3rd London General Hospital in the Great War - The Wartime Memories Project -

3rd London General Hospital

The 3rd London General Hospital started life in Wandsworth, in 1859, as the Victoria Patriotic Asylum for orphan daughters of soldiers, sailors and marines, endowed from the Patriotic Fund of the Crimean War. In 1914 the now renamed Royal Patriotic School was made into a Territorial Force hospital, one of the largest in the Territorial Force Hospital scheme. Hospital staff came from the Middlesex, St Mary's and University College Hospitals. It contained 806 Officer Beds and 224 Other Ranks Beds. Such was its size that it had its own newspaper, The Gazette, run largely by a group of RAMC orderlies drawn from the Chelsea Arts Club. The building still stands, as the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building and has been converted into housing.

21st Nov 1914 Rifle Bullet

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Patient Reports.

(This section is under construction)
  15TH Oct.1914
  5th Dec 1914

Those known to have worked or been treated at
3rd London General Hospital
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Alderdice Arthur Gladstone. Cpl. (d.15th Aug 1916)
Bartlett Bertha. Nurse. (d.3rd Nov 1918)
Brown Cedric Tyson. Lt
Buss Benjamin. Capt. (d.4th Nov 1918)
Christoe John Edward. Major.
Dinsley Francis Hugill . 2nd.Lt. (d.8th March 1919)
Eades Alfred Bailey. Lt. (d.12th Nov 1918)
Fowler MM.. Christopher Edward. L/Cpl.
Foxall Ernest Bert. L/Cpl.
Friskin William Wallace. 2Lt.
Kirkwood MM.. Frederick James. Lt.
Koch George Hilfers . Lt.
Langley Ralph Argyle. Lt.
Langley Ralph Argyle. Lt.
McLennan OBE MiD. Kenneth. Lt .
Shreeve James William. Capt.
Swanney William. Pte. (d.10th Nov 1917)
Wainwright Norman. Tpr.
Walker Horace. Pte. (d.29 October 1914)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 3rd London General Hospital from other sources.

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Want to know more about 3rd London General Hospital?

There are:1 items tagged 3rd London General Hospital available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

500686
L/Cpl. Christopher Edward Fowler MM. C Coy. 33rd Btn.
My Uncle Christy Fowler enlisted on the 10th of November 1915, aged 18. He was a labourer from Barry, NSW. He joined the 13th Reinforcements, 17th Battalion at Lithogow Depot Camp and in June 1916 he proceeded to England, arriving in Plymouth on the 3rd of August. On the 6th July 1916 he is recorded as disobeying orders and being absent without leave at Capetown from the troopship HMAT A.55 Kyarra and was given 3 days Field Punishment No.2.
Christopher then joined the 33rd Battalion on the 21st November 1916 in France. In December he was admitted to the 7th General Hospital (The Malassises Hospital) in St Omer suffering from mumps, he rejoined the 33rd battalion on new years day 1917. On the 12th March 1917 he is again punished for failing to obey a lawful command given by his superior officer.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 2nd of June 1917 and saw action in the Battle of Messines, where he was awarded the Military Medal, his citation reads:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the Battle of Messines Ridge from June 7th to June 11th. L/C Christopher Edward Fowler acted a a mopper up and showed great dash and determination. He himself killed six of the enemy. On the afternoon of June 9th he led the first patrol to Thatched Cottage and captured the post. Throughout the whole action this soldier displayed great initiative and forethought, and at all times was courageous and cool. He set a splendid example to his men."
He was wounded in action on the 16th July 1917 receiving a gun shot wound to his left eye. On the 24th July he was transported back to England onboard the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle and on the 25th was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. Whilst there he was reprimanded by Lt. Col. Heywood for refusing to obey and order and went Absent without Leave for 6 hours on the 14th Sept 1917 for which he forfeited one day's pay.

Christy was repatriated to Australia leaving England on board the Kenilworth Castle on the 12th of March 1918. He was discharged from the Army on the 3rd of July 1918.

