Stories from the War Hospital

"Stories from the War Hospital" gives a fascinating insight into the extraordinary lives and loves of those who worked at what was officially named the 2nd Northern General Hospital during the First World War. Based at Beckett Park in Headingley, Leeds, England, this large military hospital played a key part in the struggle against death, disease and disability throughout its wartime history.

Its story has now been told in compelling detail by Leeds author Richard Wilcocks. Using material gathered from interviews with descendants, together with research in local and national archives, Richard has compiled a comprehensive account of the patients, doctors, surgeons, nurses, volunteers and entertainers who shaped the hospital's history, richly illustrated with newly-discovered photographs.

 

For a flavour of the wartime stories which the book portrays, synopses of several chapters are published on this web site, together with snapshots of some of the pages: www.firstworldwarhospital.co.uk

 

Some of the patients - and nurses - were Canadian - for example Private Josaphat Delisle, who served with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: 

He was born on April 3, 1891 in Valleyfield, Quebec. Before joining the 41st Battalion Canadiens Francais in September 1915, he had been a car mechanic. He was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion on 19 February 1916, landing in France three weeks later, on 9 March. Struck by shrapnel in the right elbow on 18 March at Ypres, he was transferred to No 1 Casualty Clearing Station the same day. The shrapnel was removed at No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital the following day.

On 27 March, he was invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Cambria, where he was transferred to King George’s Hospital in London, then to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre at Folkestone on 4 April. He was sent to the Grand Duchess George of Russia Hospital in Harrogate on 3 May where he was to spend the next five months, before being transferred again, this time to Beckett Park in Leeds on 15 October, for an additional month’s hospitalization. He was subsequently transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park at Epsom on November 16, 1916.

In his Medical Report of an Invalid, dated 9 December 1916 at Epsom, it is confirmed that he was injured at Ypres on ‘17.3.16 (when) shrapnel struck him on right elbow, shattering the joint, and that he was ‘wounded on active service in the presence of the enemy’. It was recommended that he be invalided to Canada, his general health declared to be ‘good’... ‘Elbow solidly fixed at right angles...” He was discharged December 19th and placed on command to the Canadian Convalescent Depot at Hastings on 22 December. He was ‘struck off strength’ for Canada, on 13 January 1917. Three days later, he embarked on the S.S. Northland at Liverpool. (Information from www.camc.wordpress.com)

Get in touch with Richard Wilcocks if you have details of other patients, perhaps from your own family researches - headingleyhospital@gmail.com

Great War Homepage

Thanks to friends in Ontario who have recommended this website - it is indeed very useful.

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Floating on Chemong Lake

This was taken in about 1930 with something like a Box Brownie, and has been slightly enhanced using Photoshop. There is the car seen in other photos (what sort is it?) which is parked opposite an overtaking point, even though there seems to be no other traffic.

It is one of the less interesting images in the Rippingale album - you can't make out the faces - but apparently, according to Brampton historian Gina Martin, it is of great significance, because it shows the old floating bridge of Ennismore. Her email reads:

This is a picture of the old floating bridge which went across Chemong Lake between the villages of Bridgenorth and Ennismore just outside of Peterborough.  Several local folk songs have been written about this bridge including one very popular one entitled "The Floating Bridge of Ennismore".  The bridge was replaced in 1949 by a permanent cement causeway .........there are few photos of the old bridge and the ones that I have seen are not very clear.  This is the best shot I have ever seen!  I sent it to one of my colleagues at the Trent Valley Archives who was most impressed.  We have made a blowup copy of this photo for our archives. 

You can find the words of the song, which involves whisky smuggling, right here at Tanglefoot Music.

More news from Ontario soon, we hope.

Paul Lantz from Moosonee writes:

This photo ( see below ) was probably taken early 1930s. The woman in the centre is my stepmother, Jean née Wilson, who was born in 1913. It does not show as much of the bridge as your posted photo but shows the structure quite well I think.

