concert party from the Royal Garrison Artillery stationed at Rugeley camp. The concert had a large attendance with lots of ladies and gentlemen from Rugeley and surrounding districts. The Town Hall had been artistically decorated for the occasion.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 1st December 1916. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Ravenhill VAD hospital re-opened on the 1st September 1917 following a 4 week break after a nurse got measles. The hospital had been running without a break since August 1915. Within the four week break the hospital had a clean down and the number of beds was increased from 27 to 33. The hospital was facing some financial struggles at the time and could have done with some more vegetables for the patients. They were growing some in the grounds as well as experimentally growing sugar beet. The hospital had plenty of musical instruments and games for the soldiers as well as two billiard tables that had been leant by locals (insert names). It is hoped that there would also be some weekly entertainment.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 31st August 1917. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
A concert was held in aid of the hospital on the 1st October at the Town Hall in Rugeley. Soldiers and men in the hospital blue from Ravenhill attended the show where Mr Chesters provided the entertainment. The concert was decorated with flags and men from camps and hospital attended. Mr Chesters replicated concerts that he had been performing for the boys on the “other side” for the soldiers as part of a two month tour for the YMCA behind the front in France. The evening was full of mirth and merriment and people were sad to see it end. Mrs Oldham, Mrs Jobson and Mrs Henry Laydon were generously responsible for the arrangements of the evening.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 5th October 1917. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Nurses Hatton and Beddoe were names brought to the Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered. Sister Hatton is the wife of Lieutenant Hatton DC of Rugeley who is on duty at Donnington Hall. She is the Sister in charge of Ravenhill and has been since the hospital opened in 1915. Sister Beddoe is the elder daughter of Mr J Beddoe, Manager of the National Provincial Bank in Rugeley. She has also been at Ravenhill since its first opening and has had continuous night duty. A little event of past and present workers marked the occasion.
Others whose names were brought to the Secretary of State for War included:
Mrs F.E. Ensor, Sister, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R., Military Hospital Cannock Chase
Miss M.E. Jones, Cannock Chase Military Hospital, Brocton and Rugeley camps
Miss G.F. Kinross, Sister, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R., Military Hospital Cannock Chase
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 26th October 1917. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
A whist drive was organised by the committee of Rugeley and District Working Mens Club for the benefit of the hospital held in the town hall. 45 tables were engaged. There was a whip around for the benefits of those in the hospital. The event was very successful and enjoyable. Mr B.C. Harris officiated as MC.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 28th December 1917. Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
To mark the third anniversary of the hospital a programme of sports had been arranged including an egg and spoon race, slow cycle and flower pot race. Those in attendance included the Commandant, the sisters, VAD men’s detachment, patients, members of boy scouts, Colonel Wetherall, Reverend Samson, Dr Paton and a number of friends and guests. The hat trimming competition run by the patients caused lots of laughter and apple bobbing caused much excitement among spectators. A tug of war was held with 12 nurses vs 6 patients. The nurses won. Colonel Wetherall OBE presented some prizes and said how pleased he was to see the nurses and men having a little relaxation. After the prizes had been formally given, three cheers were given for the Colonel and the Commandant through whose efforts had produced such an enjoyable day. Photos were taken on the lawn of the hospital. In the evening a capital concert and a variety of entertainment was given by Lieutenant and Mrs Sharland and a party from the camp augmented by Miss K Key and the VAD nurses.
The article also talked about how Miss Lambert (the Commandant) has twice been bought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War. First in March for valuable services rendered in connection with the war and again in August for valuable services rendered in connection with the establishment organisation and maintenance of the hospitals. Two of the nurses, Hatton and Beddoe were also mentioned in the previous year’s list.
Source: The British Newspaper Archive, Lichfield Mercury – Friday 30th August 1918.
Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
