No. 1 Staty Hospital, Le Mans, September 1914

[Mark Crame]

"Admitted to No 1 (Staty) Hospital at Le Mans on 15th September 1914, he was repatriated to England on 17th October"

I am wondering if anyone has information on this hospital for this period, to try and add extra detail to my GGF's service record please.

I only have vague stuff so far:

"Stationary Hospitals, two per Division, held 400 casualties. General Hospitals held 1040; the establishment comprising 32 Medical Officers, 3 Chaplains, 73 Nurses and 206 RAMC troops as orderlies. "

[Sue Light]

Mark

The unit war diary for No.1 Stationary Hospital is at the National Archives WO95/4097 for the whole period from August 1914 until 1919. It opened at Le Mans on 15th September 1914, so your great grandfather was one of the first patients. I don't have any details from the unit war diary, but I do have a transcription of the war diary of the Matron-in-Chief with the BEF, Maud McCarthy, for that period, and this mention might just give a flavour of what was going on in those very early days. They are just bits cut and pasted, that refer to No.1 - apologies for some of the blanks, but the original is in very poor condition in parts. Her references to 'Triage' and 'Station' are to the rail depot at Villeneuve St. Georges, which was, at that time, the main collecting point for casualties coming in.

Sue

10.9.14

10 of No.7 Ho. staff arrived for duty from St. Nazaire. Saw Hospital Train off. Nurse Mun and N. Stanley joined it for duty. No.1 Stationary Ho. to open next week. 10 more nursing sisters needed for it.

17.9.14

Versailles

DMS left for Paris to see a certain number of patients at American Ambulance – then returned to Le Mans. I went to stations with Col. Smith to see where the nurses were working and where the sick were to be detrained at Charlteres [looks like] and Matelots stations. The latter considered the more suitable in every way. Left after lunch for Le Mans – a very disagreeable journey in pelting rain. Arrived 6pm. Found everyone very busy – what with ADMS and both No.5 and No.1 Stationary Hospitals where everyone is very busy. The hospitals being full of seriously wounded men, officers and Germans. 25 nurses telegraphed for had arrived – 4 had been sent up on new ambulance train – 2 had gone down with wounded and some one had … to increase the staff both on day and night in both hospital. Miss Reid very busy and managing well and Miss Drage who is in charge of No.1 Stationary doing excellently as I understand she did at Amiens.

18.9.14

Le Mans

Went with Major Fell who arranged with the ord… to supply linen sheets and pillow cases to all stationary hospitals and that the barracks ones were to be withdrawn. This will be an immense boon but round No.5 Stationary many improvements I noted [since] I was last there – baths, gas, cupboards, shelfs and patients looking well cared for. Miss Reid had procured many things from the Red Cross and many people in the vicinity had brought presents of fruit and vegetables which were found acceptable. After lunch went to No.1 Stationary which is very full and is in course of getting settled. Much is wanted but the building is a big one and the patients are getting every care and attention. Numerous operations and the surgeons are kept busy all day with the nurses getting the dressings done which in many instances are very large. Wired for 17 of No.6 Gen Ho. nursing staff to proceed to Versailles. Was asked for Nominal roll of nurses on Ho. ships – lately increased. Saw 2 ambulance trains arrive.

26.9.14

Letter from Matron-in-Chief dated 13.9.14 saying she had not heard from me since 2.9.14. Since arrival have written twice a week sometimes oftener. Replied at once. Left for Le Mans. Stopped at Triage on the way – found 3 nurses from No.12 had been put on No.8 Ambulance train with 3 Red Cross nurses and although they had been 24 ?* in the siding waiting to go up had not reported themselves to anyone. The train is not making another journey at present. Left orders for them to join No.3 Clearing Hospital. Stopped at Versailles and found No.4 had had another large convoy of wounded. Had lunch – went on to Le Mans arriving 5.30. DMS already there. On my way to report myself at Advance Base when I met DMS and ADMS. Miss Reid Matron No.5 and 1 Stationary Ho. came to report the work had been very heavy. Everyone had been working splendidly. Miss Drage managing No.1 Stationary very well indeed. The patients admitted were all suffering from wounds of a very serious nature and unable to travel.

27.9.14

Le Mans

Went over No.1 and 5 Stationary Hospital where I found many improvements since my last visits. Many patients much improved. Tetanus was causing much anxiety – there had been several deaths and a patient in each hospital suffering from it both of whom were showing marked improvement. The Medical Officers all spoke in the highest terms of the work done by all the nursing staff, Miss Drage’s management being specially mentioned. The Station work is much improvements and the department much larger – there are now rows of benches where the patients able to walk can sit and get food in the form of sandwiches, cocoa, coffee Bovril, milk etc quickly and comfortably while the train waits and seriously wounded removed for transmission to hospital. It was decided that Miss [V] Newman should go home on duty and report herself at the War Office on arrival.

2.10.14

Called on ADMS Col. Barefoot. Miss Reid came before breakfast. Work very heavy still at both Hospitals (Stationary) had lost 5 cases of Tetanus – one an RAMC boy. Went to 1 Stationary where they are still very busy. Very good results – everyone looked very happy and everything highly satisfactory in every way. Left for Villeneuve. Called at Triage found everyone depressed. The Red Cross appeared to be very fault [? Finding]. Received letter from Matron-in-Chief written to Miss Richards to be passed to me altering the original orders given on mobilization – the result of some complaint. Found Major Burrell had arrived.

[Mark Crame]

That's fantastic, thank you so much! One of these days I'll make it down to Kew. In a few days of solid work / research from stuff I have here and research on the net I have managed to put together a 40 page (so far!) document of my Great Grandfathers Military service (1905-1915). So different from the thread down below!

Thanks Sue, that is wonderful stuff. I am very grateful.