Sunday 10 May 2015

WOUNDED SOLDIERS AT CRAWLEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL, May 1915.


The Committee of Crawley and Ifield Cottage Hospital having placed eight beds at the disposal of the authorities, the first batch of invalid soldiers arrived on Sunday, half a dozen being brought in a motor car from Brighton. Some had been badly wounded in battle, whilst others were cases of appendicitis and adenoids, for which operations had been performed prior to their arrival at Crawley.

The two most serious cases are those of Prvt. Berry, of the Kings own Royal Lancashire’s, and Srgt. Glover, of 2nd Cheshire Regiment, both of whom telling thrilling stories of their awful experiences at the Front. Srgt. Glover, who lives at Nantwich and is 35, has 17 years service to his credit. He served throughout the South Africa campaign and was wounded. He went to France in August and after various engagements was wounded in the mouth by a bullet in September. He was invalided home and returned to the Front in December, being again wounded in the ankle by shrapnel shell. Subsequently Srgt. Glover received terrible injuries to the eye and face and a piece of shell, an inch square, is still embedded in his left cheek.

Prvt. Berry has injuries to his legs, arms and chest, and most of his wounds were received while he was attending fallen comrades. He went to the Front early in August and took part in the battles of Mons, Marne, Aisne, Lys and other places, and was wounded at Le Touruet on December 26th, receiving a bullet wound in each leg and bayonet scratches in the arm and left side. He returned to England and again went abroad in February. In May he was wounded again, receiving a bullet in the arm, which smashed the bone, and another bullet, which entered his chest, went right through one of his lungs and came out at the back. These terrible wounds were inflicted at a moment when he was dressing the wounds of others. Both men can tell vivid stories of the battles and they can confirm the atrocities alleged against the Germans, but space forbids their recapitulation here.

Despite the severity of their wounds the men are extremely cheerful and full of gratitude for the kindness and consideration shown them by the Matron and her willing staff at the Cottage Hospital. Occasional motor rides are being provided for them and these are, of course, much enjoyed; and the remainder of time is spent in the garden at the rear of the hospital, where they sit and smoke and recount to each other their individual experiences.