Military Hospitals WW1
Highfield Military [Broadgreen]
Highfield Military [Broadgreen]
More wounded soldiers for Liverpool
More wounded soldiers about 220 in all, and including six stretcher cases arrived at Aintree last evening, and were removed to various centres, the ambulance arrangements being under the direction of Mr TUCKER and Mr GAUKRODGER, of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Ambulance Corps. A number of the Liverpool Scottish were amongst the wounded soldiers. There was an incident in the connection with the detraining operation which had its sentimental side. A strapping member of the Black Watch had made firm friends with quite a youngster of the same regiment, and insisted on both going to the same hospital, a wish which was readily agreed to.
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Alder Hey Military Hospital
Liverpool Daily Post 23rd, January 1915
Military Surgery
Orthopaedic treatment of soldiers in Liverpool
Liverpool has been chosen as the home of an interesting experiment in military surgery. The War Office has sanctioned the establishment here of a centre of orthopaedic treatment of wounded soldiers and the work will be carried out at Alder Hey Hospital one of the institutions of the West Derby Guardians.
Here will come a number of broken warriors of the battlefield, and the perfection of the surgeons art ensures that many a limb which has been fractured by shot and shell, and which in the past would have been a permanent disablement, will be responsive to the mending process.
Some 400 beds are available for military purposes of these are to be reserved in future for the orthopaedic cases, which will be sent there direct from the base hospitals both at home and France.
Liverpool has always held the lead in bone surgery work, and that this fine tradition is maintained today is due in no small measure, to Mr Robert JONES, the well known surgeon whose authority in orthopaedic matters is recognised the whole world over, and who will be in charge of the department, and whose skill will help to restore many a disabled soldier to physical strength.
Mr JONES in addition to his extensive practise as a specialist, is the lecturer on orthopaedic surgery to the University, and holds medical appointments at the Southern Hospital and the County Hospital for Children at Heswall.
So far as is known this is the only centre of its kind established on behalf of the victims of war, and the experiment will be watched with interest.
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Liverpool Echo 16th, September 1915
Suicide in hospital
Fate of a soldier in Liverpool
A curious story was told to Mr T. E. SAMPSON today, when an inquest was held on William RIDGWAY, aged 36, a driver in the Army Service Corps.
RIDGWAY some time ago sustained an injury to the head through an accident in an Army gymnasium in Cairo. He was brought to Liverpool and treated in the Alder Hey Military Hospital, apparently with beneficial results.
On Wednesday morning he woke early, had some tea, and smoked his pipe in a perfectly natural way. Subsequently a ward companion missed him, and on a search found him behind a screen with his throat cut and a razor lying by his side. The wound was self inflicted.
There had not been the slightest suspicion that RIDGWAY would harm himself, and he had not been at all strange in his manner. A verdict of Suicide whilst temporarily insane, was returned.
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Manchester Evening News 4th, August 1916
Private William HAMPSON, Royal Scots, of 200 Moseley Rd, Fallowfield, with gun shot wound in neck is now in Alder Hey, Hospital, Liverpool.
Manchester Evening News 23rd, April 1917
Pte J. GARNER, Manchester Regiment is in Alder Hey Military Hospital, his parents live at Bradshaw St, Heywood.
Liverpool Daily Post 16th, June 1917
Died from wounds
BURNS, June 4th, died of wounds received in action, Andrew Burns, K.L.R, youngest and beloved son of Mary Burns, 117 Vine St, late of Alder Hey Hospital.
North Devon Journal 13th, June 1918
Mr and Mrs C. BRAUND, of 3 Coronation Rd, Bideford, have received official information from the War Office that their eldest son Pte L. BRAUND, R.A.M.C, was wounded on April 29th [fracture right thigh] and was admitted to No 1 Canadian General Hospital, Estaples, France on May 1st. Pte BRAUND arrived in England on Wednesday last and is now in Alder Hey, Hospital, Liverpool.
Liverpool Daily Post Dec 31st 1914
Victoria Cross Hero
Worked gun single handed for 16 days
Special interview at Liverpool Hospital
Few men possess a better right to have their names inscribed on the national roll of fame than Gunner FAGG of the Royal Garrison Artillery, a Victoria Cross Hero now lying wounded in Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool. The story of the remarkable experiences which have befallen him during the present campaign reads more like a page of fiction than a record of sober fact, but no one who has seen and talked with this quiet spoken, modest young giant could easily doubt the truth of what he says.
This is the second time the gunner has been sent home wounded. The first time he was badly hurt, but the wound he regards as a trifle, just a bullet in the foot. He is a giant of a man, tall and broad, with a massive chest and shoulders, a man built on big lines and possessing unusual strength. But if you remark on it, he laughs quietly and says, "Yes I am just over six feet"
In the hospital ward yesterday the gunner told his battles and described how he won the coveted V.C.
The Royal Garrison Artillery had taken up a strong position and were vigorously shelling the German lines. The enemy seemed unable to locate them properly, or to get the correct range, and for eight days the British guns played havoc among the foe. Then things changed, the Germans found exactly where they were and pored in a hail of shot and shell, which took a heavy toll of our men. With eight of their twelve guns smashed and their strength heavily reduced by the enemy fire, the British held on pluckily. But it was an unequal struggle, and after some fierce fighting the remnants of the force, some 25 men were left, and the four guns that remained undamaged were captured by the Germans.
