Royal Chest Hospital, London

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by dbf, May 15, 2009.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    The Times, Saturday, January 18, 1941

    AWARDS TO CIVIL DEFENCE WORKS
    GEORGE MEDAL

    ANDRE BATHFIELD, Resident Medical Officer, Royal Chest Hospital, London
    MISS CATHERINE McGOVERN, Assistant Matron, Royal Chest Hospital, London
    MISS PATRICIA MARMION, Staff Nurse, Royal Chest Hospital, London


    During an air raid a bomb was dropped on the Royal Chest Hospital and Dr. Bathfield, although badly cut, assisted in the rescue, treatment and dressing of patients and staff, and did not leave the hospital until every injured person had been removed.

    Miss McGovern was badly cut about the head, face and body, but she continued to help in the removal of injured patients and staff and finally, when she was unable to walk unassisted, she went through the ruins to each part of the hospital, supported by a police constable, to ensure that there was no possiblily of anybody being left behind.

    Staff Nurse Marmion was in charge of the men's ward which was within 20ft. of the place where the bomb struck. She took steps to pacify her patients, and rescued an injured patient from a bed over which a heavy window frame and debris had fallen. Balancing him around her shoulders she carried him down the stairs over masses of debris. She was herself injured and a few days afterwards was moved to Grovelands Hospital. The same night that hospital was heavily bombed and although the floor of the ward in which she was then a patient was strewn with broken glass she unhesitatingly jumped out of bed and, in her bare feet, assisted in rescuing other patients.
     
    Drew5233 likes this.
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Miss Catherine McGovern, the acting Matron at the Royal Chest Hospital, from Bailieborough, Co. Cavan, was awarded the George Medal in January, 1941.
    She was badly cut and injured by falling debris, but refused to leave and continued to help in the removal of injured patients and staff. She then, supported by a policeman, went through the ruins to ensure that there was no possibility of anyone being left behind. The George Medal is Miss McGovern’s fifth decoration. She served in France in the last war and received the Royal Red Cross Medal, the Mons Star, the General Service Medal and the Victory Medal.

    See this thread for ref:
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/19413-volunteers-eire-who-have-won-distinctions.html#post195852
    :irishflag[1]:
     
  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Staff Nurse Patricia Marmion was awarded the George Medal in January, 1941.

    At the Royal Chest Hospital Nurse Marmion, eldest of seven children of Mrs. Marmion, of Skibbereen, and of the late Mr. Philip Marmion, M.R.C.V.S., was in charge of the men’s ward when the hospital was bombed.

    The war was within 20 feet of where the heavy bomb dropped on the hospital, and she immediately took steps to calm her patients. Although herself cut about the face, she rescued an injured patient from a bed over which a heavy window frame had fallen and, balancing him on her shoulders, carried him down the stairs over masses of debris. Next she took steps personally to collect drugs and put them in a safe place. Her condition was such that she had to be taken to hospital.

    A few days afterwards she was moved to another hospital. The same night this hospital was heavily bombed and a fire was started in the ward. Although the floor of the ward in which she was a patient was strewn with broken glass, Nurse Marmion unhesitatingly jumped out of bed and in her bare feet assisted in taking other patients to safety.


    See this thread for ref:
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/19413-volunteers-eire-who-have-won-distinctions.html#post195852
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Using Geoff's search engine, these 2 casualties at London Chest Hospital were found:

    001 DAVIS AE 11/09/1940 CIVILIAN WAR DEAD
    002 SPARROW FR 09/09/1940 CIVILIAN WAR DEAD

    :poppy:
     
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    The Times, Monday, April 14, 1941RAID DAMAGE TO HOSPITALS...MANY DIRECT HITSOther hospitals which have suffered are:-...ROYAL NORTHERN.- This group has been hit a number of times and between £80,000 and £90,000 worth of damage done, of which between £50,000 and £60,000 worth is at the Royal Chest Hopsital. Bombs wrecked the whole in-patient department, injuring every one in it, but only one person was killed. The radiographer's foresight in wrapping pillows round the more fragile parts of a new X-ray plant and loosening screws saved it from damage.
     

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