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NETLEY ABBEY MATTERS!
THE PAST LIVES + TIMES OF THE
ROYAL VICTORIA MILITARY HOSPITAL, NETLEY
1862 - 1966
CHAPTER 4 - THE HOSPITAL IN WORLD WAR 2 + BEYOND
1939 - 1966
At the start of 1939, the Hospital was still managing the treatment and rehabilitation of the British Army forces who had been involved in the Palestine Uprising which began in 1936.
With the rise of Hitler's Nazi Party which was becoming increasingly aggressive and expansional,
another war with Germany appeared certain. Conscription was re-introduced in April 1939.
At the start of the Second World War, British General Hospital No 4 was the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley. It served as one of the main muster points for medical staff being posted to France, including the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS).
During the Second World War, Netley Hospital treated around 68,000 casualties.
New Year's Eve Dancing
A New Year's Eve Ball was held at the dance hall, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley Abbey on Saturday.
It was organised by QM Sergeant McDermott with Sergeant-Major Finlayson as the MC.
The music was supplied by Harold Dunn's Dance Band.
It was attended by the officers, their wives and friends and also QM Sergeants and their wives.
The hall was beautifully decorated and at midnight "Auld Lang Syne" was sung.
Hampshire Telegraph 06/01/1939
Donovan Pax Chaldecott and Flight-Lt Geoffrey Dennis Middleton
RAF Volunteer Reserve
At Netley Hospital in January 1939
Their Hawker-Hind 2-seater aeroplane crashed into the machine gun range on the aerodrome
at Air Service Training, Hamble.
Both were taken to Netley Hospital after the crash.
Mr Chaldecott received a jaw fracture. He lived at 53 Languard Road, Southampton.
Hampshire Advertiser Saturday 28/01/1939
Sapper F Evans
Royal Engineers
"He was thrown thirty feet into the air when the "suicide squad" which he was driving in Palestine
struck a landmine. He is now at the Royal Victoria Hospital Netley where other wounded soldiers
are also receiving treatment.
Even though he is a casualty, this handsome young Sapper means to have
his little joke - and Sister doesn't mind!
Private Jack Brownlow
2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment
At Netley Hospital in February 1939
He is a native of Leicester.
His sister, Mrs Dalby of 15 Goodacre Street, Leicester received a telegram asking that members
of the family should go to the hospital. His brother and another of the family travelled there.
He had been seriously injured whilst serving at Palestine.
Leicester Daily Mercury Thursday 09/02/1939
Bombardier Anderson (Andy) Miller
Royal Artillery
His home address was 13 Felix Road, Gosport, Hampshire. His wife's name was Thora.
He died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley on 07/04/1939.
Portsmouth Evening News 08/04/1939
Let me introduce
Mrs Beatrice Spurway
Her son, Graham, has very kindly shared his Mum's Memories of her time at Netley
Military Hospital.
[I've dipped into her stories along the timeline of this Page.]
"I was one of some 100 VADs posted to Netley Military Hospital at the beginning of the war in 1939.
Our Quarters, which were at the rear of the building, had previously been the barracks of No 4 Company RAMC. I shared a room with nine other VADs.
My first three months were spent on a medical ward. The patients were mainly from the British Expeditionary Force which had been in France for some months. They were not seriously ill, a number of gastric cases on special diets, associated with the making of milk jellies and such like in the ward kitchen."
Captain Elinor Myfanwy Chambers
Sister, QAIMNS - married surname Evans
At the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley in August 1939
She served in the Great War in France and Malta from 1914.
She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, Mons Star and Victory Medal.
After WW1 she was made a permanent reserve.
On the outbreak of World War ll, she was mobilised, travelling to Netley Hospital
before sailing to La Baule, near St Nazaire.
She was further awarded the Defence Medal. 1939 - 1945 Star and the General Service Medal.
She was released from service in October 1945, aged 60.
Imperial War Museum Memoirs
The following are two extracts from Oral Interviews recorded in 1986, giving an insight into
Ear, Nose + Throat Treatment at Netley Hospital -
Mr R W Day
He had enlisted in the 3rd Royal Signal Corps in 1932 and in November 1939,
holding the rank of Second Lieutenant, he was sent to Netley Hospital by the
Unit Medical Officer at Stubbington, suffering with severe head pains.
He was admitted to the Hospital under the supervision of Major (Frank) Douglas Marsh,
ENT Specialist, diagnosed with Sinus Congestion. His sinuses were drained with a permanent
drainage hole being left in his mouth to allow future secretions.
He was then discharged back to his Unit.
He returned to the Hospital in the summer of 1942 in much more intense pain than previously.
This time he was in hospital for a month and his nose was opened up and
they removed the congestion behind his eye!
[See below for more on Major Douglas Marsh - September 1944]
Mrs J E Austin
She was at the time a Cook with the ATS and was admitted to Netley Hospital during
December 1939, originally due to dental issues.
"I was admitted to Netley Hospital for treatment by Major Ross, the ENT Specialist.
My teeth were septic so I had cavities in my cheek bones.
These were washed out and I was allowed home.
Then I returned after Christmas with influenza and then early in 1940, I returned again
to have 8 teeth removed and my "antrims" were painfully washed out.
I was given the new M+B treatment.
"PC Tinkling, formerly village constable at Denham who, at the beginning of the war, left to join his regiment, is an inmate of Netley Hospital suffering from six wounds, including a
badly damaged thigh."
Uxbridge + West Drayton Gazette 19/01/1940
Gunner Edgar Stanley Williamson
Service No 1431145
Hampshire Yeomanry (Carabiniers)
72 Anti-Aircraft Royal Artillery
He was born on 27/07/1916, son of John Stanley and Flora Beatrice Williamson.
He lived at 97 Hampstead Road, Liverpool.
He died at Netley Hospital on 05/02/1940. aged 23.
He was buried in Netley Military Cemetery on 10/02/1940, Grave Ref 2194.
Liverpool Echo 09/02/1940
Transfer of Netley Staff
"Some members of the Netley Hospital Staff were transferred to the new Whalley Asylum which,
providing for 1400 beds, was renamed the Queen Mary Military Hospital."
Clitheroe Advertiser + Times 16/02/1940
Woolston Labour Club donates books -
If you have a connection with any articles or names mentioned in this website and either wish to learn more or have a story to share, please get in touch with me by clicking on Contact me. Thank you!
Gunner Trevor Maynard Watt McVitty
Service No 1488507
87th Battery, 24th Light Anti-Aircraft
Royal Artillery
He is the son of Rev W Presley McVitty and Gretta C A McVitty, Donaghadee, County Down
He died at Netley Hospital on 18/05/1940, age 33.
He is buried at Netley Military Cemetery, Grave Ref 446
War Dead of the Commonwealth; cwgc.org
Rifleman Cecil Leggott
Service No 3452119
1st/5th Lancashire Fusiliers
He died at Netley Hospital on 25/05/1940.
