This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-35315280

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
WWI Aldridge Manor convalescent hospital marks centenary WWI Aldridge Manor convalescent hospital marks centenary
(1 day later)
A former military hospital that cared for convalescent soldiers in World War One is to be recognised with a blue plaque to mark the centenary of its opening. A former military hospital that cared for convalescent soldiers in World War One has been recognised with a blue plaque to mark the centenary of its opening.
Aldridge Manor House in Walsall was used as medical facility between 1916 and 1919, treating 941 injured and ill servicemen.Aldridge Manor House in Walsall was used as medical facility between 1916 and 1919, treating 941 injured and ill servicemen.
It was mainly staffed by volunteers, other than two qualified nurses and a village doctor.It was mainly staffed by volunteers, other than two qualified nurses and a village doctor.
The plaque unveiling is at 15:00 GMT. The plaque unveiling was at 15:00 GMT.
Local historian Sue Satterthwaite, who has written a book about the hospital, said: "At the time Aldridge was a small Staffordshire village of less than 3,000, but they found enough local volunteers to perform all of the duties within the hospital such as nursing, cleaning, cooking, laundry and administration.Local historian Sue Satterthwaite, who has written a book about the hospital, said: "At the time Aldridge was a small Staffordshire village of less than 3,000, but they found enough local volunteers to perform all of the duties within the hospital such as nursing, cleaning, cooking, laundry and administration.
"Others from the village offered to serve on the committee which ran the hospital and to be involved in fundraising, going door-to-door every week collecting subscriptions.""Others from the village offered to serve on the committee which ran the hospital and to be involved in fundraising, going door-to-door every week collecting subscriptions."
The Aldridge Auxiliary Convalescent Hospital received its patients from the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital and as the war progressed it took more and more patients.The Aldridge Auxiliary Convalescent Hospital received its patients from the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital and as the war progressed it took more and more patients.
It began with 20 and ended with more than 60 - at one point the Manor House was so overcrowded the schoolroom of the local Methodist church was used for sleeping accommodation for 10 men.It began with 20 and ended with more than 60 - at one point the Manor House was so overcrowded the schoolroom of the local Methodist church was used for sleeping accommodation for 10 men.
Donations from the collieries, brickworks and munitions factory allowed the hospital to carry on.Donations from the collieries, brickworks and munitions factory allowed the hospital to carry on.
"The flu epidemic in November 1918 was the hospital's darkest hour," Ms Satterthwaite said."The flu epidemic in November 1918 was the hospital's darkest hour," Ms Satterthwaite said.
"Even the village doctor lay gravely ill and volunteers from Walsall and further afield came to help."Even the village doctor lay gravely ill and volunteers from Walsall and further afield came to help.
"Sadly a volunteer nurse, Alice Amelia Potts, and a patient, Private Matthew Nell of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died"."Sadly a volunteer nurse, Alice Amelia Potts, and a patient, Private Matthew Nell of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died".
One of the speakers at the plaque's unveiling ceremony will be Pte Nell's granddaughter Marilyn Preece. One of the speakers at the plaque's unveiling ceremony was Pte Nell's granddaughter Marilyn Preece.
She said she intended to thank the people of Aldridge for all they did to try to save her grandfather's life a century ago. She thanked the people of Aldridge for all they did to try to save her grandfather's life a century ago.