Trevor Fenton

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264443
Lt . Kenneth McLennan OBE MiD 11th Battalion
Kenneth McLennan OBE bornin in 1867 in Alford, Scotland immigrated to Australia in 1885. He joined the the Militia in 1887 and enlisted in the Australian Army in 1896. He served in the Boer war and served at Gallipoli. He ws hospitalised on Malta on 27th of September 1915 and transferred to be treated at the 3rd London General Hospital on 7th of October 1915. He returned to his unit with the 1st Australian Division in France. He became a Captain and Adjt when ner Ypres.
He was seconded to the AIF Camp Salisbury Plains, and promoted to be 2nd in Command of Parkhouse Camp in Hampshire. Whilst at Parkhouse he upgraded the camp and improved the solders general well being and health outcomes, and thereby increasing return soldier numbers returning to the front. he was Mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the OBE (Military)
He returned to Perth, Western Australia to his wife and seven children. and retired at home.
Ian McLennan

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263820
Lt. Frederick James Kirkwood MM. 23rd Battalion
Frederick Kirkwood was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field on 3rd of April 1917. On 20th of May 1918 Fred was wounded in the thigh and invalided to England. By 30th of September 1918 he had been discharged from hospital, he proceeded to France and rejoined his battalion on 6th of October. On 29th of November (age 28 yrs) he was admitted to 6th Field Ambulance and transferred to 53rd Casualty Station suffering with influenza and broncho pneumonia. On 2nd of December 1918 his nearest of kin were advised he was dangerously ill with broncho pneumonia and on 9th Dec he was in 8th General Hospital at Rouen, France. On 13th Dec he was sent from France to London aboard the hospital ship Aberdonian with severe influenza and the following day he was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth with severe influenza. By 18th Dec 1918 his condition at Wandsworth, England, was improving. He recovered and on 7th Feb 1919 he sailed aboard HMT Lancashire to Australia and his employment with Forces terminated on 15th May 1919.
Belinda Kirkwood

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262299
Capt. Benjamin Buss 1/5th Btn. East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) (d.4th Nov 1918)
Capt. Buss died in 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, London after an operation to remove shrapnel from a head wound sustained in action. He was buried in St. Margaret's Churchyard, Horsmonden, Kent.
His story can be found in the British Newspaper Archives, Kent & Sussex Courier, issue Friday 15th November 1918. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000483/19181115/014/0003 (membership is required to view).
Lionel Burgess

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259949
Lt. George Hilfers Koch 9th Battalion
My grandfather, George Koch served with his 3 brothers at Gallipoli, Ypres, and the Somme. He was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth in 1915, 1917, and 1918. He had also served in the Boer War.
Geoff Johnson

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258896
Lt Cedric Tyson Brown 3 Squadron
Cedric Brown was born in Charters Towers, Queensland. He worked as a fitter, was single and lived with his mother, Mrs L Brown, at Ecxland Street, West End Townsville, Queensland, when he enlisted 6th of September 1915. He was aged 19 years.
On enlistment he was with the 9th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement which embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A50 Itonus on 30th of December 1915.
Cedric was also a pilot with 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps and was wounded in France and recovered at 3rd London Hospital in March 1918. He returned to Australia 3 May 1919
Robyn Lane

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258413
Nurse. Bertha Bartlett Newfoundland VAD (d.3rd Nov 1918)
Bertha was from Brigus Newfoundland. She is buried opposite my school Beatrix Potter. We have researched her and the 17 Newfoundland soldiers buried with her. She is said to have died in the Third London General Hospital Wandsworth, her record card suggests she was serving in Bermondsey.
Go to www.beatrixpotterschool.com and go to the our Newfoundlanders page
S Neale

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250751
2Lt. William Wallace Friskin Royal Field Artillery
William Fiskin served with the Royal Field Artillery. He suffered a shell fragment wound to his left leg, while at Roisel in France. He was evacuated to England and received treatment for his wound at the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth.
Iain Fraser

