WW1 Servicemen and Nurses Outside the Royal Gwent Hospital
Photo reference number: 1694
While in hospital wounded soldiers wore the blue uniform seen in the picture above.
We believe this photo was taken outside the Royal Gwent Hospital.
It must have been cold waiting while the scene was arranged... note the figures viewing from the open window.
At the outset of the war it was arranged that the Royal Gwent Hospital would make space for 50 wounded servicemen and a public appeal was launched to obtain the necessary additional beds. In 1916 a new wing was added to the hospital and then 77 servicemen could be accommodated.
Convalescing servicemen were moved to the Friars where 40 beds were allocated for this purpose. See link below to a photo of servicemen outside the friars.
The old workhouse on the top of Stow Hill became the Newport Section of The 3rd Western General Military Hospital - under control of Western Command of the Military.
Casualties usually arrived by Red Cross Train at Newport Railway Station.
See "The Royal Gwent & St. Woolos Hospitals, A Century of Service in Newport" compiled and edited by Brian Peeling and "History of the Red Cross in Monmouthshire 1910 -1918" by Robin Jones.
H2 Ward Newport Mon Handmade World War 1 Postcard
External link: Real Photographic Postcards from WW1