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The 52nd General Hospital Memorial Fund

Fund raising began earlier this year in January, since then the 52nd General Hospital Memorial Fund has received donations from both sides of the Atlantic.

It was just a couple of years ago that I went to Wolverley village’s annual Remembrance Sunday Service. I listened with interest as the vicar; the Rev Geoffrey Shilvolk gave his sermon. He told everyone present that morning of several memorials, which could be seen in the church. They were dedicated to the memory of people from the village that had taken part in wars. Later that day when I was at home, I realised that there is no reference anywhere in the village to the American hospital’s presence here during the Second World War. After spending the last few years researching the hospital I decided there and then to try and put a lasting memorial somewhere in the village. What better place than in the church, safe from vandals and abuse, also a place where the Americans went?

I contacted Dave Andrews, a member of the Parochial Church Council, a new friend who has helped and encouraged me with my research of the hospital. With his support, we approached the PCC who enthusiastically agreed to our suggestion for a memorial to be dedicated in our village church. Dave is currently involved in arranging permission for the memorial with the church authorities in Worcester.

Read the article in The Shuttle newspaper.

During my research I wrote to a number of veterans and military nursing journals in America asking for information. Through this, a former nurse, Barbara (Bobbi) Harris, who lives in Syracuse from where the hospital originally came from, contacted me. Although she was too young to serve with the 52nd she had trained under many of its doctors and nurses. Before long e-mails were going backwards and forwards across the Atlantic as we became friends. After telling Barbara about information held in the archives of the 52nd at The State University of New York, Upstate Medical University’s Historical Collections, Syracuse, Barbara made a number of visits. She found the original diary of a nurse who came to Wolverley and made copies of it. Barbara now intends to publish the diaries with some information that we have worked on together. I am still currently writing a book on the history of the 52nd.

A news article at Syracuse.com

The dedication of the memorial has provisionally been booked for 29th June 2008. With Barbara’s help we have received around £2000 in donations from both sides of the Atlantic, but still need more. We hope the memorial will be a lasting testament to the skill and dedication to their duty of the medical and military staff from America. Also the American Red Cross, their British volunteers of whom there were approximately eighty. The local British Hospital Community Council members who helped so much. The forty odd British civilians who were employed at the camp and of course the thousands of patients that were helped to recover in both body and mind at the hospital. Also the dozens of families throughout the Wyre Forest area who welcomed the Americans into their homes. It is also hoped to put a stone complete with plaque at the former entrance to the hospital at Brown-Westhead Park.

Images of Wolverley Camp

Unfortunately the date chosen for the dedication of the memorial clashes with the first of Severn Valley’s “War Weekend”. It was hoped to attract as many wartime military vehicles to the village as was possible. At this point in time it seems unlikely, even so, some have promised to come to our event. One suggestion that has been made is to recreate a military ambulance convoy. The convoy would start from the same place as they did during the war, Kidderminster railway station. They would then travel to Brown-Westhead Park in Wolverley. Another idea is for a flypast of a former World War Two fighter, the Mustang. Sadly due to insurance and fuel costs we need a total of £2.500 to stage such an event. Of course sponsorship or donations would be very gratefully accepted. We would also like to arrange a forties evening, again we would welcome any suggestions or help to organise such an event.

Obviously we will incur some costs, but hopefully we can raise some extra funds. Perhaps this will enable us to make donations to Wolverley church and the Memorial Hall where new play equipment is desperately need for Wolverley’s younger children.

On the 29th of June 1945, the 52nd General Hospital closed for the reception of patients as off 2400 hours. The dedication of the memorial will be exactly 63 years later by the date. 2008 will also see the 65th anniversary of the opening of the hospital at Wolverley on 15th April 1943.

How sad that it has taken all these years to commemorate one of the top US military hospitals in the European Theatre of Operations during the Second World War. But how fitting it will be if the friendships that developed all those years ago between American and British people can help the people of Wolverley, just a little today.

The Mascot of The 52nd General Hospital

We hope to invite everyone to the dedication ceremony who kindly sent us a donation, along with some other guests. It is also hoped that we can attract as many standard bearers as possible for the church service. We would also like to provide some entertainment and refreshments afterwards in the Church Hall. Hopefully we will have some American guests for people to chat with.

For further details on how you can make a donation or if you can help in any other way, please contact me, Mike Webster by using the contact form on this web site.

