Information received from Mike Coggins 03/03/2021 My father, John Bernard Coggins b 5 June 1899 in Blackburn, 6 Bn South Wales Borderers (Pioneers) attended an Instructors Anti-Gas course at Prees Heath between 12 Sep 1918 to the 20 September 1918. … 
Curator
Born 1892 Son of Alfred & Sarah Ann Newbrooke of 5 Castle Hill, Whitchurch Civilian occupation – boatman Military Details Regiment : Royal Field Artillery Rank : Gunner Service Number : 67045 27/09/1911 Enlisted with 33rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery …
Photograph and biographical information kindly supplied by Susan Moss Ethel May Beech was born on 7th April 1899 and lived at 1, Waymills, Whitchurch. She worked one day a week from 1917 to 1919 at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, …
Though there were no Munitions factories in Whitchurch or its surrounding area, many civilians made vital contributions to the war effort through their jobs. The 1918 “Directory of Manufacturers in Engineering and Allied Trades” lists two Whitchurch companies engaged in …
This page from the Rectory Visitors Book is dated 23rd March 1915. It records the names, ranks and regiments of soldiers who were patients at Broughall Cottage VAD Hospital. …
Peat working was apparently a reserved occupation during WW1 so why were these women employed ? Who were they and where did they stay?
This article appeared in the Chester Chronicle on 1st July 1916 …
An article in the Chester Chronicle dated 18th July 1916 reported that Whitchurch women had stepped into the jobs left empty by men serving in the forces. Miss Crewe was delivering parcels while Miss Etches and Miss Huxley were working as …
FIRST FEMALE CLERKS AT LLOYDSWith the outbreak of the First World War, Lloyds Bank employed women as clerks for the first time. They replaced men who had joined the armed services. Nationally six women were taken on at the start of …
War Hospital Supply Depots were organised by individuals and staffed by civilian volunteers. Without them supplies of dressings and garments to many hospitals would have been non-existent. A number of supply depots were located in the Whitchurch area and included …
Miss Winifred RoeOf The Laurels, Whitchurch, SalopCook at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/01/1915 to 00/12/1917
Miss Robina NeavesOf Station Road, Whitchurch, SalopWard Maid at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/03/1915 to 03/03/1919
Miss Annie Jane PurcellOf 3 Fox’s Lane, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopWashed up at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/11/1917 to 00/11/1918
We have received the following gift this week from Miss Thompson, of Whitchurch : Cakes soap, tooth brushes, handkerchiefs, knitted scarf and old linen. They will be forwarded where they are greatly needed, as all such things are in military …
Mrs Rose BeckettOf The Bungalow, Whitchurch, SalopCook at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 28/01/1915 to 00/01/1916
Miss Daisey BaileyOf Ash, Whitchurch, SalopWashed up once a week at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/03/1915 to 00/03/1919
Miss Mary ArrowsmithOf Ash, Whitchurch, SalopWashed up once a week at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/07/1917 to 00/03/1919
Miss Winsome LambertOf Ash Grove, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 28/01/1915 to 03/03/1919
Mrs Edith Knightc/o Mrs Shorey, Watergate, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 28/01/1915 to 00/11/1916
Miss Emily PearsonOf Dodington, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/08/1917 to 03/03/1919
Miss Agnes PearsonOf Dodington, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 28/01/1915 to 03/03/1919
Miss Ada PearsonOf Edgeley Road, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 28/01/1915 to 03/03/1919
Miss Mary LewisOf Tushingham, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/04/1918 to 03/03/1919
Miss Mabel ManleyOf Richmond Terrace, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/02/1917 to 03/03/1919
Miss Alice KempOf Richmond Terrace, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 28/01/1915 to 00/02/1917
Mrs Sarah MorrisOf Corra, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Mothers Union Work Party 4082. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/00/1915 to 00/00/1918
Mrs Hannah MorrisOf Moreton Wood, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Mothers Union Work Party 4082. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/00/1915 to 00/00/1918
According to TC Duggan’s History of Whitchurch, Shropshire published in 1935 ‘During the period of the Great War, no less than 335 soldiers passed through the hospital.’
