jaybeebuzz Posted 27 June , 2009 Share Posted 27 June , 2009 Hi everyone Didn't know which board to post this on but just a quick question. If a man was invalided back to Britain on board HMHS St George from 12GH Rouen, 18 October 1917 (landed 19th), which port(s) in Britain is he likely to have landed at? I know there is probably more than one likely candidate but I just want a general idea. He was transferred to hospital in Glasgow although that is probably irrelevant. Thanks! Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 27 June , 2009 Share Posted 27 June , 2009 Julie We've already experienced your 'quick questions' From Rouen he would have either have gone direct, as the hospital ships did go up the river, or perhaps taken down to Havre on the train first, and embarked there. He would almost certainly have gone to Southampton. There were two ports used for patients evacuated from France, Southampton and Dover, and there were other ports used for ships coming from the different theatres of war. The following extract is a mish-mash of quotes taken from chapter ten of 'Hospital Ships and Ambulance Trains' by John H. Plumridge (ISBN 0854220879; first published 1975 by Seeley, Service and Co.). I just thought it was quite useful information - there is much more, and if there's any interest I'm quite happy to scan the whole chapter and send it to anyone who would like a copy - it will fit into about five or six images. It has a lot more about the distribution of casualties, and the trains themselves. Sue "On the outbreak of war Southampton became No.1 Military Embarkation Port and practically the whole port was taken over by the military authorities ... The first convoy home, carrying 111 sick and wounded reached Southampton on 24 August 1914, and the patients were taken in the War Department Ambulance Train to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley ... ...All casualties which were evacuated from France in 1914 were disembarked at Southampton ... it had an exceptionally large boiler plant which could simultaneously heat eight ambulance trains in separate sidings. The new Marine station at Dover was not completed when the war started but the suitability of Dover as a reception port for hospital ships was soon recognized. When the port became fully operational in 1915 it was possible for two hospital ships and six ambulance trains to be dealt with at the same time. The distribution of patients after their arrival in the United Kingdom was a complicated undertaking. Their destination depended to a large extent on the nature of their disability – it being essential that certain cases should go to hospitals specializing in particular types of treatment ... ... To facilitate distribution, advance information was cabled about the various categories of patients on each hospital ship and the estimated time of arrival ... sub-divided into the number of officers, nurses and other ranks, with further sub-divisions into surgical, medical, infectious, mental, and any other special cases. Patients on the hospital ships were also labelled with one of five areas corresponding to their home area – London and Southern, West of England; Midlands; North England and Scotland; Ireland. Thus there was always a possibility that patients could be sent to a hospital in the vicinity of their home. Daily notification was sent by the area home commands showing the bed situation in their larger and specialist hospitals. Officers and nursing sisters were the first patients to be disembarked, the former usually being sent to London in the War Department Ambulance Train. Then one train after another pulled into the shed – those with the longest journeys to make being loaded first. From 24 August 1914, to 31 December 1918, ambulance trains made 7,822 journeys from Southampton, distributing over 1,250,000 patients ... ... The figures for Dover cover the period from 2 January 1915 to 28 February 1919, during which approximately 1,260,000 patients were received." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybeebuzz Posted 27 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 June , 2009 Hi Sue I was hoping I could lie low in "Ships and Navies" for a bit but you found me again!! Just a three word answer would have done ("Southampton or Dover") but as usual you have spoilt me rotten! Thank you! If you don't mind sending me the whole chapter from that book I would be really grateful as it's a subject that really interests me. Can you send it by PM or shall I PM you my e mail address? Thanks again! Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 27 June , 2009 Share Posted 27 June , 2009 Julie Let me have an email address, either by PM or by clicking on the Email link next to the PM link - I think the pages will be far too hefty for the PM system (not that I have a clue how much luggage they can take). I'll do it tomorrow, as sinking under the weight of a Greek lunch at present. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybeebuzz Posted 27 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 June , 2009 E mail sent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kath Posted 27 June , 2009 Share Posted 27 June , 2009 Are there any logs available for hospital ships? I'm interested in the Valdivia in 1916. Kath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 27 June , 2009 Share Posted 27 June , 2009 The hospital ship "St. George": Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybeebuzz Posted 27 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 June , 2009 Thank you Ken! Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Are there any logs available for hospital ships? I'm interestd in the Valdivia in 1916. There's a War Diary at Kew: WO 95/4150 Hospital Ship, Valdivia 1917 Jan. - 1919 Sept. But not for the St. George. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Just a three word answer would have done ("Southampton or Dover") but as usual you have spoilt me rotten! I'm glad that Sue didn't confine herself to a 3 word answer! Thanks Sue for that information, it seems that they had a very advanced system on the Hospital Ships. One day I might add them to my many interests! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybeebuzz Posted 28 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2009 I'm glad that Sue didn't confine herself to a 3 word answer! Thanks Sue for that information, it seems that they had a very advanced system on the Hospital Ships. One day I might add them to my many interests! I've read the full chapter now and the organisation in sending a cable ahead of arrival with details of the wounded on board ship, then disembarking the wounded and their subsequent transfer to train and hospital was amazing considering the chaos and suffering of the time. Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bardess Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Hi Sue. Thanks for the offer. PM sent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bardess Posted 28 June , 2009 Share Posted 28 June , 2009 Sue Email with chapter attached has been received. Many thanks for a speedy response Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_history_buff Posted 11 January Share Posted 11 January I came across the following upon googling HMHS St George https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/HMHS_St_George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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