Monifieth Red Cross Hospital

Monifieth Red Cross Hospital, World War One Autograph Album. Believed to have belonged to Nurse Margaret Walker

At the outbreak of the First World War, the British Red Cross and the Order of St John of Jerusalem combined to form the Joint War Committee to pool resources under the protection of the Red Cross emblem. Because the British Red Cross had secured buildings, equipment and staff, the organisation was able to set up temporary hospitals as soon as wounded men began to arrive from abroad. The buildings varied widely, ranging from town halls and schools to large and small private houses, both in the country and in cities. The most suitable ones were established as auxiliary hospitals. Auxiliary hospitals were attached to central military hospitals, which looked after patients who remained under military control. In all, there were over 3,000 auxiliary hospitals administered by Red Cross county directors. The hospitals were staffed by members of the local voluntary aid detachment, who were trained in first aid and home nursing, and in many cases, women in the neighbourhood volunteered on a part-time basis. The patients at these hospitals were generally less seriously wounded than at other hospitals and needed convalescence. The servicemen preferred the auxiliary hospitals to military hospitals because they were not so strict. Also, auxiliary hospitals were less crowded and the surroundings more homely. The Red Cross Hospital in Monifieth was one of seven hospitals in Dundee where soldiers were treated.

Usually chronological within series.

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Donated by David Johnstone 13th May 2005

At the outbreak of the First World War, the British Red Cross and the Order of St John of Jerusalem combined to form the Joint War Committee to pool resources under the protection of the Red Cross emblem. Because the British Red Cross had secured buildings, equipment and staff, the organisation was able to set up temporary hospitals as soon as wounded men began to arrive from abroad. The buildings varied widely, ranging from town halls and schools to large and small private houses, both in the country and in cities. The most suitable ones were established as auxiliary hospitals. Auxiliary hospitals were attached to central military hospitals, which looked after patients who remained under military control. In all, there were over 3,000 auxiliary hospitals administered by Red Cross county directors. The hospitals were staffed by members of the local voluntary aid detachment, who were trained in first aid and home nursing, and in many cases, women in the neighbourhood volunteered on a part-time basis. The patients at these hospitals were generally less seriously wounded than at other hospitals and needed convalescence. The servicemen preferred the auxiliary hospitals to military hospitals because they were not so strict. Also, auxiliary hospitals were less crowded and the surroundings more homely. The Red Cross Hospital in Monifieth was one of seven hospitals in Dundee where soldiers were treated.

Paper

Description compiled by Jennifer Johnstone, February 2006

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Not expected

Originals

Published

Catalogued

MS 256