Stoke War Hospital WW1

[Barnford]

I have just discovered from a gravestone photograph that my great uncle, a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, died at the Stoke War Hospital in 1918. Family memories would suggest that it was from pneumonia brought on by the influenza epidemic.

I am struggling to find out anything about this hospital, despite extensive searches on our favourite search engine, WW1 forums or VAD, Red Cross or Order of St John's sites. The snippets I have found suggest that it was based in Newcastle under Lyme (or Lyne) and that it may have been a former union workhouse. I have not been able to confirm either of those (and the workhouse records are fairly extensive). I believe also that it was used for ANZAC casualties and that it may have specialised in troops affected with influenza.

My hope is that someone with local knowledge may be able to give me some pointers as to where to try next.

Thanks

[hepburn]

http://www.thepotteries.org/tour/020.htm

Could this be it

[Barnford]

It is something I did look at but it makes no reference to use as a War Hospital. My problem is that I have no way of evaluating whether it is or is not the right building without some further supporting evidence. Unfortunately, I can not find his WW1 service records, only his medal card which does not give me much information either.

Thanks

Clive

[hepburn]

Sorry Clive,
                    Ive had a good trawl and can't see anything else.
Have you had look on Ancestry?

[hepburn]

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nzlwo/nursess.html

One site that mentions it...    A sister Storr worked there.

[Barnford]

Thank you for that. This just really illuminates the core of my problem. From what I understand, several buildings throughout the country were appropriated to serve as War Hospitals, so it is unclear to me whether Stoke War Hospital was part of an existing hospital or a building in or near Stoke used as a War Hospital and just called Stoke War Hospital. He was buried where he was born, which was in Nottingham, so no help there. It does not look as if his service or pension records are among the surviving ones, so no help there. I do not know how the military recorded deaths of serving personnel in WW1 - there is no civil certificate for him.

I can approach the local archive with some questions but I was hoping to be able to fashion some rather more direct ones rather than open ended ones - at least locating the place could have been of some use. Hence my hope that maybe a local historian could be of some help.

Thanks

Clive

[hepburn]

http://www.thepotteries.org/email.htm


This fellow is a local historian,he'd probably know about it or ,least find out for you...

[IMBER]

Hi

If he died in the UK then he ought to have a ' normal' civil death registration. He should also be commemorated by the CWGC, Have you checked their website?

[Barnford]

Yes I have, thanks - that is how I managed to locate his grave stone.

Based on your comment on UK deaths and their certification, I have searched the registers again and found a possible entry. His forename has been misspelled, which is why I have not found it before. I have applied for a certificate and I will post on here the address of the hospital (if given) for other researchers.

Clive