Burtonian Posted 21 May , 2019 Share Posted 21 May , 2019 The attached photograph shows my grandfather, standing, and was taken spring 1918, but I don't know where exactly. It occurs to me that there's a moderately distinctive building in the background which may allow someone more knowledgeable than me to positively identify which military hospital this is. So, how about it, is anyone able to assist please? I am able to say it'll be either France or UK, and I do know he spent some time at Netley Hospital, although I don't know the precise details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtonian Posted 21 May , 2019 Author Share Posted 21 May , 2019 Here's another photograph that shows the background better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milner Posted 27 May , 2019 Share Posted 27 May , 2019 That looks like a nautical flag pole in the background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 27 May , 2019 Share Posted 27 May , 2019 Do you have his record (he was obviously a Gunner) ? Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtonian Posted 1 June , 2019 Author Share Posted 1 June , 2019 Milner: interesting comment about the flag pole; I'll have to have a think about that! Max: short answer is 'no'. What I do have however is his original 'Small Book', which states he was wounded in the right elbow 9 Apr 1918, first day of the Battle of Estaires, so the photograph obviously dates from sometime shortly after that. I know that when he got to the UK he ended up at Netley Hospital, but I can't identify the building in the background on any of the various aerial views of Netley Hospital I've been able to find online. That's why I thought perhaps the photograph might have been taken at some 'intermediate' location, Etaples say, or somewhere else in northern France, or perhaps in the UK. Maybe the "nautical flag pole" comment might suggest somewhere like Portsmouth or Folkstone, say? I feel this might ultimately be solvable, which is of course why I asked here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxD Posted 1 June , 2019 Share Posted 1 June , 2019 Guesswork but would the blue hospital uniforms only have been issued in UK. If so that at least brings it this side of the channel! Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 7 June , 2019 Share Posted 7 June , 2019 The building shown in the second pic might be a swimming bath or similar. The flag pole had triggered similar thoughts as Milner’s. d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 12 July , 2019 Share Posted 12 July , 2019 Just another comment on the structure of Netley Hospital of the period. It had a small village of various wooden huts behind the main edifice, plus the nurses home/barracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 12 July , 2019 Share Posted 12 July , 2019 There are pictures of Netley on this site: https://www.qaranc.co.uk/netleyhospital.php and I don't think the huts are the same. More specifically, I can't see anything like that distinctive skylight/lantern structure on the roof ridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgreen Posted 13 July , 2019 Share Posted 13 July , 2019 Hello, I would say your photograph was taken in Netley. Here is one of the buildings that was built as part of the Red Cross hospital. It looks very much like the one in your photo. I would love to know more about your grandfather so I could add his story to my site if you are agreeable. www.netley-military-cemetery.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 14 July , 2019 Share Posted 14 July , 2019 Now that does look like a match - I was wrong ... (not for the first time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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