He was buried on 30/05/1940 at Netley Military Cemetery, Grave Ref 2199
Netley Military Cemetery Register
Private William Wilson
4th King's Own Scottish Rifles [Cameronians]
Patient at Netley Hospital in June 1940
"News has been received by Mrs Milligan, 62 Rosefield Road, Troqueer, Dumfries, that her son,
aged 19, died on Tuesday, 18 June at Netley Hospital as the result of a wound in the
thorax from an anti-tank bullet.
The wound was received during a period of intense fighting when Private Wilson and his comrades were assisting in covering the evacuation of the British troops. He himself was a tank driver.
Prior to the outbreak of war, he had served six months with the 4th King's Own Scottish Rifles [Cameronians], and when hostilities began, he was recalled.
He was a young man of a likeable disposition and was well known in Dumfries.
His first job leaving school was at the chocolate stall at the Lyceum Theatre.
Thereafter he was with John Campbell, builders’ merchant, Buccleuch Street, and before joining up,
with the Motor Salvage Company King Street, Maxwelltown.
He was the only son of the late William Wilson.
The funeral will take place to-day at 2.30 pm from Rosefield Road to St Andrew’s Cemetery."
Harry Male
Royal Artillery
Following the evacuation of Dunkirk in June 1940, Netley Hospital was filled to capacity, also treating members of the French Army. The Hospital would remain fully occupied during the next four years.
Second-Lt Richard Stewart Beale
Service No 126650
57th Battalion Light Anti-Aircraft Royal Artillery
He died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley on 26/09/1940, aged 22.
He is the son of Charles Edward and Daisy Mary Stewart Beale.
War Dead of the Commonwealth
Some more information from Beatrice's Memoirs giving us an insight to daily life at the Hospital
Serjeant William Baker
Service No 7340064
Royal Army Medical Corps
He died at Netley Hospital on 07/10/1940, age 33.
He was buried in Netley Military Cemetery on 12/10/1940, Grave Ref 2205.
War Dead of the Commonwealth; Netley Burial Register
Private Harry Haynes
Service No D/5262
6th Battalion Dorset Regiment
He was born in Northampton, the son of a plasterer. (1891 Census)
He is the son of John and Clara Haynes and the husband of Kate Haynes of the “Bungalow”
Harnham Hill, Cheriton, Hampshire. Father of Harry and Robert.
He died at Netley Hospital on 20/02/1941, aged 53, of heart failure and carcinoma of the left lung.
He is buried in St Michael Churchyard, Cheriton.
He is commemorated on the Kilmeston Roll of Honour.
www.cwgc.org
Private Sydney Christopher Holton
Service No 6009344
2nd Battalion Essex Regiment
He died at Netley Hospital on 28/05/1941.
He is buried at Netley Military Cemetery,
Grave Ref 988.
War Dead of the Commonwealth
Gunner Peter Stanton
Service No 1777310
225 Battery, 23 Light + AA Royal Artillery
He is the son of Pat and Mary Eva Stanton,
Regents Park, London
He died at Netley Hospital on 26/06/1941, aged 20.
He is buried at Netley Military Cemetery,
Grave Ref N989.
War Dead of the Commonwealth
Rudolf Hess
The Deputy of Adolf Hitler was brought to Netley Hospital after landing near Eaglesham,
Lanarkshire in June 1941.
One of the Oral Interviewees of the 1980s, Mrs Dawkins, told us that her husband who was a
Psychiatric Nurse on "D" Block was responsible for looking after Hess whilst he was at Netley.
Her husband was a member of the psychiatric team headed up by Dr Henry Victor Dicks
from the Tavistock Clinic who accompanied Hess when he was transferred to Camp Z, Ashvale, Aldershot.
Hess attempted to commit suicide whilst there by throwing himself over a bannister.
The information and articles displayed on this website are as a result of original research carried out by me and as such are subject to this website's copyright.
The information, photos and Army documents on Shared Hospital Stories have been supplied by the families specifically to me to display on my website.
Before sharing any of it, please check with me by clicking on Contact Me.
Thank you.
The article below followed on from the story on the left -
Private Nora Caveney
Service No W/91467
ATS attached to 5th AA Division, 35th AA Brigade, Royal Artillery
Nora, born in Todmorden on 10/05/1923, was the daughter of John and Hannah Caveney,
Walsden, Todmorden, Yorkshire.
She was posted to one of the first mixed sex batteries to take over
frontline gun sites on the south coast at Westwood, 2nd Battery, Anti-Aircraft Command, Southampton.
She operated specialist Predictor computers monitoring enemy planes approaching Britain
so as to alert gunners stationed across the UK.
On 17/04/1942, she was operating a range-finder on an anti-aircraft site.
During a German Bombing raid, Private Caveney was stood at a predictor machine following an enemy plane at the gun-site in Westwood when she was struck by a bomb splinter.
She was the first ATS girl to be killed during the war and the second employee of
Breda Visada to be killed.
She is remembered on the Breda Visada War Memorial now in Littleborough Library.
She was buried, aged 18, at Netley Military Cemetery on 20/04/1942, Grave Ref 2210.
www.littlboroughshistory.org
Postscript in June 2023 - it is expected that one of the new developments in
Netley Abbey will be named after Miss Caveney!
Lieutenant George Edward Crofton Maynard
Royal Corps of Signals
He died at Netley Hospital on 26/01/1943, aged 23.
He was buried at Netley Military Cemetery on 29/01/1943, Grave Ref CE2212
War Dead of the Commonwealth
Repatriation of PoWs from Germany
The Geneva Convention makes provision for the repatriation of all Prisoners of War, even during hostilities.
During the Second World War, it was only possible for the British and Germans to reach agreement
over the seriously ill and disabled.
Negotiations, conducted through the Red Cross, over the repatriation of seriously wounded men,
had begun in late 1940. They did not progress very far because there were far fewer
German than British men in this category. It was only after substantial numbers of Germans were taken prisoner in the Desert Campaign of 1942 that the talks resumed.
Extracted from www.WW2 Today.org.uk
The majority of repatriated soldiers were brought back in the first instance to Netley Military Hospital. Here they underwent a medical examination, any treatment required, debrief and then granted a well-earned period of leave to return to their families.
Those soldiers who had suffered amputation whilst in the care of the German doctors were now able to be fitted with prosthetics at Netley Hospital.
www.qaranc.org.uk
Major E Richardson,
Royal Field Artillery, is in Netley Hospital having been repatriated.
He brought news back about another Prisoner-of-War - Gunner Joseph Ronald Carrick - see right
Szeregowiec Jozef Dubowik
Polish Army KU1
He died at Netley Hospital on 30/06/1943, aged 30.
He is buried in Netley Military Cemetery, Grave Ref RC991
www.cwgc.org
Gunner R A Bell
129th Battery Royal Artillery
He lived at 14 St George’s Walk, Douglas.
He is 26, married and was badly wounded in the leg in Crete. His leg had to be amputated later.
His parents live at 27 Laburnum Road,
Pulrose, Isle of Man.
