Wore Gallery

Quex Park VAD patients & staff in hall of house

VAD hospital patients and staff in the hall of Quex House in March 1915. The hall was used as a recreation space for the patients. A Ward of the hospital was beyond the door on the left, in the Drawing Room. A notice on the door says NO ONE TO ENTER WARD WITHOUT..... (rest obscured). The patients include British soldiers (wearing the patients uniform of hospital blues - blue serge jacket & trousers, white shirt and red tie) and Belgian patients. The latter wore their uniform or civilian clothing. The Belgians include Oscar Van Audenhove, a soldier from Ghent who painted the background to one of the Museum dioramas while at Quex (he is sitting behind the table). The nurse second from the left is Mary E Holmes, who worked as the Matron of the Hospital in 1915. The nurse three from the right is Fanny Watson, a local woman who worked as a VAD nurse at Quex throughout the War. This room remains largely unchanged at Quex House today. The furniture in the photograph is still in the room, as is the mirror on the wall. 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. Major Powell-Cotton was the VAD Transport Officer for the Isle of Thanet area, responsible for organising the transport of patients from the stations to the local hospitals. Date: 1915

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

Group of Belgian and British soldiers at Quex Park

Group of Belgian and British soldiers at Quex Park, with three members of the VAD staff. The Belgian men are wearing civilian clothes. All the British soldiers are in army uniform. Imperial hospital patients wore hospital blues - blue serge jacket and trousers, together with a white shirt and red tie. This could be a gathering of patients about to leave the hospital. A vehicle is in the background, perhaps ready to transport them to the station or to the military hospital at Shorncliffe near Folkestone. The VAD nurse on the left of the photograph is Alice Cobb, a member of the Margate Cobb family. She worked as Quartermaster of the Hospital. 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: 1914

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

Scout Patrol Leader Willie Chun signing autographs

Willie Chun, who's 12 years old and an American of Korean parentage, is a Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 90 in Hollywood. Willie had a special showing of the new Robert L. Lippert production, "The Steel Helmet", in which he plays an important role. After the showing, Willie donned the helmet which he wore in the film, served the kids hot dogs, cokes and ice cream. Before the party ended, the kids got Willie to sign autographs for them. Willie attends school in Hollywood and is in the 7th grade. Left to right are William Chun, Mickey Lowther, Dennis Waid, and below, Willie's little brother Norman.
circa 1951

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10512580