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V.A.D. Hospitals in Northumberland and Durham

1914-1918

In early times medical care on the battlefield was practically non-existent. If one was unfortunate enough to be seriously wounded, the best one could hope for was a speedy despatch from the scavengers who swarmed on to the battlefield to loot the corpses of the fallen. A person of high birth might expect slightly better treatment - a live body to ransom was worth more than a dead one.

During the nineteenth century war became more devastating due to technological advances in armaments, and educated people began to concern themselves with the provision of humanitarian aid to casualties. The Red Cross was formed in 1863 following the Battle of Solferino, and the first Geneva Convention on the treatment of battlefield casualties was signed a year later.

In Britain, the British National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War was formed in 1870, and operated under the Red Cross emblem during the Franco-Prussian War and several other conflicts towards the end of the 19th century. In 1905 it became the British Red Cross Society.

In 1909 the British Red Cross Society was given the role of providing supplementary aid to the Territorial Forces Medical Service in the event of war. In order to provide trained personnel for this task, county branches of the British Red Cross Society organised units called Voluntary Aid Detachments. All Voluntary Aid Detachment members, who came to be known simply as "V.A.D.'s" were trained in First Aid and Nursing. Within twelve months they numbered well over 6000.

Following the outbreak of war in 1914 the number of Detachments increased dramatically. The British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem, a body which was also empowered to raise detachments under the War Office Voluntary Aid Scheme, combined to form the Joint War Committee in order to administer their wartime relief work with the greatest possible efficiency and economy, under the protection of the Red Cross emblem and name.

V.A.D.'s, who initially were mostly middle-class women eager to "do their bit," performed a variety of duties. At home the organisation administered auxiliary hospitals and convalescent homes and much of the V.A.D. service consisted of general nursing duties and administering first aid. Qualified nurses were also employed to work in these establishments. In addition, clerical and kitchen duties were performed by V.A.D.'s, and as many men were engaged in military service, female V.A.D.'s took on roles such as ambulance drivers, civil defence workers and welfare officers.

The first V.A.D. hospital to be opened in the north east appears to have been at West Hartlepool, where a V.A.D. detachment formed by Dr H.W.M. Strover had been registered at the War Office as early as June 29th 1911. On the outbreak of war it was determined that there was insufficient hospital accommodation for the large garrison in the town. At the instigation of Lt-Colonel Robson, the Garrison Commander, a V.A.D. hospital with 25 beds was created in the Masonic Hall on August 9th 1914, and the first patients were admitted 2 days later. Dr Henry Strover was the Medical Officer and his wife Margaret was the Commandant.

Many other V.A.D. Hospitals were located in similar large houses which had been loaned for the purpose by their owners. For example, Seaham Hall in County Durham was loaned by the Marquess of Londonderry.

V.A.D. hospitals received the sum of 3 shillings per day for each patient from the War Office, and were expected to raise additional funds themselves. This was not difficult in those patriotic times, and the local newspapers regularly carried lists of gifts received - anonymous donations did not seem to be the fashion! The accounts for the 14th Northumberland V.A.D. hospital at Holeyn Hall, Wylam show that the hospital treated 367 patients at an average cost of 3s. 9d. per day, so the War Office allowance accounted for only 80% of the cost. (A report on Ashburne Hospital in Sunderland indicated the costs there were similar at 3s. 6d per day.)

In all, 27 hospitals were set up in County Durham (although the numbering extends to 28 there does not appear to have been a no. 26) and 17 in Northumberland. At Seaham there were three VAD Hospitals at: -

13th Durham VA Hospital - Vane House, Dawdon

22nd Durham VA Hospital - The Mission House, Evesham Road, New Seaham

28th Durham VA Hospital - Seaham Hall, Old Seaham

As might be expected, the dedication shown by those at work in these establishments led to a number of the women receiving awards or honours, and in a country that badly needed heroic role models the press were only too ready to publish the fact.

In all, 54 women received this or a similar award for war hospital service in Northumberland and Durham; Those from Seaham receiving honours is given below:-

Mrs Clara Swallow, Commandant 22nd VA Hospital, Mission House, awarded the MBE

Academic reference and Credit: Article adapted from Patrick Brennan 2008