His wife received a printed official postcard signed by her husband to say that he was in the Royal Victoria
Hospital, Netley (clearing station for casualties) having been repatriated from Germany via Sweden.
Isle of Man Times 30/10/1943
Sergeant J K Conibear
Manx Regiment, 129th Battery RFA
He lived at “Pardess” Westminster Drive, Douglas.
He was repatriated and is currently at Netley Hospital awaiting arrival of his Army papers.
His parents are Mr + Mrs J C Conibear, 7 Hilary Park, Douglas. He is 34 years. He was badly injured in the chest during the Battle of Crete.
Isle of Man Times Saturday, 30/10/1943
More repatriated servicemen get to go home via Netley Hospital ...
Captain Gilbert Frank Hodgkinson
5th Bn Sherwood Foresters attached to the Highland Division
He is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Hodgkinson, of Parkfields, Kedleston Road, Derby and the only Derby officer among the repatriated prisoners of war.
He arrived home on Saturday after spending two days each at Netley, near Southampton, and at Oxford since landing at Leith.
He was wounded in June 1940
Derby Daily Telegraph 02/11/1943
Corporal Geoffrey Sutcliffe
Royal Army Service Corps
He is the son of Mrs Sutcliffe, 4 Glenview Terrace, Moorhead, Shipley.
He was admitted into hospital in Germany suffering with polyneuritis in 1940.
He returned to the Port of Leith but despatched to Netley Hospital for a medical examination before being allowed home on leave.
Shipley Times and Express 03/11/1943
Netley Hospital Staff and Patients
evacuate to Westbury, Wiltshire as the Americans arrive ...
Julie and I have now identified that it was indeed to Leighton House in Westbury that the Royal Victoria Hospital relocated before the US Army and Navy moved on to the Netley site.
"Leigh House in Leighton Park was built by the Phipps Family about 1800. It remained in the family until 1888 when it was sold to William Laverton. The Laverton Family were great benefactors to Westbury Village.
In 1921, the house was sold again and became a Boys' School, Victoria College which closed in 1936. In 1939 the house was requisitioned and opened as a Convalescent Hospital, housing part of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley.
During the war, a large number of wards, together with accommodation and service blocks, were erected in the grounds, the majority of which were removed post-war."
www.historicengland.org.uk
The House is still with us today.
The "Yanks" Are Coming!
Sixty miles northeast of Netley, the normally tranquil Bushey Park was being transformed
into a military camp.
By early 1944 it was converted into Camp Griffiss, the Supreme Headquarters of Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF). From there, General Dwight Eisenhower directed Operation Overlord, the code name for the Allied forces assault on German-occupied north-east Europe.
The American forces needed a hospital to serve as a primary site to deal with the expected influx of casualties. The Royal Victoria Military Hospital was in the right place to serve one of its last
major roles in its long history.
By mid-January 1944, it was transferred to the US Army to establish the 28th US General Hospital at Netley which would become the US Army 110th Station Hospital, occupying a single storey building on the northern side of the property. By February 1944, the main building of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital was occupied by Base Hospital 12 US Navy, SNAG 56.
The entire region was covered with American soldiers.
Military vehicles were parked along most of the streets
Hektoen International - A Journal of Medical Humanities - Samuel K Parish
Excerpt from US Navy Medical Department at War Volume 2 on Netley Hospital:
Below - Document transferring RVH from the US Army to the US Navy -
General Hood (British Army) met General Hawley (US Army)
at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley in February 1944
to officially hand the Hospital over
[taken from documents held in the Wellcome Collection]
The Advance Party - the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Senior Dental Officer,
Chief Nurse, 2 Hospital Corps Officers + 6 enlisted men
arrived at Gourock, Ayrshire, Scotland on the “Queen Mary” on 28/01/1944.
They billeted in London awaiting the completion of the handover of Netley Hospital
from the US Army to the US Navy.
On 30/01/1944, Captain Brown and Captain Miller arrived at Netley.
The remainder of SNAG 56 - Commander T W Bennett, Laboratory Officer, 48 officers,
98 Nurse Corp Officers + 575 enlisted men on lockdown,
sailed on 26/01/1944 on NY40 - “HMS Aquitania” to Gourock, landing 05/02/1944.
Source “SNAG 56”, author Henry W Hudson, MC - V (S) USNR
First impressions of two US Navy Nurses on arriving at
the Royal Victoria Military Hospital ...
Mrs Helen Pavlovsky Ramsey
"The Army had been there before we arrived. I think they took over from the British and then
we came in and took over from them.
I don't think the Army was there for any length of time because they weren't ready for us.
The Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley was built during the Victorian era.
It was a very cold monstrosity. The wards were huge.
I have no idea how many beds there were in a ward. There was a fireplace at either end.
This made the place terribly cold and damp and certainly not conducive to treating patients.
The Seabees [US Navy construction battalion personnel] came over and remodelled the whole thing
to make it usable. They converted those wood-burning fireplaces - actually wood was at a premium
so they burned a kind of coke [refined coal] - to gas and that kept us warmer."
Mrs Sara Marcum Kelley
"Unfortunately, the hospital was not in great condition. The plumbing was atrocious.
From the bathtubs and the sinks, the water drained into a trough that went half way
around the room before it finally went into a pipe and out.
Each room had about 30 or 35 beds, but the rooms weren't connected, which is not
very efficient when it comes to nursing because you would have to go out into
the main corridor and then around into the room.
Usually you were just assigned to one room and then you would help out someplace else if you weren't busy.
Luckily, the Seabees came and put in showers.
They also did some work on the nurses' quarters, so unlike the Army nurses who had to live in tents, we were able to live inside.
www.Naval History + Heritage Command; Recollection of Nurses supporting the Invasion of Normandy, June 1944
Now instead of storeys or floors, the Hospital had "decks"
1st “Deck” -
Orthopaedic (surgery 1 + 2), plaster room, 2 chapels, Shock Room, triage facility, another operating suite, CDR + Surgery 3 and 4; Admin Offices
2nd “Deck” -
Burn Wards, Medical 1 - 4 and SCQ
3rd “Deck” -
NP Unit, Surgery 5 + 6, Dental, GU, EENT, medical library and good operating suite.
During its time at the Royal Victoria Military Hospital - 8 months and 11 days - the US Navy treated over 9000 patients, between 30 - 35% of whom received penicillin and worked its way through the following -
537,500 cubic cms of Plasma
389,500 cubic cms of intravenous solutions
794 gallons of alcohol
50,000 sedative tablets
143,500 sulfa tablets
71 lbs of sulfa drug powders
50,300,000 units of penicillin
299 pints of medicinal whisky
4958 bandages
5326 lbs of cotton
2500 lbs of Plaster of Paris
100,000 yards of crinoline
200 rolls of sheet wadding
Source “SNAG 56”, a book by Henry W Hudson, MC - V (S) USNR
Another Excerpt from US Navy Medical Department at War Volume 2 on Netley Hospital:
[Footnotes referenced above:
22 - "Neuropsychiatric cases are not included among the war casualties";
23 - "Statistics relating to admissions subsequent to 1 June" - see below for further details.]
