Wharncliffe War Hospital - Part two

Two patients stand in the hospital grounds on this postcard.

I have just added several more WW1 era postcards of Wharncliffe War Hospital to my collection. I have already written a brief history of the hospital for my blog which can be read here.

When the war was not over by Christmas 1914 as many hoped, the government began to realise that the number of hospital beds they had allocated for the treatment of invalided servicemen would be far from sufficient for the large number of wounded returning home from the battlefield. They knew that they would need to open more facilities dedicated to care of the injured than had previously been anticipated. Many stately homes had already been given over to the war office for this exact purpose. However, they now needed to look at other options for conversion into military hospitals, most asylums were vast and more importantly, already kitted out with medical equipment. In Spring 1915 the war office undertook the decision to convert existing asylums into military hospitals. One such facility to be requisitioned for military use was the South Yorkshire Asylum, which operated as The Wharncliffe war hospital for the duration of the war. The facility started out with 1500 beds, however according to local newspaper reports this rose to over 2000 at the height of the war. The Wharncliffe finally discharging it's last military patient in July 1920. After which it returned to it's previous function and name. The asylum was a large complex of buildings and was practically a village community within itself. Located on the outskirts of Sheffield not far from Hillsborough. Today the clock tower building has been converted into luxury flats, and lies in the center of a modern housing estate.

No.1 Wharncliffe War Hospital, Real Photo By E. Hawlet, Hillsbro.

A group of patients and staff in the hospital grounds by W.R Moore, Photographer, Langsett Road, Sheffield.

The building as it stands today in 2017.

All postcards from my own personal collection.

Albert Edward Shepherd VC

Albert Edward Shepherd VC
Image from Wikipedia

It was announced in the Barnsley Chronicle on the 11th August 2017 that Albert Shepherd, the town's only recipient of the Victoria Cross during WW1, is to have a flagstone memorial displayed outside the Town Hall in his honour. Albert was awarded the Victoria Cross for the many acts of bravery he performed during an offensive at Villers Plouich, France on the 20th November 1917. He disabled a machine gun at pointblank range, which not only saved the lives of several of his comrades on that occasion, but also allowed the company to continue on with their intended mission. Later that same day Albert took charge of the Battalion and led them to their final objective, He did this after all the Officers and NCOs had become incapacitated and could no longer command. In all, 63 men from Albert's company of 97 were either killed or reported missing that day, Albert was one of 34 individuals from his battalion to survive. Even with such a great loss of life, the day was still considered a success, as the mission's objective had been achieved.

The full story of Albert's bravery was printed in The London Gazette on 13th February 1918:

"No. R/15089 Rflmn. Albert Edward Shepherd, K.R.R.C. (Barnsley). For most conspicuous bravery as a company runner. When his company was held up by a machine gun at point blank range he volunteered to rush the gun, and, though ordered not to, rushed forward and threw a Mills bomb, killing two gunners and capturing the gun. The company, on continuing its advance, came under heavy enfilade machine gun fire. When the last officer and the last non-commissioned officer had become casualties, he took command of the company, ordered the men to lie down, and himself went back some seventy yards under severe fire to obtain the help of a tank. He then returned to his company, and finally led them to their last objective. He showed throughout conspicuous determination and resource."

Albert Shepherds grave at Royston
Photograph by Dave Blyth on Find a Grave.

Albert was born at Royston on the 11th January 1897, He was the eldest child and son of Noah and Laura Shepherd. After leaving school he found employment as a pony driver at New Monckton colliery. He would resume working there as a miner after the war.

Albert enlisted with the 12th service Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles on the 18th August 1915. Just over a year into his service, Albert was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on the 28th August 1916. At the time of the events at Villers Plouich he was a 20 year old Acting Corporal, a position he'd held since the 28th September 1916.

Albert was discharged from the army on the 2nd January 1919. Not long after this he married his first wife, 19 year old Rosezillah Tillman at the church of St. John the Baptist at Royston on 17th February 1919. The couple had two sons and a daughter, but sadly Rosezillah died only six years in to their marriage. A year after her death, on the 6th November 1926, Albert married for a second time to 17 year old Gladys Maud Lees (who gave her age as 18 on the marriage certificate). The couple had one child, a daughter named Mildred, who passed away aged just 5 in 1944.

