N.Z. MILITARY HOSPITALS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 January 1940, Page 7

N.Z. MILITARY HOSPITALS

ESTABLISHMENT IN BRITAIN UNDER CONSIDERATION [United Press Association] AUCKLAND, 9th January. The establishment in Great Britain of New Zealand military hospitals similar to those conducted during the Great War is being discuss by the Government with army leaders and representatives of the medical profession. As yet the discussions are in an early stage. It is understood that the plan envisaged provides for the initial establishment of two hospitals. These, it is intended, would be staffed entirely by New Zealand doctors and nurses. Further development of the scheme by the opening of additional institutions would depend on the circumstances. The two principal New Zealand military hospitals ir. Great Britain during the last war were at Walton-on-Thames and Brockenhurst. There was another at Codford and there were convalescent homes at Hornchurch and Brighton. < The hospita at Walton-on-Thames was opened on Ist August, 1915, as the New Zealand War Contingent Hospita] and within two days U received men from Gallipoli. As many New Zealanders as possible were also transferred there from British hospitals and those who could not enter Walton were concentrated, as far as possible in the Second London General Hospital.

After a few months the name of the hospital was changed to the New Zealand Military Hospital. Later, when the New Zealand Expeditionary Force took it over from the New Zealand War Contingent Association, it became k " vn as the No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital. At that time the accommodation was for about 350 patients, but toward the end of 1918 it was able to accommodate 1900. HISTORY OF BROCKENHURST Brockenhurst Hospital was taken over by the New Zealand authorities from the War Office in June, 1916. It had previously been a hospital for Indian soldiers. Together with a number of auxiliary hospitals, the establishment was known as the No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital. Though there were only a few hundred patients in Brockenhurst during the earlier month, there were occasions during 1918 when it accommodated nearly 1900. Taken over a few months after Brockenhurst, the hospital at Codford was known as No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital. Its situation in the Salisbury Plain area enabled it to afford accommodation for men from Codford Camp, just opposite, and Sling Camp, a few miles away by road. The establishment at Hornchurch was officially designated the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital, and ultimately it found accommodation for 2500 soldiers. Two New Zealr-d officers’ homes, nn conjointly, were also instituted at Brighton, where there was also a convalescent home for New Zealand Army Nursing Sisters. From Ist May, 1916, to the time when the New Zealand hospitals were closed there were about 70.000 admissions of New Zealanders to New Zealand and Imperial hospitals in the United Kingdom. Walton-on-Thames admitted more than 25.000 patients, and Broekenhurst considerably more than 20.000.