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246323
2nd.Lt. Francis Hugill Dinsley 2nd Btn. Coldstream Guards (d.8th March 1919)
Francis Dinsley was born on 9th September 1898 in Grendon, Northamptshire, the only son of Charles Frederick and Frances Louisa Dinsley of Harrold, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire. The family moved to Sharnbrook and Francis was educated at Harrold Lower school and Bedford Modern school.
In May 1917 he enlisted with the Household Battalion, he was commissioned in June 1918 and attached to 4th Coldstream Guards. On 23rd of November 1918 he served with the Expeditionary Force in France and on 24th of December 1918 with the Army of occupation in Germany. He transferred to 2nd Battalion, fell ill almost immediately and returned to the UK. He died on 8th of March 1919 age 20 years at No.3 London General Military Hospital, Wandsworth from pneumonia contracted whilst on active service. He is buried in St Peter and All Saints church.
His commanding officer of the 4th Battalion wrote: "Everything he did he did with all his might and was so wonderfully keen. He did a great deal for the comfort and amusement of the men, and was greatly liked and respected by them".
As a pupil of Bedford Modern School 1911-16, he is commemorated on the School War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1923 and in the Roll of Honour, published in The Eagle, December 1923. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com.
Caroline Hunt

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234359
Pte. William Swanney 9th Btn. Royal Scots (Lothian) Regiment (d.10th Nov 1917)
William Swanney died serving in WW1. He was a private in the 9th Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian) Regiment. William died on 10th November 1917, age 20, in Wandsworth Military Hospital, London, England and is buried in Edinburgh Eastern Cemetery.
He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Swanney of 7 Iona St., Leith, Edinburgh. William was born on Shapinsay, Orkney Isles, Scotland. His siblings were: Thomas, Izat L., William and Elizabeth.
Suzanne Swanney

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225508
L/Cpl. Ernest Bert Foxall 2nd Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Ernest Foxall was born in Birmingham in 1892 and lived on Camden Street. He joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1911. He was serving with the 2nd Battalion in Malta at the outbreak of WW1 and arrived in Belgium on the 4th of October 1914. He was wounded and taken prisoner of war in early 1915. Ernest was repatriated to Britain in August 1915 and this was reported in the Birmingham Gazette and the Birmingham Evening Despatch on the 30th of August 1915.
He must have been returned by the Germans due to the severity of his wounds. Ernest was transferred to the 3rd General Hospital Wandsworth (the building still exists and is now a residential property called Royal Victoria Buildings - it is Grade 2 listed) and was eventually transferred to Chatham, Kent. At some point he was made an acting Sergeant. Ernest was still in Chatham in 1920 as my grandfather was born there on the 6th of June 1920.
Ernest never fully recovered from his injuries (allegedly he was bayoneted and after being captured the Germans chained him to the wheel of a cart). He suffered with ill health all his life and died in 1948.
Craig Foxall

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224159
Major. John Edward Christoe 41st Btn.
John Christoe was born on the 12th of March 1884 in Maryborough, Qld to Charles Penrose Christoe and Julia Eugenie Cuvet [Madame Christoe] On the 16th of August 1909 (Age 25) he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Wide Bay Regiment, Qld and on the 1st of July 1912 (Age 28)he joined 4th Infantry, Wide Bay, Qld On the 23rd of December 1912 he was appointed Lieutenant with the 4th Infantry, Wide Bay, Qld and on the 16th of November 1913 (Age 29) he was seconded to HO Area 4B, Maryborough, Qld On the 1 June 1914 he was appointed Captain and in November attennded a Short Course (Infantry) at Duntroon In March 1915 he was A&I Staff at Â£375 per annum nand was promoted to Acting Brigade Major 3rd Brigade Area on the 16th of April 1915. In July he took a Short Course (Musketry) at Enoggera On the 1st of April 1916 he was appointed Captain with the 41st Battalion AIF and embarked for active service abroad on the 16thm landing on the 20th of July 1916 at Plymouth, England. After training on Salisbury Plain, on the 24th of November 1916 the Battalion embarked from Southampton to France. John was promoted on the 11th of March 1917 to Major in the 41st Battalion AIF it was noted he was unmarried at the time.
On the 21st of March 1917 John was blown up and buried by a shell explosion at Ploegsteert in Belgium and was admitted to a temporary field hospital. This could have been during the failed Nivelle offensive against the Germans which preceeded the successful and famous Battle of Messines which commenced on 7th June 1917, which in turn led to successful battles at Ypres and Passchendaele. On the 29th of March 1917 he rejoined the 41st Battalion [eight days recuperation clearly wasnâ€™t enough, as subsequent events would show]
On the 6th of June 1917 the Allies were subjected to a gas attack by the Germans on Ploegsteert Wood, causing between 500 and 2,000 casualties. Nan told me that her father had been exposed to gas during WW1 so this was probably when it occurred. On the 23rd of June 1917 John suffers a severe gun shot wound to the right shoulder at Messines. and the following day was evacuated to the 14th General Hospital at Boulogne, France. On the 30th of June he was evacuated to England on the hospital ship Saint Patrick and admitted to the the 3rd London General Hospital. He recovered from the GSW but was diagnosed with shell shock, concussion, tremors, loss of memory and inability to concentrate as a result of being blown up at Ploegsteert three months earlier and subsequently being gassed and shot. It was estimated that he would be incapacitated in terms of AIF service for 6 Â½ months. On the 15th of July 1917 he was discharged from the 3rd London General Hospital and embarked for Australia the next day from Avonmouth.
Mike Trumbull