11th March 2008	Memorial Dedication Watch this space for more information in the near future about the memorial dedication due to take place in June
23rd January 2008	Another Profile! The profile of Ron (Eddie) Edmondson has been added to the profiles section. He has some fond memories of life at Wolverley Camp. If anyone wants to contact Ron then they can do so by using the contact page on this site.
8th January 2008	Happy new year! We have a new addition to our profiles section. Alan Stone has been kind enough to let us put his profile on the site. Visit the profiles page to see it!
29th October 2007	The 52nd General Hospital Memorial Fund Fund raising began earlier this year in January, since then the 52nd General Hospital Memorial Fund has received donations from both sides of the Atlantic. It was just a couple of years ago that I went to Wolverley village’s annual Remembrance Sunday Service. I listened with interest as the vicar; the Rev Geoffrey Shilvolk gave his sermon. He told everyone present that morning of several memorials, which could be seen in the church. They were dedicated to the memory of people from the village that had taken part in wars. Later that day when I was at home, I realised that there is no reference anywhere in the village to the American hospital’s presence here during the Second World War. After spending the last few years researching the hospital I decided there and then to try and put a lasting memorial somewhere in the village. What better place than in the church, safe from vandals and abuse, also a place where the Americans went? I contacted Dave Andrews, a member of the Parochial Church Council, a new friend who has helped and encouraged me with my research of the hospital. With his support, we approached the PCC who enthusiastically agreed to our suggestion for a memorial to be dedicated in our village church. Dave is currently involved in arranging permission for the memorial with the church authorities in Worcester. Read the article in The Shuttle newspaper. During my research I wrote to a number of veterans and military nursing journals in America asking for information. Through this, a former nurse, Barbara (Bobbi) Harris, who lives in Syracuse from where the hospital originally came from, contacted me. Although she was too young to serve with the 52nd she had trained under many of its doctors and nurses. Before long e-mails were going backwards and forwards across the Atlantic as we became friends. After telling Barbara about information held in the archives of the 52nd at The State University of New York, Upstate Medical University’s Historical Collections, Syracuse, Barbara made a number of visits. She found the original diary of a nurse who came to Wolverley and made copies of it. Barbara now intends to publish the diaries with some information that we have worked on together. I am still currently writing a book on the history of the 52nd. A news article at Syracuse.com The dedication of the memorial has provisionally been booked for 29th June 2008. With Barbara’s help we have received around £2000 in donations from both sides of the Atlantic, but still need more. We hope the memorial will be a lasting testament to the skill and dedication to their duty of the medical and military staff from America. Also the American Red Cross, their British volunteers of whom there were approximately eighty. The local British Hospital Community Council members who helped so much. The forty odd British civilians who were employed at the camp and of course the thousands of patients that were helped to recover in both body and mind at the hospital. Also the dozens of families throughout the Wyre Forest area who welcomed the Americans into their homes. It is also hoped to put a stone complete with plaque at the former entrance to the hospital at Brown-Westhead Park. Images of Wolverley Camp Unfortunately the date chosen for the dedication of the memorial clashes with the first of Severn Valley’s “War Weekend”. It was hoped to attract as many wartime military vehicles to the village as was possible. At this point in time it seems unlikely, even so, some have promised to come to our event. One suggestion that has been made is to recreate a military ambulance convoy. The convoy would start from the same place as they did during the war, Kidderminster railway station. They would then travel to Brown-Westhead Park in Wolverley. Another idea is for a flypast of a former World War Two fighter, the Mustang. Sadly due to insurance and fuel costs we need a total of £2.500 to stage such an event. Of course sponsorship or donations would be very gratefully accepted. We would also like to arrange a forties evening, again we would welcome any suggestions or help to organise such an event. Obviously we will incur some costs, but hopefully we can raise some extra funds. Perhaps this will enable us to make donations to Wolverley church and the Memorial Hall where new play equipment is desperately need for Wolverley’s younger children. On the 29th of June 1945, the 52nd General Hospital closed for the reception of patients as off 2400 hours. The dedication of the memorial will be exactly 63 years later by the date. 2008 will also see the 65th anniversary of the opening of the hospital at Wolverley on 15th April 1943. How sad that it has taken all these years to commemorate one of the top US military hospitals in the European Theatre of Operations during the Second World War. But how fitting it will be if the friendships that developed all those years ago between American and British people can help the people of Wolverley, just a little today. The Mascot of The 52nd General Hospital We hope to invite everyone to the dedication ceremony who kindly sent us a donation, along with some other guests. It is also hoped that we can attract as many standard bearers as possible for the church service. We would also like to provide some entertainment and refreshments afterwards in the Church Hall. Hopefully we will have some American guests for people to chat with. For further details on how you can make a donation or if you can help in any other way, please contact me, Mike Webster by using the contact form on this web site.

~ Welcome to the Wolverley Camp News Page ~ Here we list all the latest updates and any news items that we feel are relevant or interesting.

Memorial Dedication

Another Profile!

Happy new year!

The 52nd General Hospital Memorial Fund

The Mascot of The 52nd General Hospital

~ Welcome to the Wolverley Camp News Page ~

Here we list all the latest updates and any news items that we feel are relevant or interesting.