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Message from Gina Martin

My name is Gina Martin and I live in Ontario, Canada. I am originally from Peterborough although I now live in Brampton, an approximate 90 minute drive away. I am a genealogist and a director with the Trent Valley Archives in Peterborough and intend on writing an item about the tragic deaths in WW1 of Ben and Stan Rippingale.

The youngest Rippingale boy shown in the pictures is Dennis Fenn Rippingale, born 1907 in Kent and died in Peterborough in 1977. Alfred Rippingale was married twice. His first wife was Agnes Corder whom he married in 1894. She is the mother of Stan, Ben and daughter Agnes Lily Rippingale. She died in 1902 in Kent and Alfred married Elizabeth Fenn Wright in Kent in 1906. Thus, the photos shown in Canada are of Elizabeth and not first wife Agnes. The family is buried at Little Lake Cemetery in Peterborough.

Richard Wilcocks adds: Thanks for this update. I have just sent scans of the rest of the album photos to Gina Martin.

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More on Stanley and Benjamin

Rippingales in Ontario - Genealogy

Stanley Rippingale was born October 13 1897. He joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force (57th Regiment) on November 10 1915. For some reason his father's name is given as 'Elped' on his Attestation Paper. His occupation was 'Farm Laborer'.

Benjamin Rippingale was born March 18 1895. He joined the CEF on December 18 1915. His occupation was the same.

Both lived with parents at 464 Parnell Street, Peterborough.

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Why I started this blog

Richard Wilcocks writes:

The photos below are selections from a battered old album I inherited from my grandparents. They were sent to them before and after the First World War by old friend and relative Alfred Rippingale, who had emigrated with his family to Ontario, Canada, at the beginning of the last century. Alfred (born 1872) was an old friend of my grandfather (mother's side) James Smith: both of them were born in Gestingthorpe, Essex, where there were many family connections, both of them were skilled agricultural horsemen and both of them moved out of Essex to Bickley, Kent at the turn of the century. The Smiths lived at 3, and the Rippingales lived at 28, Blackbrook Lane, to be exact.

I assume that the agricultural opportunities were better for a while in Kent. My mother Amy was born there in 1909, but the Smiths moved on soon afterwards to live on the edge of Rainham, back in Essex, and the Rippingale family embarked for Canada, ending up in Peterborough. The work was agricultural, and I assume that it was to be found in the vicinity of Otonabee or Keane, which is where the war memorial is situated. Otonabee is a short drive away from the city.

I remember my mother telling me at an early age that there had been a tragedy during the Great War, of course one of millions: Alfred's two sons Ben and Stan had eagerly joined up in 1916, becoming members of the Central Ontario Regiment. They had been sent across the Atlantic to France to fight the Germans - perhaps they were involved in the assaults on Vimy Ridge - and had both been killed by the same shell, on July 16, 1917. They are officially listed as Pte. Benjamin Alfred Rippingale and Pte. Stanley Horace Rippingale, but they must have switched their first and middle names at some time, because they were originally Alfred Benjamin and Horace Stanley. Alfred's first wife was called Agnes, and so was his daughter. I have yet to find the younger son's name.

If you recognise anyone in these photos or if you have any relevant information, I would be very pleased to hear from you. Email me at heveliusx1@yahoo.co.uk or leave a comment. Put RIPPINGALE in the subject line.

The complete album is on Photobox. I'll provide a link if you ask.

Click on any of the photos below to enlarge them.

Below, Alfred and Agnes Rippingale -

The first house they lived in - 464 Parnell Street, Peterborough.

On the farm near Otonabee?

Stan (slightly taller) and Ben with father's second wife Elizabeth, sister Agnes Lily and younger brother Dennis Fenn Rippingale:

Stan and Ben with father's second wife Elizabeth, father and younger brother Dennis carrying Union flag:

Official army photo. Stan on our left :

Graves in the Pas de Calais, France (near Béthune):

Names on the Otonabee Memorial:

Family automobile (1920s) Alfred with pet dog:

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