County branches of the Red Cross had their own groups of male and female volunteers called Voluntary Aid Detachments. At the beginning of WW1 the V.A.Ds carried out a range of voluntary positions including nursing, transport duties, working …
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and used to be awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The Military Cross is granted in recognition of …
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Patients arriving at Broughall Cottage This article appeared in the Whitchurch Herald …
James AllmarkOf Whixall Moss, Whitchurch, SalopServed as collector of sphagnum moss for Mr Stapleton Cotton’s depot in WemFrom 0/00/1914 to 00/00/1919
Leonard Richard HouseOf 26 Wrexham Road, Whitchurch, SalopServed in Friends Ambulance Unit (F.A.U.)From 23/10/1917 to 13/02/1919
Miss Lucy DarlingtonOf The Old Lane Farm, Ightfield, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Calverhall Girls’ Work Party. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/10/1914 to 00/02/1919
Miss Gertrude DarlingtonOf Church Farm, Ightfield, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Calverhall Girls’ Work Party. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/10/1914 to 00/02/1919
Miss Agnes DarlingtonOf Church Farm, Ightfield, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Calverhall Girls’ Work Party. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/10/1914 to 00/02/1918
Miss Mary GregoryOf Corra Common, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Calverhall Girls’ Work Party. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/01/1915 to 00/02/1918
Mrs GatensburyOf Corra, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Mothers Union work party. Duty – not specifiedFrom 00/09/1915 to 00/00/1918
Mrs Amelia DownesOf Calverhall, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Mothers Union work party. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/09/1915 to 00/00/1918
Mrs Elizabeth DuttonOf Burleydam, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Vicarage working party. Duties – Needlework, Subs & FoodFrom 00/09/1914 to 00/12/1918
Mrs Eliz. DaviesOf Moreton Wood, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Mothers Union Work Party. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/00/1915 to 00/00/1918
Mrs E BurgessOf Corra Common, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Mothers Union Work Party. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/00/1915 to 00/00/1918
Miss Mary BurgessOf Corra Common, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Calverhall Girls’ Work Party. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/10/1914 to 00/02/1919
Mrs Selina AnthonyOf Wickstead Lodge, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Mothers Union works party. Duty – NeedleworkFrom 00/00/1915 to 00/00/1918
Mrs Emma HuntbachOf Burleydam, Whitchurch, SalopMember of Cheshire Branch. Duties included Needlework, Subs & FoodFrom 00/09/1914 to 00/12/1918
V.A.D. Orderly John Richard Heatley Of 6 Oddfellows Terrace, Whitchurch, Salop Served at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, Salop From 28/01/1915 to 03/03/1919 …
Henry GriffithsOf Brownlow Street, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 28/01/1915 to 03/03/1919
Miss Alice GriffithOf Nursing Institution, Stoke-upon-Trent, StaffsServed at Whitchurch Cottage Hospital, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 03/09/1916 to 16/03/1919
Mrs Sybil Annie HallOf 16 Main Road, Handsworth, Sheffield, YorksServed at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 12/01/1917 to 21/06/1917
Miss Mary HitchcockOf 24 Cecil Road, Wealdstone, Harrow, MiddlesexServed at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 03/01/1917 to 22/10/1917
Mrs Sarah FrancisOf Catteralls Lane, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 28/01/1915 to 03/03/1919
Miss Nellie CluleyOf 3 Park Road, Coventry, WarwickshireServed at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 25/05/1918 to 27/06/1919
Miss Winifed Adie BramptonOf Redcot, Biddenham, BedsServed at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 23/07/1918 to 02/06/1919
Miss May Yvonne BeamanOf 150 Canteen, 4 Camp, Prees Heath, Whitchurch, SalopServed at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/03/1916 to 00/08/1918
