Nursing Soldiers After The Battle Of The Somme

An old photograph of Oakwood Hall On the 15^th and 16^th of January 1916 Oakwood hospital opened its doors to the general public, and between the hours of 11a.m.to 5p.m. a large number of visitors passed through the wards. The hospital had become well known locally, due to the speed with which the money had been collected and the wonderful efforts of the townspeople. The public viewed the considerable transformation of Oakwood Hall. The hospital was set in the most charming and tranquil surroundings, alongside a beautiful artificial lake and nearby woodlands. The new hospital was designed for the comfort of all the soldiers who had been injured in battle. The forty beds were arranged in several wards on two floors. All the wards were furnished in the most simple but effective fashion. Beside each bed the patients had their own lockers, where they could keep their own personal treasures. In addition to these wards were the nurses and matron quarters, where nursing staff could retire to rest when off duty. A large conservatory fitted with many easy chairs provided an airy and comfortable sitting room. An excellent billiard room fitted with the most up to date billiard table proved a great source of pleasure to the recovering soldiers. Two simple but effective kitchens were fitted throughout with every convenience. Everything had been done that could accommodate the convalescent of the soldiers.

Now the hospital was almost complete mainly thanks to the generosity of the people of Rotherham. Dr. Riddell was in charge of the hospital and was based in a compact but well-fitted office. The nurse who had accepted the post of nurse in charge was a qualified nurse, Miss Elizabeth Sinclair White. She had completed her training at the Westminster Hospital in London. Afterwards she had worked in a civil hospital in Glasgow, then a Military Hospital at Edinburgh. Miss Sinclair White had been visiting the area on holiday and on hearing about the post, applied for the job.

The Government then took over the running costs allowing the hospital to open in April 1916. The Government paid a small allowance per man per day. This allowance covered only the basic cost of hospitalisation and medical care. Other costs that would include extra food such as eggs, meat etc., which were vital for rapid recovery of strength fell again onto the generosity of the people of Rotherham. Miss Sinclair White would have stood smartly in her ‘Sister Dora’ white cap and dark blue uniform with white cuffs and a long pure white apron with two large front pockets. A bright red British Red Cross Society badge standing clear on an armband on the upper part of her sleeve. The uniform was long, almost to the ankles, when she went out of the hospital the uniform was covered by a dark blue thick overcoat.

Soldiers quickly settled well into the hospital and it’s beautiful tranquil surroundings. When the hospital first opened a large number of volunteers offered their assistance, doing anything they could to support the hospital. The hospital was only opened for three months when the most notorious battle of the First World War occurred.

Picture of the Somme trenches In July 1916 The Battle of the Somme, where nearly 20,000 British Soldiers died on its first day, soldiers in their thousands were wounded, 57,000 casualties on the first day. Home interest in the Battle was intense. Almost every family in the land knew someone fighting in the Somme. It was a long time before the truth about the Somme slaughter began to appear in the newspaper columns of casualties. Whole pages were grey with hundreds of names, column after column of dead soldiers. British families were all in mourning, grief-stricken by the news. Rotherham became a community suppressed in grief and deeply saddened pain. Whole streets had drawn blinds, and flowers were laid in memory of the dead and wounded soldiers, with the battle to rage until November of that year.

Tending men with terrible wounds and young soldiers with the effects of poison gas was difficult nursing. As their battle scars healed their mental scars would run much deeper. These men who bared their souls for battle, anticipating their fate without any question, were now left with much time to reflect on all the mutilation of battle. They had seen friends bodies ripped apart in battle, and their fate pulled into question while the smell of death was all around them. Helping to heal these haunting memories were as much part of nursing as treating their open wounds. During its first year of opening, 450 soldiers received treatment at the hospital. Most men despite their wounds and haunting memories remained cheerful throughout their stay. Life in Oakwood was made as comfortable as possible for the men.

A comfort fund was started by Mrs Grundy who at the time was Mayoress of Rotherham. This fund would go to provide many comforts for the men, which they might not otherwise have had. The men appreciated this very much, and the comfort fund always remained in fine condition thanks to the generosity of the people of Rotherham. The men needed all the comforts they could get particularly considering the high price of food. Many local shops and firms also gave generously and provided extra little luxuries for the men. Men wherever possible were given free tobacco by the hospital’s chaplain the Rev A G Alton, who had started a tobacco fund. After treatment some men returned to the fighting line in good condition and spirits. For others this of course would be impossible and some of these men returned and were found a new job within the forces or were medically discharged. In the mean time the status of the hospital was raised from that of a convalescent home to a second line class A hospital, and patients were received immediately on passing through the Base Hospital, sometimes only two or three days after being wounded in France. More beds were soon required for the wounded as the hospital authorities were asked to take in more patients.