Author Topic: 1WW requisitioned buildings serving as hospitals  (Read 629 times)

Offline Maryship

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1WW requisitioned buildings serving as hospitals
« on: Friday 09 November 18 15:51 GMT (UK) »
I am trying to find out about the Cliff Military Hospital, Felistowe Suffolk (a requisitioned hotel in a military area) 1914 -1918. I have images of 2 postcards showing the hotel as a hospital with staff and patients in one ranged on the balconies and steps, and the other showing staff only. I have looked for TNA records and sites hosted by the Red Cross and the Essex Record Office (as the hospital seems to have been linked with Harwich in Essex) without success. The author Henry Williamson was treated there and it seems to have been only for officers, with some staying in houses near the hospital, as he describes in one of his semi-autobiographical books. My father Charles John William Jennings, served as an RAMC private and acting sergeant there throughout the 1WW and I have a photo of him in uniform but have no further details of his military service. I have struck a brick wall- HELP!

Offline cath151

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Re: 1WW requisitioned buildings serving as hospitals
« Reply #1 on: Friday 09 November 18 18:54 GMT (UK) »
Hi Mary
Welcome to Rootschat :)
Could you give a little more info on Charles, dob, place of birth, parents. Was he known with a variation of his Christian names?
This might help find him if any records survive.
Small newspaper pieces (about deaths and inquests) seem to suggest that Cliff MH was not just for officers.
Best wishes
Cathy
Sinnock/Sinnicks...Brighton,Greenwich.
Clements,Coles,Mc Donagh,Rock

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Offline Maryship

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Re: 1WW requisitioned buildings serving as hospitals
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 10 November 18 18:06 GMT (UK) »
Dear Cath,
Thank you for replying so quickly.
Father: dob: 28 August 1891
Place of birth: St Pancras London
parents: John William Jennings  + Charlotte Elizabeth Baldwin
Variation names: John William Charles but known as Charles or Charlie.
 
You mention small newspaper entires suggesting non-officers also were at Cliff Hospital. Do you have sources foir these as I have tried to find contemporary newspaper articles without success?
Do you have names for the non-officers?
I am aware that some men who died at the hospital were buried at Walton cemetery, which is a village adjacent to Felixstowe.
               

Offline cath151

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Re: 1WW requisitioned buildings serving as hospitals
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 11 November 18 08:47 GMT (UK) »
Hi again,
 I have tried hard to find John in the military records, unfortunately without success,  he may be there somewhere perhaps someone else might find him, perhaps a new post with his details might help though it is helpful to mention this post also.
The small pieces in the papers were mostly details of inquests of soldiers that had died at Cliff Hospital with their names and ranks included.
They can be found at Findmypast or there may be other newspaper archives with that info.
I can find a few names if it might help

Cathy
Sinnock/Sinnicks...Brighton,Greenwich.
Clements,Coles,Mc Donagh,Rock

Census InformationCrown Copyright from www.national archives.gov.uk


Offline cath151

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Re: 1WW requisitioned buildings serving as hospitals
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 11 November 18 10:10 GMT (UK) »
He appears to have married Alice M Dawson in 1916 Woodbridge
It might be worth getting the marriage certificate to possibly confirm Johns occupation (hopefully will have Unit etc)
Cathy :)
Sinnock/Sinnicks...Brighton,Greenwich.
Clements,Coles,Mc Donagh,Rock

Census InformationCrown Copyright from www.national archives.gov.uk

Offline Maryship

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Re: 1WW requisitioned buildings serving as hospitals
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 11 November 18 14:47 GMT (UK) »
Dear Cathy,
He did marry Alice Dawson.
The marriage certificate reveals his rank in the RAMC and the church where he was married but that is all relative to him, sadly. I don't even know exactly when he was demobbed or if he received pension.
Thank you for the info about where to find newspaper snippets. Can you forward a few names of inquests? Is there a website that lists these inquests?
Sue

Offline medpat

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Re: 1WW requisitioned buildings serving as hospitals
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 11 November 18 15:04 GMT (UK) »
Over 70% of WW1 service documents were destroyed by enemy bombing in WW2 I'm afraid. Medal cards were in a different location so survived and are online.

I have details of one grandfather's service but not the other's.
GEDmatch M157477

Offline Maryship

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Re: 1WW requisitioned buildings serving as hospitals
« Reply #7 on: Monday 12 November 18 21:21 GMT (UK) »
Dear Medpat,
Thank you for your input. I am aware that a lot of 1WW records were lost in WW2 and feel pretty certain that my Dad's were amongst those lost. So I've been trying to trace anyone who was treated at Cliff Military Hospital Felixstowe in the hope that they left letters etc which can give more information- a long shot!!