At the outbreak of the First World War, the British Red Cross and the Order of St John of Jerusalem combined to form the Joint War Committee. They pooled their resources under the protection of the red cross emblem. As the Red Cross had secured buildings, equipment and staff, the organisation was able to set up temporary hospitals as soon as wounded men began to arrive from abroad. The buildings varied widely, ranging from town halls and schools to large and small private houses, both in the country and in cities. The most suitable ones were established as auxiliary hospitals. Auxiliary hospitals were attached to central Military Hospitals, which looked after patients who remained under military control. There were over 3,000 auxiliary hospitals administered by Red Cross county directors. In many cases, women in the local neighbourhood volunteered on a part-time basis. The hospitals often needed to supplement voluntary work with paid roles, such as cooks. Local medics also volunteered, despite the extra strain that the medical profession was already under at that time. The patients at these hospitals were generally less seriously wounded than at other hospitals and they needed to convalesce. The servicemen preferred the auxiliary hospitals to military hospitals because they were not so strict, they were less crowded and the surroundings were more homely. Red Cross Link
Early Bank had a house with grounds to the west of Mottram Road. It was a rectangular site with fields to north and south. Early Bank Wood lay to the west. The house was set to the western edge of the site, with a wooded boundary to the north and south. Along with the sites at Foxhill and Woodlands, this site possibly illustrates the beginnings of the suburbanisation of this area. The site is now lost, and the area has been developed as a small housing estate. (Link) 1914: NOVEMBER 7, Wounded Soldiers arrive at Early Bank, B.R.C. Hospital. 1915: MAY 6, Early Bank B.R.C. Hospital closed;
1915: MAY 6 Wounded arrive at Mottram Old Hall, B.R.C. Hospital.
(Link) Do you know anything out about the World Ward One Early Bank Red Cross Hospital in Stalybridge?
Is this the old lodge from the estate?