American nurses who worked at RVMH recalled the preparation and influx of casualties from the invasion.
There were large numbers of shellshocked soldiers and rapid surgical interventions for the wounded, with removal of bullets and shrapnel, debridement of large wounds, the first use of penicillin and sulfa and then transfer to other military hospitals for definitive care.
Some of the wards held over thirty patients, though originally designed for less than half the number.
Hektoen International, A Journal of Medical Humanities, Samuel K Parish
Mrs Helen Pavlovsky Ramsey comments on D-Day and Treating Casualties -
"One day it seemed like the whole area was full of ships and the next morning there was not a single one. We knew the invasion was beginning. We were on alert. We could not leave and were on duty 24 hours a day. We didn't know what we were waiting for.
And then the casualties came. It took about 3 or 4 days after the invasion before we started receiving casualties. I was an operating room supervisor. We had two operating room theaters, one upstairs and one downstairs.
At first, we started out with one and then we required two because we just couldn't handle all the casualties in one theater. When I say theater, I mean several rooms, each room with its own surgeon and nurse, and corpsman [enlisted Navy medical personnel]. It was one big unit. I was in charge of the one downstairs. The first casualties came into my operating room. I remember how busy we were and how they kept coming and coming and we had no place to put them. We put them out in the halls and everywhere.
"We were only there as a receiving hospital. So we didn't keep them very long. The operating room nurses would pitch in and help the doctors do debridements and remove bullets. Until recently, I had the first bullet I had removed myself and managed to keep it for many years but I have lost it.
Anyway, we were busy and we never thought about food or sleep or anything else. The doctors as well as the nurses and corpsmen were taking care of patients. We did not sleep for the first 24 hours, and then finally sleep had to be rationed because no one would leave their work.
Our food was brought to us in surgery. We lived on sandwiches and coffee for a long time. When we had a minute, we would grab a bite. And that's the way we handled the first 24 hours. As the casualty load lightened, things got back to a decent pace.
I also got to use penicillin for the first time. We had these little tin cans that looked like salt shakers. They contained a mixture of penicillin and, I'm sure, sulfathiazole, and we would just use them like salt shakers and sprinkle it into the wounds. And I've read since, that it was that mixture of sulfa and penicillin used in those early days that saved many a limb and kept infections down to almost zero. They were both miracle drugs. Of course, we also gave penicillin intravenously.
www.Naval History + Heritage Command; Recollection of Nurses supporting Invasion of Normandy, June 1944
Last few excepts from US Navy Medical Report -
Footnote 23 expanded -
Sally P contacted me via this website in April 2023 to share the story of her Grandpa -
Private First Class James William Powell
Service No 35799218
195th Medical Ambulance Detachment, US Army
He was born on 17 September 1923 in Irvine, Estill Kentucky.
On 30 June 1942, at the tender age of 18, he was drafted into the US Army in the middle of WW2.
He was eventually shipped overseas to his final destination of Southampton.
James trained as a heavy truck vehicle driver and ended up driving the
ambulances to and from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley.
James was discharged on 17 February 1946 at Sep Cen Camp, Atterbury, Indiana.
James had one daughter, Barbara and then his son, David, who was born in Southampton in 1946. Being a war baby, David knew nothing of his father, only that he was an American serviceman
until one of his daughters took a DNA Test with an ancestry company and found a
cousin living in Tulsa, Florida.
Unfortunately, James had passed away on 6 March 1999 before this happened.
However, we have been in touch with the American side of the family and some of them
came over to meet their UK relatives soon after the discovery.
It was an amazing time for all concerned and the bond everyone formed will last a lifetime.
Dave and his wife met his sister and husband after travelling to Kentucky in September 2019.
I'm pleased to say the meeting was a resounding success with brother and sister bonding
straight away.
Daughter, Son and Grandson on the presentation to his son of the US Flag which draped
James's coffin. Such an emotional moment for all the family.
James William Powell is buried in Bushnell, Sumpter County, Florida.
Thank you Sally for allowing us to share your Grandpa's story.
Daily Log of Ambulance Trains leaving the Royal Victoria Hospital Netley -
between 17 June 1944 and 29 April 1946.
Donated by Warrant Office ll R Bishop, RAMC DMed, Ludgershall held in the Wellcome Collection
Headings - Date; Train No; Destination; Time Out; Running total of Trains; Patients' Total (per train)
First page and last page shown below - 14 pages in total
Summary - 442 trains left Netley Hospital during this period
Mrs Burry's Memories of working with the US Personnel from 1944
"At the time I was living in Woolston. I was sent up to the Hospital by the Labour Exchange and worked as a Record Keeper in E Block, the Clearing Station alongside the US Personnel. There were 100 different wards staffed by American Nurses.
The names I remember were -
Captain Wolfe from Virginia; Sergeant Reasoner from New York. He had been an Insurance Clerk;
Sergeant Zachary from Detroit. He had worked at the National Biscuit Company;
Corporal Havennick from Pennsylvania. He was Polish;
Corporall De Rucher;
Warrant Officer Kinney;
Mr Brandhoff was of German descent,
Sergeant Walters came from Tampa, Fl.
I received my pay through the British Pay Establishment but the US Navy topped my wages up by paying me "bogus" overtime. Every morning and every night, the US Flag was raised and then lowered whilst the Stars + Stripes played. Post D-Day, our Unit received a Citation for their hard work."
Interview recorded at the Park Offices in May 1986
Verne C Opperman
ID No 517-225, Rank MoMM2c
US Naval Reserve
He was transferred from 79th US Army Hospital, Netley to USS LST262 on 07/02/1945,
on completion of his treatment.
Fold3 US Navy Muster Rolls February 1945
Miss Amy Selina Dunnett
has been awarded an MBE for "gallant and distinguished service" while serving on the Continent as a Sister with Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Reserve.
Michael Hadala
ID No 203 5526, US Army
He was transferred from USS LST291 to 79th General Hospital, Netley on 05/03/1945
and then transferred back on ship on 20/03/1945 once medical treatment completed. .
Verbal order by Medical Officer LST Group 32.
Fold3 WW2 US Navy Muster Rolls, month ending 31/03/1945
"The Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, which has been occupied by wounded
American soldiers, will be returned to the Royal Army Medical Corps on Thursday.
At the formal ceremony, the speakers will include Major-General Paul R. Hawley, Surgeon of the
United States Forces in the European Theatre, and Lt-General Sir Alexander Hood,
Director-General of the Royal Army Medical Service."
Belfast Newsletter 17/07/1945
Above - "Brigadier-General Charles Spruit of Washington hands a golden key to Lieutenant-General Hood of the British authorities, thus signifying that the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley, Hants has passed back to our control."
Liverpool Evening Express Friday 20/07/1945
Whilst researching for this Page, I compiled a list of about 130 names of US Servicemen who passed through Netley Hospital whilst it was occupied by both the US Army and Navy.
