"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
