Roy Evans Posted 5 May , 2005 Share Posted 5 May , 2005 Despite the help of several PALS I'm still unable to trace the English hospital in which one of 'my' men died in August 1917. The details that I have (from the Death Certificate) are; Morden Grange Hospital, Morden, Registration District; Croydon, Sub-district; Mitcham, County of Surrey Can anyone shed any light on the exact location? Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinH Posted 5 May , 2005 Share Posted 5 May , 2005 Roy, I live near Morden and know something of the local history. However, Morden Grange is not a name that immediately rings any bells with me. Presumably it was a large house that was used as a temporary hospital. If no one else replies with an answer, I'll do some digging at the library when I'm next there. Regards Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 5 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 5 May , 2005 Gavin, Many thanks, I would appreciate that. Hopefully someone else will save you the trouble. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 5 May , 2005 Share Posted 5 May , 2005 Roy 'The Grange', is a Grade II listed building in Central Road, Morden, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 6 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 6 May , 2005 Thanks Dave, I have a problem with this info.! I live not only north of Watford Gap, but north of Birmingham, .... where is Morden ??? Regards Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doogal Posted 6 May , 2005 Share Posted 6 May , 2005 Thanks Dave, I have a problem with this info.! I live not only north of Watford Gap, but north of Birmingham, .... where is Morden ??? Regards Roy <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Roy, Morden is right at the southern end of London. If you have any access to a London Underground map, it has a tube station - the most southerly station on the Northern Line (black line). regards doogal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doogal Posted 6 May , 2005 Share Posted 6 May , 2005 ...its kind of as Stourbridge is to Wolverhampton.... The last stop before the trees start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinH Posted 6 May , 2005 Share Posted 6 May , 2005 Roy 'The Grange', is a Grade II listed building in Central Road, Morden, Dave <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've realised which house this is now. It stands at the end of Central Rd, facing a roundabout at the junction with Morden Hall Road. It's used as offices. If you need a digital photo, let me know. Morden is in Surrey, but is part of Greater London. It's near Wimbledon. Regards Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 6 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 6 May , 2005 ...its kind of as Stourbridge is to Wolverhampton.... The last stop before the trees start. Wots a tree? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 6 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 6 May , 2005 I've realised which house this is now. It stands at the end of Central Rd, facing a roundabout at the junction with Morden Hall Road. It's used as offices. If you need a digital photo, let me know. Gavin, I'd very much like a 'photo if it's not too much trouble. During my research into one of the men on a local memorial, I made contact with the guy's niece who only knew that her uncle had been wounded in France and died in a UK hospital. I have sorted out his service and where he was wounded as well as that the died in Morden Grange. I will be sending his niece this info soon and a 'photo would be the icing on the cake. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 6 May , 2005 Share Posted 6 May , 2005 Roy General location map attached. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinH Posted 7 May , 2005 Share Posted 7 May , 2005 Roy I'll try to get a photograph for you next week. Was the soldier buried locally? Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 8 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 8 May , 2005 Dave, Thanks for the map. I had previously found a Morden Grange at Bletchworth, between Dorking and Reigate, but Ian W had already told me that it was not the one I was after. Gavin, The soldier is buried in what was then known as Wolverhampton Borough Cemetary. This is his story (the other men mentioned are also on the memorial) Harold Falconbridge Born to Fredrick and Florence Falconbridge at Standish near Wigan on 19th September 1896, Harold was to die the day after Raymond Bishop. Harold and his family had moved to Wolverhampton around 1902 and he became a pupil at Bingley Street School. At the time that he volunteered as Private 24746 in the 2nd Battalion of The South Wales Borderers, they were living at 35 Cardiff Street, Wolverhampton. After first seeing service at Gallipoli in 1915, arriving there on the same day as Albert Monington and Percy Morgan, Harold moved, via Egypt, to France and Belgium, where he was badly wounded in the chest by shrapnel, probably during fighting on 16th August 1917 near Boezinghe, just west of Ypres in Belgium. He was repatriated, only to die of his wounds at Morden Grange Hospital, Surrey on 28th August 1917 aged just 20 years old. Harold is buried in Jeffcock Road Cemetery, Wolverhampton where his father was employed as Sexton Grave Digger & Gardener and may well have dug his own son’s grave. He was to bury his wife Florence in the same grave some 21 years later. Harold’s younger brother Gilbert survived the war having served in the Royal Army Service Corps and is also given a place on the church memorial. Thanks again Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 8 May , 2005 Share Posted 8 May , 2005 Roy - Glad that you have managed to find the building. Please post the picture here when you have it. No doubt it will be the first time that anyone in the family has seen the place where this man died. Good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinH Posted 8 May , 2005 Share Posted 8 May , 2005 Roy The Grange, Morden, 8th May 2005. Regards Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 8 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 8 May , 2005 Very sincere thanks to all involved , please be assured that through your efforts Harold Falconbridge's elderly nephew and niece will receive the info. later this week. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOMMESOLDIER Posted 8 May , 2005 Share Posted 8 May , 2005 Hi There, Brilliant research !! I'm really interested in this type of reseach ! I have found it facinating !!!! Cheers Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 9 May , 2005 Author Share Posted 9 May , 2005 Thanks Tim, With so much stuff being on line these days it's really not that difficult, especially with the help of Chris's GWDF and the fantastic people on it. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Fisher Posted 9 May , 2005 Share Posted 9 May , 2005 A worthy comment, Roy, but the very fact that it took the Pals to uncover it shows the importance of the research we do. It's not 'all out there', as some people think. There's more not there, and it's reassuring that people care and share. Pleased it was uncovered for you Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinH Posted 11 April , 2010 Share Posted 11 April , 2010 Although this thread is five years old, I recently came across this image and thought I'd post it: In 1915 The Grange was opened by its founder and matron, Mrs Lewin, as a military hospital with 34 beds. From "Merton & Morden - A Pictorial History", by Judith Goodman - Phillimore & Co Ltd 1995. Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longboat Posted 11 April , 2010 Share Posted 11 April , 2010 Gavin, You've got me chocking on me evening cocoa when I read this thread and saw these pics. I never knew the history of these buildings and I was in and out of em' near enough every day back in the late 80's. Thanks for posting. By the way wasn't there a pub nearby called The Grange or is that my mis-spent youth? Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinH Posted 11 April , 2010 Share Posted 11 April , 2010 You've got me chocking on me evening cocoa when I read this thread and saw these pics. I never knew the history of these buildings and I was in and out of em' near enough every day back in the late 80's. Thanks for posting. By the way wasn't there a pub nearby called The Grange or is that my mis-spent youth? Hello Stuart, Glad it's of interest! Now I'm usually pretty good with pubs (!), but the Grange doesn't ring any immediate bells with me. There is/was the Morden Tavern in Central Road, and The Grove by South Wimbledon Tube Station, but no Grange that I can remember... Regards Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longboat Posted 11 April , 2010 Share Posted 11 April , 2010 Gavin I've got The Grange mixed up with The George and as you know you should never mix your drinks or... pubs! Or was it the St Helier Arms? I'll leave it at that Thanks again Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 12 April , 2010 Share Posted 12 April , 2010 What a very small world it is - a friend of mine is starting a new job today, based at the Grange! Morden Hall, about 1/4 mile away was also used as a hospital during the Great War. I'm in Merton Abbey, Gavin - if you fancy a beer in one of the local pubs that isn't called The Grange and a chat about local Great War history, drop me a PM. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 12 April , 2010 Author Share Posted 12 April , 2010 Gosh, five years since I started this thread! Don't time fly! Thanks GavinH for the latest pic and thanks to Ianw for alerting me to it. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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