Excel file - Information extracted from Fold3 USNR Files
If you wish to check if any of your US relatives are included in this list,
please get in touch via
Contact Me
Private Norah May Davies
Service No W/792007
Voluntary Aid Detachment
She was the daughter of Thomas Richard and Sarah Eleanor Davies, Prestatyn, Flintshire.
She died at Netley Hospital, aged 28, on 23/08/1945.
She was buried in Netley Military Cemetery on 27/08/1945, Grave Ref CE2215
Netley Military Cemetery Register
Last Excerpt from Beatrice's Memories ...
Corporal Richie Williams
Royal Air Force
Patient in Netley Hospital in November 1945
He had a brother called Frank who was in 30 Squadron RAF and died in Crete on 20/05/1941.
Their parents were Mr and Mrs T G William, 21 Wood Road, Pontypridd, South Wales.
He had another brother called Tom and a sister Joan.
He died at Netley Hospital on 11/11/1945.
Pontypridd Observer 11/11/1945
More memories from Mrs Dawkins, interviewed in 1986 - I met her when she and her family came to the "Raise the Roof" event in the Country Park in the Summer of 2017. I took a photo of her with Queen Victoria, aka our own Maureen Queen, Councillor of this Parish.
"We were the first family to live in the married quarters, no 7, in 1946. I remember the St Patrick's Night Balls, children's parties, New Year Eve "dos", the cinema and Shows used to come to the Garrison Theatre - Gracie + Sid Fields, Nellie Wallace.
The Sisters' Quarters were over the Museum; they had their own maids and cook and were considered to be very much in command. German PoWs helped around the hospital. They wore brown uniforms with orange patches."
Lasting Friendship
Mrs. Dorothy Greenwood and Mr Joseph Sessions
Mrs Greenwood died at Eastbourne last June.
In her Will, published on Friday, Mr Sessions, a Gardener, will receive £7000.
In her Will, Mr Sessions is described as "My faithful servant".
During the war Mrs Greenwood devoted all her time to looking after the needs of the patients at Netley Military Hospital and she stocked an extensive library for their benefit.
Mr. Sessions first met her in 1940 when, as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, he was a patient at the hospital.
“If anyone wanted anything, Mrs. Greenwood saw that they had it, no matter what it cost,”
he told the Observer reporter last night. "She treated us like her own sons. She was a marvellous lady.”
Mr. Sessions bound the books in the library and became a special friend of Mrs. Greenwood,
frequently visiting her after he had been demobilised.
Sussex Agricultural Express 17/01/1947
Sir Almroth Wright passes away on 30/04/1947
The Northern Whig on 02/05/1947 added this Postscript -
"Except in his researches, Wright was not a man of infinite patience, he did not suffer fools gladly
and he is reputed to have turned in anger upon his opponents:
'I can give you data, I can give you facts, but I cannot give you brains.' "
In 1900, he had two years to live ...
Mr Walter Harry Lawrence
He was formerly a Sergeant in the 1st Battalion the Border Regiment, long associated with
Cumberland and Westmorland, who was told 48 years ago that if he took things quietly
he would last a couple of years.
He is still very much alive at the age of 77. This weekend he and Mrs Lawrence, who live at 48 Bridgewater Gardens, Edgware, Middlesex, celebrated their Golden Wedding.
In October 1899 Sergeant Lawrence, Reservist, was recalled to the Colours for service in South Africa.
In 1900 he was seriously wounded in the head at Spion Kop.
An operation was carried out on the field and then sent home to Netley Hospital,
where he recovered consciousness, and was later discharged, disabled.
A telegram of congratulation on his Golden Wedding was sent to Mr Lawrence from the
Border Regiment Regimental Association, and the Colonel of the Border Regiment,
Major-General P. J. Shears, sent the veteran warm letter with good wishes."
Sunday Post 01/08/1948
Q.A.I.M.N.S. GETS NEW NAME
Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service is to change its title to
Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
aka QARANC
This was announced in the House of Commons recently when the Secretary of State for War (Mr, E. Shinwell) said the King had intimated that as soon as the Army and Air Force (Women’s Service) Act has been brought into operation he will be pleased to constitute the existing Army Nursing Services, namely the Queen Alexandra s Imperial Military Nursing Service, and its Reserve, and the Territorial Army Nursing Service, a Corps, the Army under the title Queen Alexandra’s Royal Nursing Corps.’’
Torbay Express and South Devon Echo 06/01/1949
Testing superiority of "seaman" over "landlubber"?
A team of Master Mariners calling themselves "The Old Cachalot Club" have thrown down the
gauntlet to the staff of the Royal Victoria Hospital to demonstrate the "all-round" superiority of seamen.
The Quiz takes place at the Hospital on Monday evening.
Torbay Express + South Devon Echo 18/06/1949
Bugler John Francis Dunn
1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers
At Netley Hospital in December 1899
He passed away in January 1950 in Sydney, Australia
He was born at the Smelt at Port St Mary, his Mother being a Manx woman; his Father was Irish.
As a boy of 15 years old, the gallant little Bugler having been shot through his right arm and wounded in the chest by shell fire whilst sounding the advance for the epic battle of Colenso which resulted in the relief of Ladysmith, transferred the bugle to his left hand and though in terrible pain, continued to sound the advance and urged the troops forward.
He was invalided home to Netley Hospital. Queen Victoria commanded that he proceed to Osborne to see him and get his autograph. He was later presented with a silver bugle bearing an inscription that it was a gift from Her Majesty in recognition of his valour on the field of battle, to replace the original one which he had lost during the fray.
He married in 1909 a Fiji lady and his two daughters were born in Fiji.
They had a son later back in Australia.
In 1913, he went to Dublin and then returned to Fiji in time to take up arms again when war broke out.
Most of his later life was spent at sea and in 1937 he was badly smashed up in a shipwreck in New Guinea.
He passed away in January 1950 in the War Memorial Hospital at Waverley, Sydney, Australia.
He was cremated on 03/02/1950 attended by some half-dozen Boer War heroes
from the Battle of Colenso.
Hants and Berks Gazette and Middlesex and Surrey Journal 17/02/1900; Isle of Man Examiner Friday 10/02/1950
Private David Hamilton Hardisty
Mrs Wotton was interviewed in 1985. She shared the following memories -
"I lived in Netley Abbey. My husband was a dentist with a private practice in Southampton
with a man called Cork.
Our house had a garden going down to the water between the Recreation Ground and the Hospital.
Soldiers and officers of all ranks were welcome to drop in for tea and a chat."
Physical Training Officer Eric Sylvester
At Netley in 1950
He was in charge of physical training and rehabilitation at the hospital and of the remedial treatment of convalescents. Winchester Records Office holds a photograph of him and his dog, Victor
and 2 testimonials from fellow employees.
This was his last military posting. After leaving the Army, he worked for 25 years in the police force.
Winchester Records Office Online Catalogue, donated by his son, Eric Sylvester of Brixham, Devon in 1997
Korean War Injured treated at Netley Hospital
Lt Anne Skinner and other QAs congregate at Netley Hospital awaiting their departure date
Below - best I could get, sorry - trust the Daily Mirror to put a byline in the
middle of an article!
