Ionic Street, Rock Ferry MILITARY HOSPITAL

[Caomhanach]

My Grandfather, John George THOMAS,  was once treated at a Military Hospital in Rock Ferry, Birkenhead. Apparently, it was an old school in IONIC STREET.

Does anybody know of any records? I am basically trying to find out about his war service and firstly, need his regiment etc.

Any help appreciated.

[celia]

Hi
Have you tried contacting the Archives in the town hall in Birkenhead.They are the best place to inquire about records for the old school. If it's Armed forces you are after.Try the armed forces topic.in the common room. If you already have information,type it in brackets on the subject line.
hope this helps.

Celia

[Neptune]

Hi Caomhanach -
You may have  found some more information by now but in case you haven't  I've  discovered that Ionic Street school  in Rock Ferry was used as a military hospital for the Birkenhead Bantams who were part of the Cheshire Regiment .
I checked at the Wirral Archives at Birkenhead Town Hall when I was there but they hold no  records for that military hospital.

Maybe the Cheshire Regiment could help,

You might like to have a look at these links -

http://www.1914-1918.net/whatbantam.htm

http://www.cheshire-regiment.com/recruitment/recuitment.htm

Regards

Neptune

[Caomhanach]

Neptune,

Many thanks for your efforts.  I had made no progress since my original post.

The info. on the Bantams really helps as it is the first time I have been close to finding out his regiment.

Thanks again. Any further help from ANYBODY always welcome. 

[Neptune]

Hi again Caomhanach

A couple of weeks ago I went on a guided tour of Flaybrick Memorial Gardens (Cemetary) and the guide mentioned a WW1 soldier buried there who had been a member of the Birkenhead Bantams (Cheshire Regiment) and had been in Ionic Street School.
So when I went to the Town Hall yesterday I asked at the Wirral Archives. The lady there was very helpful and said they did not hold the records for the Military Hospital there but she looked in a book about Rock Ferry where she found an article on Ionic Street school. She gave me a photocopy of the pages which was just a bit of history and pictures of the school. It mentions "On December 3rd 1914 instructions were received at 11.57 am to close the school at once as it required to house the second battalion of the Bantams".

What I don't know is, whether there were any other soldiers housed there as well as the Bantams.

If John George Thomas died during the war his details may be on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site.

Here's another site I think would be very useful to you, you could put a request there, the people are very helpful (as well as Roots Chatters!).

Here's the link - http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/

Hope this helps. Don't give up!

Regards

Neptune

[Caomhanach]

Neptune.

Thanks again for your interest.

I contacted The Bantams website and the repy told me that the "military hospital" closed to make way for The Bantams (as you have just discovered).

I was also told that there was no particular connection between those treated there and The Bantams. Therefore, John George THOMAS could have been in another regiment.

I have just had a quick look at the other website you recommended . It looks promising. hving said that ... it's been a long time and I just can't find his regiment.

P.S. He survived the war.

Thatnks again. 

[DC2012]

I am sure this post is dead as it is now 2012 but I was checking out this Ionic Street Auxiliary Hospital because my grandfather was evacuated there in early 1918 from the Somme. He was actually in the Cambridgeshires but put into the Labour Corps. I have a good original photo of the hospital.

[Sing]

@Neptune

Hi there I have been reading you live near the Flaybrick Cem in Birkenhead have I got this right?

[Neptune]

Hi Sing

Welcome to Rootschat

Flaybrick cemetery isn't too far from me - also known as Flaybrick Memorial Gardens.

The burial records are held at Birkenhead Central Library and Wirral Archives.
The records are held on microfilm according to religion so it helps to know the religion.

Do you have ancestors buried in Flaybrick?

Regards

Neptune