Albert Shepherd's medals on display at Winchester
Photograph by A. Phillpott

Albert died aged 69 on the 23rd October 1966. He is buried in Royston cemetery alongside his second wife Gladys and their daughter Mildred. Over the years there have been several memorials to Albert in Royston; including a bench and an inscribed archway above the entrance to the churchyard, (this inscription has since been replaced by a plaque on the local war memorial.) The Royston Civic Hall was also recently renamed in his honour. Albert Shepherd's Victoria Cross is currently on display at the Royal Green Jackets Museum at Winchester. On the 20th November 2017 a ceremony will be held outside Barnsley Town Hall, to install his memorial flagstone by the cenotaph.


Many thanks to Albert's granddaughter Beverley for providing me with additional biographical details about him and thanks are also due to the members of the BWMP Facebook page for providing me several of the reference sources that I used to write this blog post.

Sources___________________________________
1901 & 1911 Census, A History of Royston by Howard Jones, Barnsley Chronicle 11th August 2017, Findagrave.org - Albert Shepherd, Medal Index card for A E Shepherd, National Archives, Rgjmuseum.co.uk/, Victoriacross.org.uk, West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935 for Royston, St John the Baptist andWikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Edward_Shepherd

The Unveiling of Sheffield War Memorial - Barker's Pool

The unveiling of Sheffield War Memorial 
Postcard from my personal collection

Sheffield war memorial was unveiled in a public ceremony at Barker's Pool on 28th October 1925 by Sir Charles Harington, a WW1 veteran and General Officer Commanding Northern Command (who also attended the opening of The Menin Gate in 1927.) The memorial was then dedicated by the Bishop of Sheffield, Leonard Hedley Burrows.

The monument's unusual concept was due to architect Charles Denny Carus Wilson who created the memorial along with the combined efforts of  sculptor George Alexander. Many aspects of it's design are unique, this is likely due to several reasons, one of them being the limited ground space available for it's construction, which prevented the building of a more traditional and substantial sandstone cenotaph. Secondly, unlike other architects who were often responsible for multiple war memorials, this was the only one that Carus Wilson contributed to.

In order to settle on a design, a competition was held for Sheffield based artisans to submit ideas to. Carus Wilson's vision was selected out of  34 entries. Although he was born in Kent, at the time of the contest he was head of the School of Architecture at the University of Sheffield. The memorial's design features a 25m flag pole (which is in fact a ship's mast), mounted on a octagonal base which features the likeness of four Tommies. The bronze plinth was sculpted by Glasgow born artist George Alexander, who had ties to Sheffield's metal work industry. The casting was undertaken by Parlanti's bronze foundry in London. The memorial cost a total of £5,345 to erect.

By R Sneath, Paradise Sq. Sheffield,
Postcard from my personal collection

The monument currently stands in a pedestrian area between John Lewis and City hall. Barker's Pool has changed significantly since the memorial's erection, at the time it of it's construction the area on which it sat was a traffic island. This plot of land had been purchased by the council in September 1923, as the intended location for the new City Hall. After much discussion it was decided that the memorial should be situated near the site of the prospected City Hall, to be a companion to it.  In fact it was the City Hall's architect E Vincent Harris, who had judged the war memorial contest. this was done, in part, to insure that the two structures complimented each other and would both fit into the available space.

WW2 Shrapnel damage to the War memorial
and City Hall

Another aspect that makes the memorial unique are the coats of arms which are incorporated into the base, they represent the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and City of Sheffield . Also rather than featuring the names of the fallen, regimental badges are displayed instead . However, it seems there was never any intention for individual names to be included on the monument, Over 5,000 individuals from Sheffield died in the war and there would simply not be enough room for that amount of names on the memorial, Instead a roll of honor was commissioned, to be housed in the City hall once it was built in 1932.

Sheffield Roll of Honour, held in the City Hall
Photos with thanks to KR.

During The Second World War both the memorial and City Hall received shrapnel damage to their stonework, but remained standing. After WW2 the monument was updated to included a dedication to the conflict. The memorial was given grade II listed status on 28th June 1973. In recent years the monument has undergone extensive restoration work.

The top right image on this blog post is number one in a series of postcards depicting the war memorial. Interestingly the postcard was posted on 6th November 1925, only nine days after the unveiling. The publishers were obviously on the ball when it came to getting their postcards printed. (Sadly the corner was damaged in a clumsy attempt to the remove the stamp at some point in the past.) The second postcardis another from my collection, this time a it's a multi-view postcard, depicting three different angles of the memorial, Two of the photographs show either side of the base as well as full length shot of the unveiling ceremony in centre.