A daring Escape
The survivors were imprisoned within a barbed wire enclosure near to the German lines and were told they would be shot at dawn. But they did not wait for that. Among their number was a little interpreter, who as dusk was falling crept round the enclosure to see if there was any way of escape. It was impossible to scale the barbed wife fence or wriggle through the entanglements, but the interpreter returned with the news that only one sentry was guarding their prison. The Germans apparently thought there was little chance of their captives escaping. The prisoners had been relieved of all their weapons with the exception of their jack knives, but, though the chances of success were against them, a hurriedly called council of war decided in favour of making a bid for freedom. It was a desperate venture, but, as they all expected to be shot at daybreak, they felt the risks were worth running. They could only die once anyhow. So when darkness set in they put their plan into operation. Gunner FAGG crept stealthily towards the entrance to the enclosure, which he reached unobserved. Then with one bound he sprang upon the sentry and overpowered him before the man could give a warning.
The way of escape lay open, but these daring spirits were not content merely to get away with whole skins. About 500 yards away were the captured guns and about the same distance off in another direction was the sleeping German camp. Moving quietly and with the utmost caution they made for the guns. A sentry was on guard, but, worn out by the fatigue of the day he had fallen asleep and so was easily accounted for. "The interpreter dealt with him£ said Gunner FAGG, "and I do not think he ever woke up again." The night was wearing on, but the daring escape was still undiscovered, and so these daring Englishmen quietly manned the guns and got away with them. As soon as they were out of hearing they travelled as fast as they could and shortly after dawn they reached their old lines. And there among the dead bodies of their comrades they fixed these four guns again, and instead of being shot at dawn they greeted their captors of the previous evening with a vigorous fusillade. The Germans were apparently unable to believe that the prisoners had escaped unaided, they obviously suspected British reinforcements, for there was no attempt to rush the gallant 25.
Alone for 16 days.
There was no officers among the little company so Gunner FAGG was chosen battery commander. He sent four men back to the British lines for more ammunition and with the remainder he worked the guns. But although the Germans showed no desire to come to close quarters, they kept up a furious bombardment. Then they crept round a bit to the flank and the fire became hotter than ever.
"I met this development by splitting up the battery" the gunner said, "and opened fire with two of the guns from a different position, so as to make them think we had been reinforced. But from their new position the Germans were able to keep the land between us and our own lines, and the fire was so heavy that the men I had sent for ammunition were unable to get back. Our little party was rapidly dwindling. Two of the four guns were smashed and then a shell burst among us and wiped out my gun crew. I was the only man left. A minute or two later my left gun was shattered and a splinter of shell tore the breech from my right gun. The breech of the left gun, however, remained in tact and I was able to remove it and fix it on to the right gun, which I went on working. The Germans of course were being shelled from other positions as well, but, they kept up so hot a fire that it was impossible for reinforcements to reach me. The only thing for me to do was to stick where I was and keep plugging away at them. And that is what I did day after day, night after night. I kept count of the time, I was working that gun for sixteen days and night before reinforcements came. I was wounded several times but did not seem to notice it. I think I went stark mad, I dare not sleep, and had little to eat. The interpreter of whom I told you, took refuge in one of the villages near, and on three occasions during those sixteen days managed to bring out some food to me. At the end of this time the German fire slackened, as I learned afterwards they were preparing to retreat before our advancing troops. Then some of our men came up to me. I thought they were Germans at first, and felt it was all up with me. Their officer suggested I would better retire, but I had stuck to the gun all that time and did not want to leave it then, so I asked permission to remain. Eventually he let me stay there and gave me 25 men to help with the gun. I sent some of them back to our line for more ammunition as my stock was getting very low. The reinforcements moved away for a bit but returned later and the officer told me the Germans were retiring and he was going to advance. Then they went right ahead and we went on working the gun, dropping the shells over their heads and lengthening the range at every shot. With the men I now had helping me I was able to keep up a rapid rate of fire and we let them have nine to the minute. Then I heard a clatter at the rear, and the British cavalry swept by with a rush. It was all over, there was nothing more for me to do, and I collapsed. I do not remember anything more till I woke up on the boat that was taking me to England. I found afterwards I had been wounded seven times in the right side, but only one of the wounds was serious."
Fighting again
That is how Gunner FAGG won the V.C. On arrival to England he went to Harwich Hospital, everyone knows the keen interest Queen Mary takes in our wounded soldiers, and it was a red letter day for the Gunner when her Majesty, while visiting Harwich came and spoke a few kind words to him.
But his battles were not over yet. He made a rapid recovery, and at his own request went out to the front again as soon as he was well. Once more he distinguished himself by gallantry in the field. He was taking ammunition up to the British guns in face of heavy fire. The first time he got through scot free, the second time his horse was shot under him as he was returning, he tried again and got his load up to the guns, but as he was coming back with the empty waggon his new horse fell dead, and he received a bullet wound in the foot, while the ammunition waggon was smashed to splinters.
After that he had to give up and was again sent home to recuperate. He is making good progress at Alder Hey and yesterday was able to limp about the ward.
Dover Express 8th, January 1915 and
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 23rd, January 1915
Gunner Stuart FAGG of the Royal Field Artillery, who was recently awarded the Victoria Cross is one of three sons of the late Mr Henry FAGG and Mrs FAGG of Thornton Farm, Eastry, who are serving their country in the present war. Brother of Mrs Albert BOURNE of Kearsney. He is now lying wounded in hospital in Liverpool.
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Liverpool Echo 21st, March 1918
Medals in Hospital
General Sir Pitcairn CAMPBELL this afternoon visited Alder Hey Military Hospital and presented medals to the following for gallantry and devotion to duty :-
B.S.M, G. A. LYSETT, Sergeant F. HOMER, 18th Lancashire Fusiliers, Sergeant F. BABBUT, R.F.A, Bombardier G. H. BENNETT, R.F.A, Gunner H. H. SHILCOCK, R.F.A, and Private W. J. BURNS, 18th, Liverpool Regiment.