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Questions about hospitals in France


singwiththespirit

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I'm working on a novel in which one the heroine and several of her family members form one of Lena Ashwell's Concert Parties on the Western Front. For those unfamiliar, the Lena Ashwell Concert Parties consisted of 3-4 singers, instrumentalists, and other entertainers. They gave concerts mainly at base camps and in hospitals - in the latter, the individual performers would also quietly entertain the non-ambulatory men at their bedsides. Because of how the Concert Parties operated, and because my protagonist (an Aussie) is wounded at Pozières in 1916 (ending up at 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville) and again at Amiens in 1918, I need a fairly good understanding of the operations of hospitals in France.

I have a rough idea of the progression of a wounded man from the casualty clearing stations to the various hospitals in France and ultimately to a convalescent hospital (usually back in Blighty) - but what I'm having trouble finding out is:

Would any particular attempt have been made to send a wounded Australian soldier to one the hospitals run by the Aussies (vs. the British, Canadians, or Kiwis) - or did it not matter?

Were men always sent on to convalescent hospitals after some time in a hospital such as 3rd Australian General/Abbeville, or might they become fit enough to be sent back to their units directly without any time in a convalescent hospital? If not, were there convalescent hospitals in northern France, or were they all back in Blighty?

How much coming and going was usual/allowed ambulatory patients in hospital? Were they free to

wander about the town, to make outings to nearby beaches, etc.?

Any answers - or suggested reference works where I might discover answers - will be much appreciated!

Karen Mercedes

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Hi Karen.

I'm no expert in this area and hopefully wiser voices will chime in but the attached article from The Times, entitled "From Firing Line To Hospital", may give you a little insight into some of the areas you're seeking information on. Due to the upload limit, I've broken up the article, which appeared 12 May 1915, into 3 parts (one here, two to follow). If you'd like the article whole and perhaps at a higher magnification, let me know.

regards,

Martin

post-29417-1232455697.png

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Karen.

I meant to add, on a personal note, my grandfather Walter Francis Elliget served with the A.I.F. in France and was hospitalised a couple of times, though due to sickness (mumps and later influenza), not due to being wounded. His service record is online at the NAA: click here

He joined the 3rd Pioneer Battalion then transferred to the Anzac Provost Corps (he was a policeman before the war). Hospitalised in the 3rd Aust. Gen. Hosp. when he contracted pneumonia and later influenza and became dangerously ill. His clinical chart on p.6 shows he was dangerously ill on 2 Dec 1918 when his temperature rose above 104 (he was lucky to survive considering how many died in the pandemic). His casualty form is on p. 10 and 11. Perhaps there is something that you can glean from it as background material. If you search the NAA for items in the series B2455, you will find many others.

regards,

Martin

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I'm working on a novel in which one the heroine and several of her family members form one of Lena Ashwell's Concert Parties on the Western Front.

Karen,

I realise this is fiction, but the parties were formed prior to travelling. Couldn't you create them as an established family of pre-war professionals?

Regards

Kate

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I didn't express myself very well, but that is exactly what does happen. It's the mother who, after meeting Ashwell, agrees to pull together a concert party to troupe under Ashwell's sponsorship. Mother is a very successful operatic soprano; daughter has been onstage for years as a child performer and is now starting her adult career as an operatic contralto; father is a repetiteur/accompanist; brother plays classical guitar; (the only family member missing is the other brother, an opera tenor who is a big hit in America, where he spends the first few years of the war until America enters the war, and he volunteer as an ambulance driver). Only the male singer and the "entertainer" are enlisted from outside - the one a G&S patter baritone who is close friends with the "entertainer", in this case a comedic actor recommended by Ashwell. Otherwise it's very much a family affair.

Karen,

I realise this is fiction, but the parties were formed prior to travelling. Couldn't you create them as an established family of pre-war professionals?

Regards

Kate

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