Miss Elizabeth Jane AshtonOf Broad Street, MontgomeryServed at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 22/03/1917 to 14/03/1919
Miss Daisy GriffithsOf Hanmer, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/04/1918 to 03/03/1919
Miss Mary CunliffeOf Woodhatch, Reigate, SurreyServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 00/01/1915 to 00/08/1915
V.A.D. Nurse Miss Ethel Eddison Of Worksop, Notts Served at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, Salop From 01/02/1917 to 01/03/1917 …
V.A.D. Nurse Miss Grace Broadhead Of South Promenade, St Anne’s on Sea, Lancs Served at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, Salop From 01/03/1916 to 00/05/1916 …
V.A.D. Nurse Miss Elizabeth Barnett Of Bishops Burton, Beverley, E. Yorks Served at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, Salop From 21/11/1916 to 22/09/1917 …
V.A.D. Nurse Miss Dorothy M Barnard Of Cecil Lodge, Stoke Bishop, Bristol Served at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, Salop From 06/12/1918 to 17/12/1918 (Possible clerical error on card and was actually 06/12/1917 to 17/12/1918) …
V.A.D. Nurse Miss Betty Tong Hughes Of 37 Chambers Road, Southport, Lancs Served at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, Salop From 01/02/1918 to 01/09/1918 …
V.A.D. Nurse Miss Annie Johnson Of Fern Lea, New Moston, Manchester, Lancs Served at Prees Heath Military Hospital, Whitchurch, Salop From 16/02/1916 to 27/03/1917 …
V.A.D. Nurse Miss Dorothy Ethelston Of Hinton Manor, Whitchurch, Salop Served at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, Salop From 28/01/1915 to 00/11/1918 …
Miss Susan DickenOf Bonehills, Mickleover, DerbyServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom approximately 02/04/1917 to 03/03/1919
Miss Gladys GoodwinOf Oakleigh, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 05/04/1917 to 03/03/1919
Of Iscoyd Park, Whitchurch, Salop Served at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, Salop From 28/01/1915 to 26/12/1915
Of Iscoyd Park, Whitchurch, Salop Served at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, Salop From 28/01/1915 to 03/03/1919
Of Ash, Whitchurch, Salop Served at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, Salop From 03/1917 to 03/03/1919
Miss Rhoda ClarkeOf Ash Corner, Whitchurch, SalopServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 28/01/1915 to 01/1918
Miss Muriel Bulkeley Of Oak Cottage, Whitchurch, Salop Served at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, Salop From 28/01/1915 to 03/03/1919 Further Information Muriel was the sister of Charles Ivor Rivers Bulkeley and Thomas Henry Rivers Bulkeley, both of …
Lady Ilona CambridgeOf 4 Devonshire Place, LondonServed at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, SalopFrom 06/1917 to 01/1919
Of Prees Hall, Whitchurch, Salop Served at V.A.D. Hospital, Shropshire 26, Broughall, Whitchurch, Salop From 26/01/1915 to 03/03/1919
In 1915 the V.A.D. (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Hospital was opened under General Buston and Mrs Lambert in the house of Mr H.L. Storey at Broughall Cottage. They had beds for 20 patients and two trained nurses to …
Born 1890 Son of – John & Annie Passant, 4 Sherrymill Hill, Whitchurch Civilian occupation – Shoemaker Regiment : Monmouthshire Regiment Rank : Corporal Service Number : 226027, 2869 04/09/1914 Enlisted with 1st Monmouthshire Regiment 07/06/1917 Went under fire to …
Personal Details Born 1881 Next of kin – Mrs Alice Ann Fisher (wife), 20 Pepper Street, Whitchurch Civilian occupation – Stoker at Whitchurch Gas Works Military Details Regiment : King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, Royal Defence Corps Rank : Private Service …
Personal Details Born 1885 Next of kin – Mrs Baddeley, Lower Morrey, Shavington (wife) Civilian occupation – Farmer Military Details Regiment : Shropshire Yeomanry Rank : Sergeant, Corporal Service Number : 887 01/04/1908 Enlisted with Shropshire Yeomanry as Private & …
Personal Details Born 1874 Next of kin – Mrs Elizabeth Bennion (wife), 1 Sherrymill Hill, Whitchurch Civilian occupation – Builder’s labourer Military Details Regiment : King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, Labour Corps Rank : Corporal, Private Service Number : 11691, 42444 …
