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Telegram mobilising VAD 1914
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Telegram mobilising VAD 1914
This telegram, sent to Birchington late in the day on 14 October 1914, was the call to mobilise the local Voluntary Aid Detachments to set up their hospitals. In just a few hours detachments had to call in the promises of loans for furniture, bedding and equipment and set up their hospitals. There was considerable confusion. The train carrying the patients, eventually arrived several hours late, having travelled around much of Kent. Instead of 100 patients, 145 were disembarked from the train. All were Belgian soldiers. Eventually all were found a bed, although some were temproary - mattresses laid on the floor in the dining room of Quex House for example. This experience was repeated all over Kent and beyond as several thousand Belgian soldiers were evacuated from Ostend by the British Government. For Quex Park it was the start of four and a half years as a VAD 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. 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: 1914
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Media ID 14305768
© The Powell-Cotton Museum Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Arrived Bedding Belgian Call Confusion Considerable Detachments Dining Disembarked Eventually Floor Found Hospitals Hours Laid Loans Mattresses Patients Promises Telegram Travelled Voluntary Furniture Instead
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this historic photograph, we witness a pivotal moment during the early days of World War I as Telegram No. 1235, sent to Birchington on October 14, 1914, mobilizes the local Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) to prepare for the arrival of wounded Belgian soldiers. The telegram arrived late in the day, giving the detachments only a few hours to gather loans for furniture, bedding, and equipment, and set up their hospitals. The scene was one of chaos and confusion. Trains carrying the patients were delayed, and instead of the anticipated 100 patients, 145 Belgian soldiers were disembarked. Despite the challenges, every soldier was eventually provided with a bed, albeit some temporary ones, such as mattresses on the floor in the dining room of Quex House. This experience was repeated throughout Kent and beyond, as several thousand Belgian soldiers were evacuated from Ostend by the British Government. For Quex Park, this marked the beginning of its four and a half-year tenure as a VAD Hospital. The Quex Park VAD Hospital opened on October 15, 1914, and closed on January 31, 1919. The hospital was run by Kent/178, the Birchington Detachment, with Hannah Powell-Cotton serving as the Commandant. Her husband, Major Percy HG Powell-Cotton, was the VAD Transport Officer for the Isle of Thanet area, responsible for organizing the transport of patients from the stations to the local hospitals. This photograph is a testament to the quick action and dedication of the VADs during a time of great need, providing essential care and support to the wounded soldiers during the early days of the war.
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