EVIDENCE of the use of a city centre university building as a First World War hospital has emerged on the eve of Remembrance Day.
During renovation work on the Armstrong Building at Newcastle University, an Army memorandum was found behind a skirting board.
Dated March 13, 1916, it refers to the treatment required for a Private Bird of the Durham Light Infantry.
But written in pencil on the back of the memo is a list of soldiers and the wounds they have suffered.
Also discovered in the building was an officer’s sword.
The memo has now been conserved by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums (TWAM), which only has an admissions register covering a few months in 1915 and medical cards to show that the building was turned into a hospital.
Archivist Rachel Gill said: “At first glance the memo looks scrappy, but because we have so little evidence of the hospital, any scrap is worth keeping. It is one of the few surviving patient records.
“There was a paper shortage during the war and they have written the names of the men in pencil on the back of the ink memo because they are using every bit of paper they can get.”
Dr Martin Farr, senior lecturer in modern and contemporary British history at Newcastle University, said last night: ”During the war the Government had enormous powers, including the commandeering of civilian and private property.
“As the train of casualties built up there would have been great pressure on facilities.
“The memo is a fascinating document which has survived for almost 100 years. It is just the sort of thing you hope for and I am very pleased it did not end up in a builder’s skip.
“The men on this document can be traced from Army lists and from a family history angle, people would be very interested to see this. It deserves to be framed and put on exhibition.”
Newcastle University’s deputy vice-chancellor Ella Ritchie said: “At this poignant time, it is a timely reminder of the real lives and the sacrifices made.”
The building, dating from 1887-88, is used by the music department.
PhD archaeology student Michael Smith has started research on the document and has traced the regiments of three of the men – Private James Connell (Northumberland Fusiliers), W W Thompson (Northumberland Hussars), and John T Hetherington (Seaforth Highlanders).
University security officer Colin Turnbull brought into work pictures of staff of the medical unit. The photographs belonged to his grandfather, Lancelot Turnbull, from Barlow village, near Winlaton in Gateshead, who served in the unit.