Sergeant William Dunbar
Argyll + Sutherland Highlanders
Age 32, he lived at Ruthven Street, Perth.
He had been in Korea one month.
He was involved in the taking of Hill 406 in the Naktong River area of South Korea on 23/09/1950. He received 7 injuries with one bullet in the arm and across his chest.
Northampton Chronicle + Echo 16/12/1950
Lieutenant James Stirling
Argyll + Sutherland Highlanders
Age 20, lived at Sandyholes, Kippen, Stirlingshire.
He received gunshot wounds to his left wrist in the counter-attack in which US Planes fired on British soldiers during the fighting on Hill 406.
He arrived at Netley Hospital on the Dilwara. Northampton Chronicle + Echo 16/12/1950
Private Dennis Frize
Argyll + Sutherland Highlanders.
Age 19, of Tontine Park, Reton, Dunbartonshire.
He was burned on the body, face and hands in the US bombing attack in the area of the Naktong River at Hill 406, South Korea in September 1950.
He returned home to Netley Hospital on the "Dilwara".
Northampton Chronicle + Echo 16/12/1950
Corporal William Smith
1st Bn Middlesex Regiment.
Age 22, he lived at Highfield Street,
West Dunkinfield, Cheshire.
He lay in the open for 24 hours after receiving shrapnel wounds in the arms and legs during the counter-attack in which US Planes fired on British soldiers during the fighting on Hill 406.
He arrived at Netley on "Dilwara".
Northampton Chronicle + Echo 16/12/1950
Private James Johnson,
Argyle + Sutherland Highlanders
Age 20 of Whitefalls Avenue, Maybole, Ayrshire.
He was injured during the accidental bombing by US planes during the counter attack on Hill 406,
Naktong River in September 1950.
He was brought back to Netley on the Hospital Ship "Dilwara".
Falkirk Herald 23/12/1950
Private Charles Campbell,
Argyll + Sutherland Highlanders
Age 26, living at Calder Street, Alloa, Clacks
He was injured during US accidental bombing of British soldiers in the area of Hill 406.
He was brought back to Netley Hospital on "Dilwara"
Falkirk Herald 23/12/1950
Private John Smith
Argyll + Sutherland Highlanders
Age 21, lived at Newcannon Street,
Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire.
He suffered shell shock during the US
accidental bombing of British troops at Hill 406. He returned home to Netley Hospital on Dilwara. [Falkirk Herald 23/12/1950
Corporal Archibald Mitchell
Argyll + Sutherland Highlanders
Age 23, living at Main Street, Bonhill, Dunbartonshire.
He received a gunshot wound in the neck during the counter-attack at Hill 406.
He was brought to Netley on "Dilwara".
Falkirk Herald 23/12/1950
Miss Mary Chainey worked in the NAAFI at Netley Hospital.
She was born in Bitterne in 1929. She met her future husband Kevin Philson whilst working there.
They were married in 1951.
Website contact Linda Callaway gave details of her Mum + Dad in October 2019
Old Medical Records held at Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley
Between February and May 1951, there was correspondence between Netley Military Hospital and the Royal Medical College at Millbank concerning whether these records should stay at Netley or be held in the College Library or forwarded to the Corps Museum
The earliest records covered "Half Yearly Returns + Reports of Sick" from 25/09/1815 covering the South East Division. The last records covering Canada, Bermuda, Barbaras and Jamaica were "Annual Reports + Returns of Sick for the year 1891.
It was agreed that the Records should be removed from Netley Hospital.
On 2 May 1951, Colonel J W Hyatt, Commanding Officer of Netley Hospital wrote (below left)
to the Commandant of the RM College advising that 8 cases of Medical Records had been
consigned to the College by rail.
The letter, below right, confirms their receipt at Millbank.
Text + images from Wellcome Library
Private Doreen Brown
Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps
History was recently made in Germany with the arrival of the first party of "other ranks" of QARANC ever
to come to BAOR, the British Army on the Rhine.
Doreen, from Abertillery, is the daughter of Mr + Mrs G Brown of 43 Portland Street.
Prior to joining the Nursing Corps, she was a member of the Abertillery Girl Guides and later
the Girls' Training Corps.
She joined QARANC last October and after three months at the depot at Hindhead, she joined the Staff of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley. Her training will continue without interruption while she is in BAOR.
South Wales Gazette 05/10/1951
The Army School of Physiotherapy
at Netley
The School was located at the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley until 1941 when it relocated to Sherford Camps, Taunton.
It returned to Netley Hospital in 1947.
In early 1952, personnel from the newly formed Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corp (QAs) were admitted to the School to be the first Army girls to be trained as physiotherapists.
This was also the period of National Service and many of the students only sat the Physiotherapy Case lll exams and then left the service.
[Extracted from Len Asplin - "History of Physiotherapy in the Army", RAMC Reunited Newsletter March 2016]
Sergeant Jim Chappell
R Battery 457 HAA Regiment Royal Artillery
He died at Netley Hospital on 07/02/1952.
Many tributes appeared in the Portsmouth Evening News of 09/02/1952 from family and his comrades alike
Private James Clarke
King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Patient at Netley Hospital
He was attached to the Convalescent Wing at Netley Hospital having been wounded in the left
arm in Korea in November 1951. He was 21 years old.
Feeling hungry, he decided to go into Netley Village so had broken out of the barracks
on 17/04/1952 as a defaulter. On his way back from getting food, he had been spotted
by Lance-Corporal Foster of the Royal Military Police.
At a Court Martial on 06/05/1952 at Hilsea Barracks, he denied using violence to the
superior officer by kicking him on the shin. He received 84 days' detention as a defaulter.
He told the court that he had not yet regained full use of his arm which still pained him and when the
Officer had grabbed him by the arm, he had kicked out automatically.
He was found not guilty of this charge.
Portsmouth Evening News 06/05/1952
Soldiers from Netley Hospital, wounded in Korea, were among the spectators at the miniature "Royal Tournament" staged by the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force at Brockhurst recreation Ground, Gosport on Saturday.
Portsmouth Evening News 26/05/1952
Marvin Schwarting, US Army was stationed with the 110th Station Hospital at Netley in 1944.
Whilst over there, he met Miss Thelma Barrett who was teaching at a boys' school in Devon.
They were married at Netley and their daughter Penelope was born before the
family moved to the US in 1946.
In August 1952, the family returned to visit Thelma's family in London and Peterborough
before sailing home on the "United States" from Southampton in September.
Their impressions of Britain since they returned?
Both agreed that "Everything seems so small"; their children thought double-decker buses were marvellous.
Peterborough Standard 22/08/1952
Romance at Netley Hospital
Please Contact me if you recognise any of the names shown on this new page and can add further information or you are happy to share your relative's story on Shared Hospital Stories. Thank you.
