Lewisham Military Hospital WW1 Memorial

[Drew5233]

I wonder if you can help.

I am in the process of doing some research regarding the above memorial. My father was a senior engineer at the hospital for nearly 30 years and saved the memorial from going into a skip when the boiler house was being rebuilt by contractors and got the works dept to move it to a more suitable location. In 1998 it was moved to its current location.

I know a bit about its history and damage during WW2 (The hospital was bombed) but what I want to do is identify the people on the memorial itself. The council has a website listing most and checking CWGC I can only identify a few most being no trace (I suspect the council has made a mistake) or too many returns for names like Private A. Smith (Over a 1,000).

I'm planing on visiting the memorial to look at the names myself to confirm the spellings etc and contacting the hospital to see if they have any documents on the them (They all worked at the hospital). My Dad has said some of the names are unreadable due to damge from the bombing in WW2.

Here's the link to the council site:

http://lewishamwarmemorials.wikidot.com/me...w1-war-memorial

And the list of names:

http://lewishamwarmemorials.wikidot.com/na...-memorial-names

Any pointers to finding the names or pictures from the hospital and the memorials original location would be much appeciated-My Dad wasn't really thanked for what he did and I'd like to see that these people and him are remembered properly.

Regards

Andy

[The Inspector]

Hi Andy

Have been looking on CWGC, strange-- but here's one for you

1st Column, of names 7th from bottom.

Pte. S Gr-cock = Pte. 2779 Stanley Horace Grocock, London Regt, d.5.11.15, Screen Wall D3185, Lewisham Ladywell Cemetery. "I've started so I'll finish"

Regards Barry

[The Inspector]

Hi

2nd col, 8th down J.Bolitho

Only one Bolitho on CWGC = Pte. 16738, Duke of Cornwall L.I., John Moore Bolitho, d.4.5.17, 24yrs, Savonia Memorial

Regards Barry

[The Inspector]

Hi

3rd,10th down, L/Cpl Stanley Britton, 11451, 11thBn West Yorks Regt d.7.6.17, Menin Gate. (As you say quite a few are no trace)

Barry

[Drew5233]

Cheers Barry,

I worked my way down the first row this afternoon and only found a few of them so I halted as I wasn't having much success and decided to see if I could gain further info first.

I think the council may have got some of the names wrong if I'm honest (They weren't very good when I lived there so I doubt much has changed for the better )

Many thanks for your help thus far though.

So far I have on my to do list:

Visit site

Contact Hospital

Contact Local Paper

Anymore suggestions and more importantly Pics would be great.

Regards

Andy

[Drew5233]

Just a quick update:

Someone has been to the site and it is a shadow of its former self with no names that were originally left are readable. The site has by all accounts has been negleted quite badly.

I have now decided that if I can get a full list of the casualties I will raise the money to have a plaque made and placed somewhere for all to see on the hospital grounds with their permission.

Once again any help would be much appreciated.

Regards

Andy

[Phil Evans]

Hello Andy,

Have you tried contacting the Local Studies section at Lewisham Library?

They may have some archive material and have always been helpful on the few occasions I've been there.

Phil

[Phil Evans]

It has taken three years, but I have now done it (almost):

Lewisham Military Hospital Memorial

Phil

[johndavidswarbrick]

Dear Phil,

Superb work - an excellent achievement.

Dave Swarbrick

[Phil Evans]

Thank you Dave,

Brownhill Road Baptist Church is next on the list, I think.

Phil

[Longboat]

Great Work Phil,

A valuable resource

Stuart.