Personal Details Born 1891 Next of kin – Mrs Annie Woolley, Cemetery Lodge, Milebank, Whitchurch (wife) Civilian occupation – Motor Driver Military details Regiment : Royal Army Service Corps Rank : Private Service Number : M2/167596 10/12/1915 Enlisted with Royal …
Chester Chronicle Saturday 15th June 1918 Transcription MILITARY MEDAL WON – The parents of Lance-Corporal C. Williams, of the Machine-gun Corps, have had the gratification of hearing their son has won the Military Medal, for an act of great bravery, …
King’s (Liverpool Regt.) Nicholson 50053. T. (Whitchurch, Shropshire)
The V.A.D. Hospital at Broughall continues to do very useful work, and there are at present a large number of patients, including Canadians and Anzacs. Chester Chronicle 17th November 1917 …
Image reproduced with permission of Trinity Mirror plc Transcription Corporal Passant has been awarded the Military Medal for courageous conduct and leadership on the night of June 8th, this year. Besides this on the previous night, after a gallant attack, …
Liverpool Daily Post – Friday 11 May 1917 …
Nursing sisters that had been deputed for duty in Home Hospitals by The Joint War Committee were listed in the British Journal of Nursing. The above entry for Miss F. Jones was found British Journal of Nursing 23rd September 1916
Wounded King’s Shropshire Light Infantry – George Fox 22436 of Whitchurch
Nursing sisters that had been deputed for duty in Home Hospitals by The Joint War Committee were listed in the British Journal of Nursing. The above entry for Miss E.M Blease was found British Journal of Nursing 16th October 1915 …
Personal Details Born 1897 Next of kin – Mrs Ryder, 7 Yardington, Whitchurch (Foster Mother) Civilian occupation – Farm labourer Military Details Regiment : Cheshire Regiment Rank : Private Service Number : 27253 30/06/1915 Enlisted with Cheshire Regiment 03/03/1916 Embarked …
Nursing sisters that had been deputed for duty in Home Hospitals by The Joint War Committee were listed in the British Journal of Nursing. The above entry for Miss A.E. Colburn was found British Journal of Nursing 29th May 1915
Image reproduced with permission of Trinity Mirror plc Transcription A large number of troops came to the Prees Heath camp at the end of the week, mostly Scottish and Border Regiments, and between 5,000 and 6,000 have settled into the …
This postcard is an example of what the first soldiers at the camp could send to their friends and relatives.
Nurses that had been deputed for duty in Home Hospitals by The Joint War Committee were listed in the British Journal of Nursing. The above entry for Miss L. Dicks was found British Journal of Nursing 6th March 1915
Image reproduced with permission of Trinity Mirror plc Transcription The work at the Heath now employs nearly a thousand men, and it is expected the hutments and general arrangements will be in order for the first draft to arrive in …
Image reproduced with permission of Trinity Mirror plc Transcription Prees Heath Military Camp Prees Heath, close to Whitchurch, is now covered with long lines of wooden buildings which have been put up by an army of joiners. Already there are …
Mechanical Transport Drivers – William John Dodsworth & John Henry Williams Horse Transport Transport Drivers – William A. Kilgarriff, Herbert Roberts, John Hayward, William Arthur Dawson, Alfred Fowles, George Fowles, Arthur Chidlow & Thomas Stockton
At Prees Heath the work is, of course, progressing – as one would expect it to do, seeing that there is an army of perhaps six or seven hundred men engaged in one task or another in connection with the …
Image reproduced with permission of Trinity Mirror plc Transcription WANTED – EX-SOLDIERS and CIVILIANS With a knowledge of Storekeeping, are required to fill vacancies as temporary Barrack Wardens and Barrack Labourers for hutments of New Army Divisions at Kimnel Park, …
Image reproduced with permission of Trinity Mirror plc Transcription New Training Camp Army Authorities and Prees Heath Army officers have inspected Prees Heath, near Whitchurch, with a view to its being used as a military training camp for 15,000 men …
Enlisted – 14 September 1914 Named in Whitchurch Herald 19/09/1914 Private in KSLI, No. 13035 Born in or near Whitchurch Occupation: Clerk Has resided out of father’s house for more than 3 years Address: 47 Wrexham Road, Whitchurch, Salop Never …
12th September 1914 George Albert Chubb