Resources__________________________________________________
Historicengland.org.uk - Listing entry
iwm.org.uk - Sheffield City Hall memorial
Rupert Harris - Conservation Ltd
Wikipedia - Sir Charles Harington Harington

Auxiliary Hospitals and Convalescent Homes in Barnsley

During the First World War there were at least two facilities dedicated solely to the care of wounded soldiers located within the immediate Barnsley area. They were the Lancaster convalescent home and Lundwood hospital.

Map showing roughly where the two hospitals were located
Map from Google.

Lundwood hospital was located just under 3 miles east of the town centre, on Lund Lane. It was designated as a class "A" auxiliary hospital, which meant that it cared for bedridden and incapacitated patients. Lundwood had originally opened in 1900 as an isolation ward for smallpox patients. To help with the war effort 66 beds were made available for the treatment of injured service men. After the war Lundwood returned to it's prior use, until it was taken over by the NHS in 1948, at that point it was re-designated to the care of geriatric patients.The hospital closed it's doors for good in 1977.

Lancaster home to is to the right of the Church.
Postcard from my personal colletion

In late 1914 the vicarage of St. Edward the Confessor at Kingstone was given over to the use of convalescing soldiers and renamed 'The Lancaster Convalescent Home'. The vicarage was located on Race Common Road,  just to the south west of Barnsley town centre. The home was named for it's benefactor Edward George Lancaster, who had funded the building of both the church and vicarage in 1902, he also financed the home's running costs for the duration of the war, mostly at his own expense, however, fund raising events were also held to earn money for day trips and treats such as cigarettes for the men. While we don't know how many beds were available, we do know that 562 men were treated there through out the course of the war, this is thanks to  a memorial in the nearby church. Coincidentally the name Lancaster is associated with with the area for a different reason; The Barnsley pals were made up of the 13th and 14th Battalions of The York and Lancaster regiment. Towards the end of March 1919 the Lancaster home discharged it's final patients. The house was then redecorated and made ready for the arrival of the new vicar.

It seems that a stay at the Lancaster was preferable to a bed at Lundwood, as the person writing this postcard makes clear.

Reverse of the previous postcard

Aug 30 1916.

"This is my new residence; - a nice place, much better than Lundwood. Lovely looking, comfortable beds. Infact an ideal place to all appearances. H"

Sadly we don't know the identity of this man or who he was sending the postcard too. But it's a nice little insight into at least one person experience of  both Lundwood and the Lancaster convalescent home.

The Lancaster convalescent home has already been researched in greater depth by KingstoneHistory on the website St Edwards, Barnsley Remembers and also in the book Kingstone Remembers the Great War 1914 - 1918.

The Great War Memorial, Rotherham

Rotherham War Memorial
Postcard from my personal collection

Rotherham war memorial was unveiled at Clifton Park on Sunday 26th November 1922, in a ceremony attended by General Sir Ivor Maxse KCB CVO DSO, He was a senior British Army officer who had served in the First World War, and at that time held the position of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Northern Command.

The monument was designed by local architect Major J E Knight and built by Mr. F. Tory & Sons, along with several other Yorkshire artisans. The memorial stands just inside the park gates, (on the junction of Doncaster Road and Clifton Lane.) The sandstone cenotaph is flanked by a curtain wall to the rear, which bears the names of 1,304 individuals who lost their lives during WW1. The names are inscribed across thirteen bronze panels and are grouped according to the regiment and service in which they served. The centre panel has an inscription which reads:

"1914 Sic virescit industria 1918 

 To commemorate the men of Rotherham

Who during the great war 1914-1918 

Gave the most that love can give 

Life itself 

For God, For King, For Country

And Freedom of the World. "

After the Second World War, the inscription on the main cenotaph was updated to include a dedication to those who died in the conflict, but no individual names were added at that point. It would be almost 70 years before that would occur.  On 19th February 1986 the memorial was given grade II listed status. The inscription on the cenotaph currently reads:

"For

Remembrance

If I should fall think only this of me 

There is some corner of a foreign field 

That is forever England

The World War 1939 - 1945"

In 2015 the names of  a 1,124 individuals who fell in the second world war were added to a separate memorial at the rear of the cenotaph's curtain wall. This memorial was the result of an eight year fundraising campaign undertaken by the Friends of Clifton Park and the Rotherham Advertiser. The group managed to raise £30,000 in donations for the memorial's construction. On Wednesday 16 September 2015 Rev Canon David Bliss led a service of dedication where the new memorial was unveiled to the public.

