Springburn at War 1914-1918

Stobhill Military Hospital

Immediately following the outbreak of the First World War, on 4th August 1914, Stobhill was requisitioned by the military authorities for the care of wounded servicemen. Patients were brought by rail directly to the hospital grounds. As early as September of 1914 wounded soldiers were brought to Stobhill.

Mr Lister remembers his mother helping with the wounded: '...during the First World War the troop trains of wounded used to come in on the railway line, which ran then (it's gone now), but it ran then round the back of Stobhill Hospital, just at Littlehill Golf Club, and my mother, when she saw a train of wounded coming in, used to run down and see if she could help, you know tea and sympathy, that sort of thing, and...she went down to this troop train this day, the first stretcher off, my father's brother, who nobody had heard of for two years...brought home from Gallipoli having been gassed first and then wounded and the first stretcher off the train, she recognised him. Quite a story.'

Mr Coombes was sent to Stobhill for treatment when he was wounded in France. In his letter he remembers the nurses and wards.

Jan 6th 1984

Dear Sister

I am enclosing two Photo's taken in Stobhill hospital in August 1916. They are just of sentimental value now, as I saw Stobhill hospital on the T.V recently and it was out of all proportion to the Stobhill I can recall. However there may be some Nurses living to-day who were on Duty on those Bye gone Days as I am now nearing 85 years old. On 22/1/99 I was born so the attraction of the German Helment and German sausage were the lure to accept the Kings Shilling, on 22/11/15. Being wounded on the Somme on 13 August 1916 I was just 17 1/2 in them days. I also got transferred to the 8th Seaforth Highlanders and saw service in France until 11th Nov 1918 and Demobilised in Feb 1919. Married in 1921 and had 56 years Happy Married Bliss, with all its ups and Downs. My dear wife passed away in May 1977, but lucky for me I have a surviving son and Daughter and 7 grandchildren so keeps me solgering on. I had reason to be in Hospital this last year on August. I suffered a black out, recovering 2 Black eyes and a broken nose and bruises from head to foot, I was amazed at the difference an Hospital held. Automation in the Nursing profession so its go go all the time for them. I do hope you get Better conditions in the near future as I was a keen Trade Unionist for over 60 years. I would esteem it a favour if [you] would accept these two photos. I will mark myself with a wee x. Best wishes for 1984 to all your Nursing Profession. A reply would satisfy me that you received photos.

Yours Sincerely

Mr J Coombes.

Ambulance train, fitted out with surgery units, and beds for wounded soldiers

Interior of one of the Ward Cars of the Ambulance Train, constructed by the Caledonian Railway Company, on the order of the War Office for the conveyance of Wounded British Soldiers in France from the Front to the Sea-board.

Stobhill Hospital winners of Whist cup 1916

Pte Coombes and other patients

Wounded in Glasgow

200 Accommodated in Stobhill.

The Majority Highland Soldiers.

The first big contingent of wounded soldiers to reach Glasgow arrived on Sunday night by two special ambulance trains from Southampton, the first at 10 o'clock and the second an hour later. As Stobhill Hospital is now devoted to military purposes, a temporary railway platform has been erected in the grounds and trains from London can be diverted from the main line at a point in the suburbs of the city so as to proceed direct to the hospital.

This diversion of the trains at Rutherglen avoids passing through the centre of Glasgow, and consequently only railway officials and the Stobhill staff are aware of the arrival of so many wounded in the city. The most seriously injured - there were only a few who required stretchers - were conveyed from the temporary station to the hospital in St. Andrew's Ambulance wagons.

Although the military authorities are preserving the strictest secrecy regarding the men it was learned on good authority that the wounded soldiers numbered fully 200. While it is not yet publicly known what regiments are represented it is believed that the bulk of the men belong to Highland regiments, though there is also a number of English and Irish soldiers.

Colonel Napier, who is in charge, had everything in readiness at the hospital when the wounded soldiers arrived, and without delay he had them conveyed to the various wards, where they were immediately attended to by a large medical staff and nurses.

Of the four military hospitals that the Territorial Nursing Association has under its auspices in Scotland two are at Stobhill. These are Nos. 3 and 4. and they are in all respects suitably adapted for the work now placed upon them. Both are quite separate and have each a staff of 120 nurses.