Lt-Colonel Herbert Sidney Hill
Major F R Costigan - Manager of the W D Laundry
at Netley
Robert Leslie Davidson, 4th Company RAMC, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley was charged with breaking into the office of Newington Bricks Ltd on 06/04/1953 and stealing postage stamps and a propelling pencil together valued at 2s 2.5d and with having in his possession at the time of apprehension a firearm.
He was sent for trial to the East Kent Quarter Sessions.
East Kent Gazette 17/04/1953
Korean Prisoners-of-War return home
Ex-prisoners returning from Korean Prisoner-of-War Camps on 16 September will arrive at Southampton Docks. The Authorities say that all returning ex-prisoners will get 35 days' leave
as well as any leave to which they are entitled.
The freed men and relatives will travel from Southampton in special trains but relatives will have to pay their own fares. Pressure is now being put on Leeds' Coach firms to allow
relatives free transport to meet their loved ones.
Any men who are not well when the ship get into port will go straight to the
Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley.
Yorkshire Post + Leeds Intelligencer 03/09/1953
Ex-Naval Officer gets damages
Damages for the war-time submarine ace ex-Lieutenant-Commander Alastair Mars have
been agreed by the Admiralty following High Court writs taken out by Mr Mars in May.
The Admiralty has agreed to pay him £2500 in settlement of a damages' claim
for being placed in the locked and barred mental wing of Netley Military Hospital.
The writs have been withdrawn as part of the terms of the settlement.
Mr Mars was court-martialled in HMS Victory at Portsmouth in 1952 and was sentenced to be
dismissed from the Service for disobeying an order to take up an appointment.
He lost his pension rights but received a gratuity.
Hampshire Telegraph 23/04/1954
Private Edward George Whiten
Major Barbara M Gordon
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
Staff Member at Netley Hospital in July 1959
She was made an Associate of the Royal Red Cross in the 1954 Birthday Honours List and received her award from the Queen at the Investiture at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 13/07/1954.
She lived in Hepburn Gardens, St Andrews. Her early training was done in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
She had just returned from service in Malta and is now stationed at Netley Hospital.
St Andrews Citizen 17/07/1954
Lt-Colonel Richard Adair Rochfort
Lance-Corporal Colin Drury
Oxford + Bucks Light Infantry
Patient at Netley Hospital August 1954
He was run over by a Centurion Tank during an exercise in Germany and survived.
He rolled over to avoid an advancing tank but rolled directly into the path of another.
It missed his head by inches but he felt his ribs crunch one by one.
He lived because he had been pressed into the heather and soft earth.
He escaped with 7 broken ribs, a broken collar-bone and shoulder blade and a lung injury.
He is now a walking-out patient at Netley Hospital and is doing so well,
it is expected he will be discharged perfectly fit shortly.
The People 17/10/1954
The War Office first received estimates for the repair of the Pier but they were so frighteningly large that they also called for estimates for its demolition. The decision was then taken to demolish the Pier.
What's on at Netley Hospital as reported in the RAMC Magazine issued in July 1955
Major Herbert Lonsdale Chatfield, MC, MBE
13th Bn Hampshire Home Guard
Late Borderers Regiment (1912), followed by 4th Bn Durham Light Infantry
He was born in Cockermouth, Cumbria on 26/06/1890. He married Eileen Frances Katherine Watson
on 26/09/1923. They had one daughter born in 1924.
The family lived at Highfield House, Manchester Road, Netley Abbey.
He was awarded the MBE for "meritorious conduct in the Home Guard whilst in an 'invalid chair'".
He died on 24/09/1955, age 65, and is buried in Netley Military Cemetery.
Research done by current resident at Highfield House
Aircraftsman Derek Randle, 19, who was charged with absenting himself on January 28
while at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, was remanded in custody to await an escort.
Coventry Evening Telegraph 06/02/1956
Gunner Brian Colclough
Royal Artillery
A War Office spokesman said -
"The Inquiry has been held in private and a report is on its way to the War Office."
Belfast Telegraph 03/05/1956
Followed by -
"The soldier's father will be informed as fully as possible as soon as we have received all the reports."
Western Mail 04/05/1956
During 1956, the Convalescent Wing moved away to Chester, the General Hospital moved to the more modern E Block and the original "D Block" became the Psychiatric Hospital.
www.hants.gov.uk Blurb about Netley Hospital
Gunner Michael Braby
Royal Artillery
Patient at Netley Hospital in June 1956
He told his father, a clergyman at Petersfield, that he had been assaulted by a man called
Arthur Halls-Walls. He was 19 at the time of the offence.
Chelsea News + General Advertiser 29/06/1956
Build up of military equipment and troops as Suez Crisis beckons.
Sister Diane Mary Sweet
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
Serving at Netley Hospital in 1956
She was fined £2.00 for a motoring offence ie failing to comply with a "Halt" sign
by Liskeard Magistrates on Wednesday 03/10/1956
Cornish Guardian 04/10/1956
Below is the only Netley Hospital related newspaper cutting I've come across so far for 1957
In September 2017, Jane and I interviewed Aled Green who had been stationed, as
Quartermaster, at the Royal Victoria Military Hospital from October 1957 until it closed.
He came down to the main building from the Psychiatric Hospital every other day.
All the operating equipment had been removed to the Royal Woolwich Hospital before he arrived.
He was responsible for clearing out the "remaining contents" of the Main Hospital - tables, chairs, beds.
Kitchen utensils and other stainless steel items were sent for scrap/recycling to Gosport.
He told us a story of a truck arriving at the Hospital full of new metal bed frames, mattresses and bedding.
He called the Depot to explain that as the Hospital was closing down, these items were not required.
He was told to unload the truck and take "appropriate action" to dispose of the contents.
Fort Wellington, Gosport happily sent transport to collect the bed frames. The bedding was sent to
Linen Stores at the Army Depot. He stored away some of the mattresses but burned the remainder
and the tables and chairs up in the Tennis Courts as instructed.
and none at all for 1958!
However, Hampshire County Council documents held at the Winchester Records Office, advise -
"the main building of the Royal Victoria Hospital closed its doors to patients in 1958 and the building
stood empty for several years. The high costs of maintaining the building, along with all its impracticalities
as a hospital, meant that it was more cost-effective for the Army to move its medical services elsewhere."
www.hants.gov.uk
Terry Dene aka Rifleman Terence Williams
National Service with the Green Jackets
Patient at Netley Psychiatric Hospital January 1959
A Facebook contact, Jo Gregory, shared one of her Dad's memories of his band -
"Art Dixey and his Band" played at a Valentine Dance Party at Netley Hospital in February 1959.
She still has one of the Dance tickets as a memento but unfortunately it was too faint to
be reproduced here.
Thank you Jo!
Those mattresses which Aled Green had decided not to destroy but to store safely, became useful in 1959 when first, as shown above, Hungarian refugees were given shelter in June and then later in October, when more refugees arrived at the Hospital following Hurricane Gracie hitting Tristan da Cunha.
Colonel James Wynn Hyatt
Commandant at Netley Hospital 1948 - 1951
Passed away at his home at Southwell. Trull, near Taunton on 08/12/1959, aged 65.
