Sergeant Major Gallery

Belgian soldiers larks at Quex Park

Seven men are larking about with a large bath chair or basket. One man is underneath it, two others are sitting on top or behind it, others are standing around. They are all very amused. The photograph is taken in the grounds at Quex Park; there is some melting snow on the grass. The man beneath the basket is Sgt Emile Verheyen from Ghent, a patient between 14 November 1914 and 29 March 1915. He was married to a Belgian girl in Ramsgate in 1916. The man on top of the basket is Artieme Mettrie from Antwerp, a patient between 14 November 1914 and 13 May 1915. He had had a finger amuputated but leter returned to active service in Belgium. The Quex Park VAD Hospital opened on 15 October 1914 and closed on 31 January 1919. The hospital was run by Kent/178, the Birchington Detachment. The Commandant was Hannah Powell-Cotton (1881-1964), wife of Major Percy HG Powell-Cotton (1866-1940) of Quex Park, founder of the Powell-Cotton Museum. Date: 1915

© The Powell-Cotton Museum Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Christening 1918 Tree Planting Proxy Godfathers group

Christopher Powell-Cotton (1918-2006) was christenend at All Saints Church, Birchington on 20 April 1918. Afterwards a tree was planted in the grounds of Quex Park. People are gathered beside a fence around the site of the tree planting. Within the fence are a smaller group of people, some holding the tree being planted. They include, on the left Major PHG Powell-Cotton (1866-1940) the father, next is Sergeant Alexander Gibson of the 19th Battalion, Australian Infantry Force. His home was in Sydney. He was a patient at the Quex Park VAD hospital for 17 days in April 1918 and stood proxy for one of the Godfathers who was away on war duty. Gibson soon returned to active duty and in June 1918 he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. Next to him is James Cornford, the Head Gardener at Quex. The other soldier is Corporal William Kite from Birmingham, a British soldier in the Labour Corps. He spent three months as a patient at St Mary's, the annexe to the Quex Park VAD Hospital. He stood proxy for the other Godfather. The Godmothers were the 33 members of Kent/178, the Birchington Voluntary Aid Detachment. The invitation for the Christening included the words While the Hospital at Quex, and the Rations, make entertaining impossible, Major & Mrs Powell-Cotton will be very pleased to see Tenants and Friends, without whose presence and good wishes the Ceremony would seem incomplete. Date: 1918

© The Powell-Cotton Museum Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library

Sergeant Major from 3rd Northern General Hospital, World War I

Taken from 3rd Northern General Hospital, Sheffield compiled by Professor (then Colonel) A.M. Connell. Taken during the Great War, mostly at the Base Hospital and Longshaw. 1915 - 1918. Cat. No. 940.476274 SSTF

© Sheffield City Council

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