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223712
Lt. Ralph Argyle Langley 57th Battalion
Ralph Langley served with the 5th Battalion, 2nd Brigade in Gallipoli and had trained at the 6th Officers Cadet Battalion at Balliol College, Oxford between 5th of November 1916 and 2nd of March 1917. He married his English bride Nancie Stimpson in February 1917. He was wounded on the Western Front on 25 October, 1917.
He was wounded on the Western Front on 25 October, 1917 On the 5th of November 1917, Ralph embarked to England ex Liverpool Merchants Hospital. He was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth. He had sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh. He spent time at Wandsworth receiving medical treatment and recuperating, until he returned to Australia in early December.
It was in Australia that Ralph had his leg amputated just below the knee. His wife joined him in Australia in January, 1919. having survived the horrors of Gallipoli (5th Battalion, 2nd Brigade) and of the Western Front, Ralph died in a motor car accident on the Hume Highway in December 1935, leaving his wife and 6 children, the youngest of whom were one year old twin boys.
Denise Langley

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217542
Lt. Alfred Bailey Eades 2nd Field Artillery Brigade (d.12th Nov 1918)
Alfred Bailey Eades was born at Essendon, Victoria in 1895 to parents Arthur and Louisa. Prior to the First World War, he served for two years with the 25th Battery of the 8th Field Artillery Brigade, Citizen Military Forces where he attained the rank of sergeant in 1914. A clerk by trade, he enlisted in Melbourne on 7th May 1915 at the age of 20. On 10th August 1915, he departed Melbourne aboard RMS Persia with the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade and the rank of gunner. Eade's cousin, General Sir Cyril Brudenall Bingham White also served during the First World War.
After landing at Gallipoli on 13th of October 1915, Eades was transferred to the 2nd Brigade Ammunition Column and remained on the peninsula until the evacuation in December. In February 1916, he was transferred to the 4th Division Artillery and in March 1916 he was again transferred to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade. Eades was promoted through the ranks to second lieutenant in June 1916 and lieutenant in February 1917.
He died on 12th November 1918 at the 3rd London General Hospital due to complications from influenza at the age of 23. Alfred Eades is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, United Kingdom.
s flynn

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217431
Cpl. Arthur Gladstone Alderdice 2nd Infantry Battalion (d.15th Aug 1916)
Arthur Gladstone Alderdice was born at Beechworth, Victoria and was educated at Beechworth Grammar School. At the outbreak of the First World War he was working in the shearing industry as a wool scourer.
Alderdice enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 6th April 1915. He was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Battalion and departed Sydney aboard HMAT Karoola on 16th June 1915. Alderdice was stationed briefly in Egypt before being deployed to Gallipoli on 6th August 1915, where he took part in the reinforcement of Lone Pine. He was reported ill, most likely suffering from diphtheria, on 26th November 1915 and subsequently sent to Malta for recovery. After Gallipoli he was redeployed to Egypt, arriving on 18th February 1916. He was promoted to corporal on 24th March 1916. Alderdice departed for Marseilles on 28th May 1916 aboard HMT Ivernia and was soon deployed to the Western Front.
He was seriously wounded in action by an enemy shell on 25th July 1916. He was transferred to a field hospital at Rouen on 27th July 1916, and then to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. He died of tetanus on 15th August 1916. Arthur Alderdice is buried at Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery, England.
s flynn

