Autographs from a VAD nurse: Filsham Park Hospital

I have just been given an Autograph book that belonged to my grandmother, Celia Mclaren, when she was a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurse in 1916/17 at Filsham Park Hospital. It contains many little poems, rhymes of gratitude, local scene and military badge sketches, soldiers names ranks and details of where wounded.

At present, it is proving difficult to ascertain as to exactly where the hospital was, but the book does contain clues. For example, the old Bexhill Sidley Crowhurst Rail Line Viaduct is shown in the distance of one drawing and ‘shiny rails to London town’ are mentioned in a poem elsewhere.

I would like to find out more about this if any one can help.

Since this story was first published we have been able to ascertain the location of the hospital.

The Sisters purchased ‘waste ground’ at the top of Filsham Road; part of the Filsham Park Estate in 1908.  Building began on the Convent of Our Lady on 26 June 1908, the feast of the Sacred Heart).  The architect was Edward Boniface of Bexhill and the builders Eldridge and Cruttenden of St Leonards.  The nuns took possession of the convent in 18 June 1909.

In early October 1914 the British Red Cross Society asked permission to use some of the rooms on the ground floor as a hospital for wounded soldiers sent home from the front.  Voluntary Aid Detachment Sussex 16 was stationed there until 1917.

The original chapel was converted into a ward (it later became a classroom and remained as such until 1992).  The organisation of a hospital meant less room for the community and the school based there.  The nuns lived in cramped quarters.

The first wounded to arrive were 35 Belgian soldiers in October 1914.  The hospital staff were given 3 days notice to prepare.  There were no fresh patients until 26 January 1915 – this time 30 British wounded.  At first the hospital took semi convalescent cases from 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton. At the beginning of May 1915 the source of supply changed – convoys of wounded were sent direct to the hospital from the front.

268 cases taken in during 1915.  The operating theatre was in near constant use.

Eventually the hospital wing became too small and the detachment moved to larger premises in Dane Road.  By that time however, the nuns had earned the gratitude of the local inhabitants for their charity and kindness.

The Commandant of the Red Cross Nursing Detachment, Miss Doris Harrison, felt a strong calling to enter the religious life so did not move with the hospital to Dane Road.  She joined the community in January 1917 as Mother Mary Xavier.  She later became Mother Superior.

The following medical figures were involved in the running of the hospital and caring for the patients:

Medical Officer: Dr W. E Grandy MD DPH

Dr Tomson MD

Mr Light of Middlesex Hospital, surgeon

Mr Williams, dental surgeon

Miss Doris Harrison, Commandent

Thank you to the Sister-in-Charge of the Canonesses of St. Augustine for the information, and for kind permission to use the photographs from their album of Filsham Park Sussex 16 VAD Hospital.

This story was originally submitted by Dudley Ellis

If you know anything more about this hospital then contact us and we’ll pass the information on.

 

Images from the VAD Autograph Book.  (c) All images are courtesy of Dudley Ellis

 

Images from the album of Filsham Park Sussex 16 VAD Hospital.  (c) All images are courtesy of the Canonesses of St Augustine