He belonged to a well known Shepton Mallet family and joined the Army during the Great War soon after he
had qualified as a Doctor. He served in France and Flanders in WWl.
Between 1925 - 1930, he was with the Sudan Defence Force.
When the last war started, he was back in France in command of the Sixth Field Ambulance Unit.
He was evacuated from Dunkirk and later took the unit to India.
Since 1955 he had been in charge of the Medical Reception Centre at Middleway Camp, Taunton.
He leaves a wife, daughter and son.
His funeral took place at Evercreech on Friday.
Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser 12/12/1959
PS: He is in the 1951 Photo above outside the Front Entrance to the Hospital.
He is, I believe, 9th in from the right?
Gas Explosion at Netley Hospital
Round Trip to Fiji paid by the Army!
On 25 June 1963, a fire swept through the 70ft high four-storey front wing of the unoccupied main
building of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley.
Ten fire appliances from Hampshire Fire Service attended the scene and a fire boat pumped extra water
from Southampton Water. Seventy-five firemen brought the blaze under control in just over three hours.
The wing, 60 x 40 yards, was badly damaged.
About a quarter of a mile away inside the grounds, at the nearby Psychiatric Centre for the Army + Navy,
the 150 patients slept on undisturbed.
The firemen prevented the blaze spreading to the Royal Chapel and the Roman Catholic Church,
both of which are housed in the hospital grounds.
Coventry Evening Telegraph 25/06/1963
Following further damage sustained in the winter of 1963 when pipes froze and burst,
the decision was taken to demolish all the Main Hospital buildings.
Brigadier Desmond John Francis Murphy
Commanding Officer at Royal Victoria Hospital 1964
Royal Army Medical Corps
He was born on 22/05/1913 at Kilrane, near Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford.
He was commissioned into the RAMC in 1939 and went to France with the BEF as Medical Officer to HQ Royal Engineers 1st Division. He was with the 2nd Field Ambulance during the withdrawal at Dunkirk.
He took part in the Normandy landings as CO of the 7th Field Dressing Station.
In 1945 he was mentioned in despatches and attended the first post-war Staff College course following which he was offered formal training in psychiatry.
In 1951 he moved to Netley.
In 1953 he was appointed Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the RAMC College and after a posting to Singapore, he returned to Netley as senior specialist in psychiatry.
He retired from the Army for a spell to organise an adolescent psychiatric centre for the NHS
but rejoined the RAMC in 1962 for a second tour of duty in BAOR.
He was sent to Spandau prison in Berlin to assess the mental state of Rudolf Hess.
In 1964 he took command of Netley Hospital.
During his command, he had the task of overseeing the demolition of the Hospital.
He wrote to the National Newspapers asking folk to send him their memories of the Hospital.
Wellcome Collection Memories
The Royal Victoria Military Hospital is demolished!
Demolition started on 16 September 1966 when the bulldozers and cranes smashed down the noble brickwork and masonry. The foundation stone level being reached by the end of the year.
[www.hants.gov.uk blurb on the Hospital Demolition]
Considering how much the newspapers, the length and breadth of the UK, reported throughout the
lifetime of Netley Hospital, the dearth of news about its ultimate fate is surprising.
There are currently no articles to be found on British Newspaper Archive online.
The central Chapel was preserved intact as an historic museum and visitor centre on the property,
later to be named the Royal Victoria Country Park.
Hektoen International, A Journal of Medical Humanities, Samuel K Parish
Davy Jackson, one of the Demolition Team, interviewed at the Park Offices in 2017 told us that although
the Army had instructed that the entire site, including the Royal Chapel, was to be demolished, Bill Perry
in charge of the demolition had concerns about destroying a Church of God and so had opted to leave it standing.
According to a later article in the Telegraph, Colonel Murphy was so worried that the valuables believed to be buried there might not be in place that he sneaked up the night before with his RSM.
Opening a casket inside the foundation stone, he discovered a prototype Victoria Cross,
a number of Crimean medals, plans of the hospital and a complete set of coins of the realm.
The items were carefully replaced in readiness for the pomp and splendour on the following day ....
The Grand Ceremony to uncover the foundation stone was attended by VIPs and broadcast on television on
Wednesday 7 December 1966. The Band of the Royal Army Medical Corps played.
Amongst the distinguished guests was Mr H F Longmore, the son of Surgeon General Sir Thomas Longmore, Professor of Military Surgery at the Army Medical School for over 30 years.
The stone which Queen Victoria laid is lifted; the foundation casket is opened and Colonel J F D Murphy, OC the present hospital, holds up the VC and Crimean Medal
Photos and text from Illustrated London News 17/12/1966
For a century, the Royal Victoria Military Hospital experienced the pity of war, the loss of life and limb, the permanent physical and mental scars suffered by the best of each generation.
Those who worked there and passed through its doors as patients are mostly gone now.
It remains in photos, stories, and the collective memory as a symbol of human response to the tragedy of war and the attempt to offer hope to those who risk everything in the fight for freedom, our veterans.
Hektoen International, A Journal of Medical Humanities, Samuel K Parish
The Royal Victoria Military Hospital
The story goes that it was meant for warmer climes than these
But I dunno - it looked alright, set amongst the trees,
Facing across the water to the ships, the Forest too
'Course when they built up Fawley, then they went and spoiled the view.
A quarter-mile they said it was from one end to the other.
Flo Nightingale, she made a fuss and said "t'would be a bother
For nurses running back and forth and cleaning floors and things.
I see 'em now, their flutt'ring veils spread out like angels' wings!
There - past the forecourt - up on the steps by the Foundation Stone -
They hung a shawl Victoria made when she was on the throne.
Glass cases stuffed with many things stood all around the hall.
Snakes, birds and beasts - but we all liked the tiger best of all!
'Twere all a bit moth-eaten like, but us kids didn't care.
It was a special treat to take a Sunday walk up there.
We'd run across the wide green lawns where Sport Days were such fun
Or watch the fat red squirrels gather pine-cones, one-by-one.
The wooden pier, from seaward end. gave us kids a sight to please
Of rows of sparkling windows and the dome above the trees.
Sometimes we liked to visit the deserted railway track
And wait for phantom ambulance trains to bring the wounded back ...
Some Sundays, and Remembrance Day, we'd watch the Church Parade
And in the Royal Chapel, while our favourite hymns were played,
From way up in the gallery, we'd see the bright display
Of colours - scarlet, white and blue, the Sisters' quiet grey.
Most Netley folk have memories which, like the solders, fade
But spring to life when comrades meet or martial music's played.
But if I lived for ever I could never know just why
The Powers-that-be used dynamite and let the old place die!
The Royal Victoria Military Hospital 1862 - 1966
PS - I don't know who wrote the above poem. If you do, please let me know so I can attribute it correctly.
I decided not to continue the history through to 1978 when the Psychiatric Hospital closed its doors
due to the complexity of possibly naming folk who may still be with us from whom
I would need to have prior permission to name them ...