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216787
Lt. Ralph Argyle Langley 57th Battalion
My grandfather Ralph Langley served at Gallipoli and in France. He was wounded in the right thigh when fighting in France and evacuated to Wandsworth 3rd General Hospital.
Denise Langley

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207064
Tpr. Norman Wainwright 5th Light Horse Brigade
Norman Wainwright was Trooper 521 in 5th Light Horse Brigade. He was b.1896 Eldwick, Bingley, Yorkshire and enlisted at Lismore Barracks, Australia giving his next of kin as Harrison Wainwright Glenview Cottage., Eldwick, Bingley, Yorkshire
Norman was wounded 25/11/1915 receiving gunshot wounds to his leg and hand. He arrived at London 3rd General Hospital from the hospital ship Britannic and was discharged from London 3rd General Hospital on 6th Sep 1916 tand returned Australia on the HT Euripides. I am a descendant of the Wainwright family and trying to find Norman's hospital record.
Patricia

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132396
Pte. Horace Walker 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment (d.29 October 1914)
Horace Walker was my grandmother's younger brother & had been in service in Lincolnshire before the war but on his death certificate his home address is that of my grandmother in Sheffield. He was 32. He died in the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth with the cause of death given as malignant oedema of the thigh.
I would be most interested to discover more about his war experiences & how/where he received the thigh wound. His medals suggest that he had served on the continent but I have no other details. It must have been a very early engagement for him to have been injured, repatriated by this date in the war; or perhaps he was just kicked by a mule before seeing any action. If anyone can enlighten me in any way I would be most grateful.
Jose Bosworth

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946
Capt. James William Shreeve 33rd Btn.
James Shreeve was a professional soldier who had seen action during the Boer War, when he volunteered for overseas service he was working as a staff sergeant instructor, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 33rd Battalion on the 23rd of February 1916. He was 36 years old and married with two children.
James was promoted to Captain on the 19th of December 1916 whilst in France and was seconded to be Adjutant of the 3rd Division School on the 23rd of February 1917. He rejoined the 33rd Btn on the 1st of June 1917 and was wounded during the Battle of Messines on the 10th of June. He was admitted to the 14th General Hospital on the 11th with a gun shot wound to his left foot By the 17th of July he was discharged from the base depot at Wimereux. He marched out to the front and rejoined his unit on the 21st of July. For two weeks in August he was detailed as an infantry instructor at Le Harve then returned to his unit
James was wounded in action for a second time on he 18th Oct 1917, a gun shot wound to his abdomen, was treated at the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and was then admitted to the 8th General Hospital in Rouen then transferred to the 3rd London General Hospital where he remained until the 20th of December when he joined the Overseas Training Brigade at Wandsworth. On the 8th of January he returned to France departing from Southampton, and joined 9th Brigade HQ. He rejoined the 33rd Btn and was wounded for a third time in action on the 31st of March 1918, this time a gun shot wound which resulted in a compound fracture of his left thigh, he was treated at the 41st Casualty Clearing Station and evacuated to No 2 British Red Cross Hospital in Rouen then to the 3rd General Hospital in London. James returned to Australia on board HMAS Kanowra arriving at Melboure on the 7th of March 1919, his appointment was terminated on the 27th of August 1920.

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- 3rd London General Hospital during the Great War -

3rd London General Hospital

Patient Reports.

Those known to have worked or been treated at
3rd London General Hospital
during the Great War 1914-1918.

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If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Want to know more about 3rd London General Hospital?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project - 3rd London General Hospital during the Great War -

3rd London General Hospital

Patient Reports.

Those known to have worked or been treated at 3rd London General Hospitalduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Want to know more about 3rd London General Hospital?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 3rd London General Hospital during the Great War -

Those known to have worked or been treated at
3rd London General Hospital
during the Great War 1914-1918.