Add New Content


Please log in or register to add new content.

Login

Report Inaccuracies


The Long Room, Chilton Moor


9th Durham Voluntary Aid Detachment


Type: Hospital

In January 1915, the members of Hetton-le-Hole Voluntary Aid Detachment, led by Kathleen Adamson, opened the 9th Durham VAD hospital at the Long Room, Chilton Moor. Adamson, who lived at Hetton House, Hetton-le-Hole, was the daughter of a doctor. According to a newspaper article in the Sunderland Echo of 27 January 1915, the hospital was attached to the 18th (Pals) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, and the Scottish Horse, a Yeomanry battalion, based at Lumley.

The following information on the Long Room, Chilton Moor, comes from records held at the archives at the Museum of the Order of St John, and is used with their kind permission. The records do not make reference to the hospital being the 9th VAD, or it being at Chilton Moor, but other sources suggest this to be the case. Reference OSJ/1/1/12/22:
1) Number of beds
Whether for officers only: no
Whether for officers and rank & file: no
Stating numbers of each: –
Whether for rank & file alone: yes (15 beds)

2) Staff provided
Number of medical men available: three
Number of nurses fully trained: three

3) Whether full provision of
a) beds: yes
b) hospital stores and drugs: yes, drugs supplied by Regimental Medical Officer
c) food: yes

4) Are you prepared to undertake the whole cost of maintenance, including pay of entire staff, if so, for how long? no

If not, state definitely what financial aid is required: 2/- to 3/- per day as per actual cost

Commandant: Kathleen S Adamson

For further information:
Museum of the Order of St John http://museumstjohn.org.uk/research/st-john-archive/
VAD Hospitals in Northumberland and Durham 1914-1918 http://www.donmouth.co.uk/local_history/VAD/VAD_hospitals.html
Scarlet Finders http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/181.html

Civil Parish: Houghton le Spring

Contributed by Durham County Record Office