Red Cross Hospital Number 30 London (King Albert)

[geniespot]

After he was wounded in 1917 my Belgian grandfather was treated in various Red Cross Hospitals in France.  According to his military record he was eventually evacuated to the Red Cross King Albert Hospital number 30 London. (This is when he met my granny). I have never been able to discover where this hospital was or any details about it at all. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks

[mmm45]

http://www.kentvad.org/pages/aux-uk.htm

These people may be able to help?

Ady

[Scarletwoman]

I've got a database of all hospitals that were open in the UK in 1917 (2,500 of them), and there isn't one with 'King Albert' in the title.  The number 30 is probably the VAD detachment number, and would usually be written as 'London/30 VAD' but would not figure in the name of the hospital.  London/28 for instance, based in Kensington, ran a hospital at White City, Hammersmith, and there was the 'Hospital for Belgian Soldiers', 78 Onslow Gardens, London, S.W. which could possibly be what you're looking for.  I believe that the British Red Cross Archives are often able to locate individual detachments, so maybe they could help:

http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/Museum-and-archives/Resources-for-researchers/Volunteers-and-personnel-records

Sue

[SueK50]

Knowing Sue's incredible knowledge of nursing and hospital history - I seriously hesitated before posting this - but there is a reference in the Royal College of Nursing Journal archives that refers to "King Albert's Hospital for Wounded Belgian's" - Miss Ravenor was named as the Matron in the edition of June 5th 1915

http://rcnarchive.rcn.org.uk/data/VOLUME054-1915/page489-volume54-5thjune1915.pdf

There is also entry earlier in 1915 - that talks about "The joint Anglo-Belgian Committee of the King Albert’s Hospitals for Convalescent Belgian Soldiers"

Probably they are the places that Sue has mentioned - hopefully the Matron's name should confirm it

[Scarletwoman]

Well done!  I guess that either this hospital was closed by the time of the official War Office list in October 1917, but that seems unlikely, or that they used a different/dual name.  But knowing that London/28 was based in Kensington, and that Onslow Gardens is in Kensington, it seems possible that London/30 were in that area so may have had some involvement.  Somehow I think that Kensington may be on the right track.  I am off to write a hundred lines now ...   

Sue

[SueK50]

Hey Sue - hold those lines - it was a lucky "find"

Not sure if it provides any clues but it seems as though Miss Ravenor was a Sister at Chelsea Infirmary in October 1914 - when she was appointed Acting Matron of "A large new establishment for the reception of refugees has just been opened at Carrington House, Deptford"

Unfortunately I can't find a first name for her in a quick look - a 1907 entry gives an address for her of 10 Oxford Road, Worthing

[geniespot]

Wow!
Thank you all very much for that information.
Grandfather was at this hospital (probably convalescing) from Aug 1917 until I think sometime in 1918.
The story is that he was so much in love he  managed to hobble over from the hospital to see my granny who was a 'canary' working at the Woolwich Arsenal. (Wounded Belgian soldiers I believe were seen as very romantic at that time!)
Thanks again 
geniespot

[geniespot]

http://www.kentvad.org/pages/aux-uk.htm

These people may be able to help?

Ady

Thanks Ady I think Hazel Basford has cracked it. For anyone who needs info on King Albert Hospitals this is what she wrote:

The King Albert Hospitals for Belgian soliders date from 1915 and were
No. 1 - Staffordshire House, Store Street, London WC (and HQ/Central Office
- Hon. Sec. M. Paul May)
No. 2 - Hanwell Park Schools, Framfield Road, Hanwell
No. 3 - Hazelville Road, Highgate, London N
No. 4 - St Gabriel's Home, Folkestone

I have a further reference in Army Council Instructions (No 139 of 15 April
1915 Appendix IX) which also includes 28 Tanner St, Bermondsey but it is not
described as a King Albert Hospital.

I also have a note regarding the ACIs from February 1915
7 convalescent homes for Belgian soldiers - King Albert's Hospitals for
convalescent Belgian Soldiers are arranging the establishment of
convalescent homes for Belgian soldiers on discharge from hospital.
(Perhaps Tanner Street was one of these, or a slightly later addition.)

This would seem to suggest there were others in addition to the 4 mentioned
above - but I have no further information about them.


Well, I came to the conclusion after re-reading his military papers that my grandfather was convalescing  at hospital number 3 and not number 30, the '0' was actually an 'a.'

So thank you everyone who offerred help.

geniespot

[MikeVDV]

Hello Geniespot,

Your post of 2012 if a really interesting one. I hope you will get this message.
According to his military file my great grand father was also to King Albert Hospital 3. I've had no luck in finding any archives for this hospital. I would love to find out if some documents about my great grand father still exist somewhere. Have you found anything that you could share with me to help me in my search?

Thanks a lot!
Mike