NETLEY ABBEY MATTERS!
Netley Military Hospital Names' Database
We have now been advised that the Ministry of Defence's Archives held some of the Admission and
Discharge Registers for those who attended the Royal Victoria Military Hospital
at Netley, Hampshire, UK from 1918 to its closure in 1960s.
The Museum of Military Medicine, based at Keogh Barracks, Aldershot has embarked on the digitisation of these records in conjunction with one of the "pay-to-view" military websites.
The project could take a couple of years to complete.
In the meantime, our Database currently holds about 11800 individuals plus all the Hospital Censuses
from 1861 to 1921 and the 1939 Register - and is being continuously added to.
The full Database is not accessible on this website. If you think your ancestor may have been at Netley
War Hospital, click on Contact Me and let me know what details you do have.
I will check our files and let you know what we have on file and do some research in the hope of
finding more. My research is free of charge regardless of whether your relative was at Netley Hospital or not.
Equally if you already know they were at Netley, let me know so I can add their details to the Database.
To maintain the integrity of the Database, however, I will need proof they were.
A Brief Journey through Netley War Hospital in May over the Years ...
What's On at the Hospital?
"Netley Station was prettily decorated with flowers and bunting on Saturday afternoon when the Queen arrived there on her way to Netley Hospital to visit the invalided soldiers of the Indian Frontier force and to decorate the gallant Piper Findlater with the Victoria Cross.
Her Majesty drove from the station in an open carriage which had been sent specially from Windsor. Numbers of spectators lined the way.”
Bridgnorth Journal and South Shropshire Advertiser, 02/05/1898
“Queen Victoria visited RVH on Wednesday, 16/05/1900 was escorted over the building and visited the bedsides of 223 wounded and 380 sick men all of whom had taken part in the South African campaign.
The aged Sovereign had brought with her from the Royal nurseries a large number of posies of choice flowers and to each of the invalids as she spoke some word of sympathy, she handed a floral token of her admiration of their services. Her Majesty also distributed a quantity of wool to the patients to enable them to make their own socks during enforced leisure.
One man bolder than the rest told the Queen he had never received his gift of chocolate and her Majesty promised he should not be overlooked.
The Queen asked to be furnished with the number of those who had lost a limb in the campaign and also expressed the opinion that more suitable pillows should be provided for the patients, adding that she would see that they were. There were 13 Colonial troopers in the hospital and each of them her Majesty personally addressed, complimenting them on their bravery.
South Wales Daily News 17/05/1900
The Red Cross Hospital
The Sussex branch of the BRC Society has given £160 towards the maintenance of the Sussex Hut at Netley Red Cross Hospital. A sum of £80 has been forwarded by subscribers to the Oakenden Hut.
Hampshire Telegraph 28/05/1915
FOR THOSE IN NEED
The Welsh Hospital at Netley closed its doors in March, 1919, when its services were no longer needed, the committee then having a balance in hand of over £2,500. With the sale of the hospital to the War Office, the committee were able to purchase £11,700 worth of Fuming Loan, which became the fund now being closed, known as the Welsh Troops Disablement and Sickness (Netley) Fund.
A scheme was drawn up with the approval of the High Court and the money at the disposal of the trustees has been utilised in the interests of sick and disabled ex- Service men and the widows and dependents of those who lost their lives in the war, over 3,500 cases having been dealt with. The trustees responsible for the administration of the fund have been the late Earl of Plymouth, the late Alderman James Robinson, the present Earl of Plymouth, Sir William James Thomas, Bart. (Hon. Treasurer), Colonel A P James, VD, DL, Messrs W North Lewis, J.P., A North Lewis, Cyrus J Evans,
who was Hon Secretary of the hospital committee, and Trevor E Harris, Hon Secretary of the fund.
They were materially assisted in the administration of the fund by ex-Service men's organisations,
British Legion (Welsh Area) and United Services Fund, as well as by the police and local authorities throughout Wales. The efficient and economical manner in which the fund has been managed is shown by the fact that over 95 per cent of the money has been distributed among those for whom it was intended. A small balance which was left has been handed over to the Welch Regiment Benevolent
Fund, who have undertaken to distribute it in accordance with the trustees' scheme.
The fund is greatly indebted to the generosity of Sir William James Thomas, who not only
subscribed but frequently, as president of concerts, eisteddfodau, &c., doubled the proceeds received.
It is interesting to recall that shout 14,000 patients were treated at Netley Hospital, a scale model of which, made by one of the patients, is to be seen at the Welsh National Museum, Cardiff.
Western Mail 27/05/1931
A VETERAN'S DEATH
“The death of Mr. George Baker of 26 Denzil Avenue, Netley, took place early last week.
Mr Baker, who had a remarkable military career, was for 30 years at the Officers' Mess,
Netley Hospital. He was one of the few veterans of the Zulu War, and possessed the
Zulu Medal and clasp.
In 1878, Mr Baker joined the old Army Medical Corp in which be served at Colchester and Aldershot before embarking for South Africa. He also served in the Egyptian Campaign. and was stationed
at Cairo for some time and saw active service in the battle of Gimszah. He also had the Egyptian Medal and Bar, the Khedive's Star as well as the Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
Mr. Baker was one of the five soldiers chosen to act as bodyguard when the
late Queen Victoria visited Netley Hospital.
The funeral took place on Friday last at St. Mary's Hound Churchvard, the Rev W Henty Summers conducting the service. The coffin was carried by members of the Medical Corps.
Sgt Mundin and Sergeant-Major Prince were present to represent the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Hampshire Telegraph 06/05/1932
Mr James Newman who met with an accident on Friday last at the Royal Victoria Hospital
died on Saturday in one of the wards of the Hospital. He was very badly scalded when a boiler
exploded when he was engaged in removing a manhole cover from a steam pipe boiler.
Mr Newman had been employed at the Hospital for 40 years and had been a fitter for 18 years.
He was about 60 years of age and resided in Woolston Road, Butlocks Heath, Netley Abbey and
leaves a widow and a grown up family.
Mr William Sharp who was working with Mr Newman was also scalded but is making satisfactory progress. He resides in New Road, Netley Abbey and is the Captain of the
Netley Abbey Fire Brigade.
Hampshire Telegraph 20/05/1938
Sergeant-Major Arthur Devereaux Rice Adams
In ever-loving memory of George R A 0 C who died suddenly at Netley Hospital, 17 August 1938.
For ever in our thoughts from Mum, Winn and Charlie.
Portsmouth Evening News 27/05/1943
Did you know ...
within the pages of the History of Netley Military Hospital on this website, the names of
hundreds of Members of Staff, Patients, family members are mentioned?
They are on our database too, often with additional information.
Why not use Contact Me to ask if your relative is already on the database
or use the Search Box below to see if they are already mentioned on this website?