Peace Celebrations - Masboro, Rotherham

Postcard from my personal collection

This postcard shows peace celebrations taking place in the Masbrough area of Rotherham. A group of children stand in the forefront of the photograph, while the terraced houses in the street behind them are hung with bunting and allied flags. When I look at this photo the first thing that springs to mind is  one single question"How many of those children lost their fathers in the war?" This postcard was originally part of a collection that once belonged to someone who lived on Wortley Road, Rotherham.

Two Munitions Workers Die in 'Raid-Night Tragedy'

Inside the church of St. Andrew the Apostle at  Bolton-upon-Dearne there is the a memorial, which bears the names of two munitions workers, Clara Garbutt and Ella Howitt; Both of  whom sadly died during an air raid one night in April 1918. The two women were employed by John Baker & Co of Kilnhurst, which had operated as a steel works prior to war, but like many other factories of the period, had re-calibrated it's machinery to help with the war effort. By Spring of 1918 their workforce comprised of one hundred and fifty women. The majority of the factory's male employees had either enlisted or been conscripted into the armed forces, In order to fulfill orders and produce the much needed ammunition, women had to fill the vacant positions. It is believed that the factory produce six million shells through out the course of the war.

The Munition Girls, by Alexander Stanhope Forbes, 1918. From a colour transparency in the Science Museum Science Museum Group Collection ©The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

On the night of 12th April 1918 an air raid warning was issued to John Baker & Co. At around 10.30pm the machine shop supervisor David Pilmore watched Ella & Clara leave the works, as the two women left the premises the bright factory lights were turned off, leaving the pair in near darkness. Clara and Ella attempted take their usual route home along the canal towards Swinton Bridge. But the two women were never to make it that far. They were reported missing the following day. The canal was dragged and the bodies were recovered on Sunday morning. Poignantly the women were discovered linking arms, as though they slipped suddenly, with no time to react and save themselves.

The following account is taken from The Mexborough & Swinton Times dated April 20th 1918.

" Mr J. Kenyon Parker held an inquest at Swinton on Tuesday relative to the death of  of Ella Howitt (29), 7 Angel Street Bolton on Dearne, Wife of Pte W. H. Howitt K.O.Y.L.I on active service in France, and Clara Beatrice Garbutt (37) wife of Bernard Garbutt, 16, Angel Street, Bolton-on-Dearne; who were drowned in the canal near the works at which they were employed, on Friday night. They left the works after an air raid warning had been given and were not seen again. They were reported missing the following day,  and as their way home from the works lay by the canal the water was dragged and the bodies of the two women were recovered on Sunday Morning. They were arm in arm and had the appearance of having walked into the canal."

Ella was married to soldier William Henry Howitt who was serving in France at the time of her death. The couple had one daughter named Mabel. Mabel was a month shy of her tenth birthday when her mother died. William survived the war and passed away in 1960 at the age 81. Mabel died in 1985. At the time of her death Clara had been separated from her husband Bernard Garbutt for 12 years. Her body was taken to her sister's house at Swinton shortly after it was discovered. It is not known if she had any children.

St. Andrew's Church Bolton Upon Dearne,

An inquest was held a few days after the incident to establish the cause death. The corner returned "A verdict of accidental death', but advised Baker & Co to make improvements in order to prevent similar accidents from occurring, such as using an alternative evacuation route which did not run by the canal during air raids. The company director, George Baker, also attended the inquest and said "His firm would welcome any suggestion the jury could make for safe guarding their workforce from this danger"

My Baker also took the opportunity to express his "sympathy with the relatives in these cases, and said it seemed terrible that these women who had come forward and worked so splendidly in the hour of the nations need, should have come to such an end"
Mexborough & Swinton Times, 20th April 1918

After the war George Baker commissioned artist Stanhope Forbes to create a painting commemorating the works and it's contribution to the war effort. Each of his employees was giving a framed copy. The piece was entitled 'The Munitions Girls' and looking at the image, it's not difficult to imagine that the two women at the forefront of the painting pushing a trolley of shells could easily be Clara and Ella.