Cambridge,
First Eastern Hospital No. 1
The
First Eastern General Hospital was a military hospital established
by Royal Army Medical Corps in 1908 provisional upon mobilisation.
Many of Addenbrooke's medical and nursing staff served on
its staff in both world wars. The Matron of Addenbrooke's
was also the Matron of the First Eastern. During World War
I the hospital had its headquarters in Trinity College, with
beds in the Leys School and in the grounds of Trinity College,
and later in temporary buildings on the cricket grounds of
Clare College and King's College to the south of Burrell's
Walk, with over 1,500 beds by the end of 1915. The hospital
continued its war duties until 1920. Wounded soldiers were
also offered beds in Addenbrooke's itself, Albert, Griffiths
and Bowtell wards being commandeered for this purpose and
regarded as an extension of the First Eastern. The last soldiers
were withdrawn from these wards in March 1919, 2885 having
been admitted since 1915.
During
World War II the First Eastern became known as the Twentieth
General Hospital. It was commanded by Charles Budd, who had
been Senior Anaesthetist at Addenbrooke's. The Leys School,
which had been evacuated to Pitlochry, was opened as an annexe
of Addenbrooke's.
War
Hospitals in Britain |
