Has anyone heard of this?

[Stunmon]

My friend says that her mother  used to tell a tale when, her husband who was serving in the army in France, possibly around 1939  was taken ill and into hospital. Her mum was taken to France by the Red Cross to visit him? Or so she said?

Her father made a full recovery and returned to combat! Like many ex servicemen he never spoke of the war years.

Has anyone any knowledge of this happening with relatives at the time?

 

[Edmund]

In the First War the YMCA took relatives to France, often taking them a hundred miles by car, which often revived seriously wounded soldiers who had given up hope. The YMCA also operated a large chateau for accommodating relatives visiting wounded officers. The Red Cross also provided paid visits for relatives, the cases were selected by the officers of the R.A.M.C. in charge of the hospitals abroad. The visits had to be authorised by the War Office.

In February 1940 a scheme for close relatives to visit the seriously wounded in hospital in France was approved. When a visit was permitted a telegram was sent to the next-of-kin who had to report to the War Office Casualty Branch at Bainbridge Street, London, bringing their identity and ration cards.  If they could not afford travel to London, the local police would issue a travel warrant.  On arrival the relatives were issued a special permit to avoid the need for a passport, and travel warrants where needed. Up to two visitors were allowed: a) the wife/husband and father  b) the wife/husband and mother c) the father and mother  d) either the wife, father or mother if unable to travel without assistance.  "A lady visitor must always take a companion".

[Heartshome]

Hi Stunmon. Not knowing which hosp it was, you might be interested in reading this story from a WW2 nurse.

See:-                  bbc.co.uk  ww2peopleswar

                       Tented Hospital: An Army Nurse in France - WW2 Peoples War

It is a most interesting read. Ok Heartshome.

[Stunmon]

Thanks everyone!!!!

[ManoutotCity]

On 15/01/2023 at 11:21, Edmund said:

In the First War the YMCA took relatives to France, often taking them a hundred miles by car, which often revived seriously wounded soldiers who had given up hope. The YMCA also operated a large chateau for accommodating relatives visiting wounded officers. The Red Cross also provided paid visits for relatives, the cases were selected by the officers of the R.A.M.C. in charge of the hospitals abroad. The visits had to be authorised by the War Office.

In February 1940 a scheme for close relatives to visit the seriously wounded in hospital in France was approved. When a visit was permitted a telegram was sent to the next-of-kin who had to report to the War Office Casualty Branch at Bainbridge Street, London, bringing their identity and ration cards.  If they could not afford travel to London, the local police would issue a travel warrant.  On arrival the relatives were issued a special permit to avoid the need for a passport, and travel warrants where needed. Up to two visitors were allowed: a) the wife/husband and father  b) the wife/husband and mother c) the father and mother  d) either the wife, father or mother if unable to travel without assistance.  "A lady visitor must always take a companion".

Surely not after Dunkirk etc, or even as Germans started to overrun  France ..?

[Lysanderix]

I must confess I had never come across this scheme before…and was a little surprised!
The German invasion of France lasted 6 weeks ,beginning on 10 May1940. The Dunkirk  evacuation was between 26 May and 4 June 1940 so visits by close relatives to the seriously wounded from February1940 would be possible…of course, as events unfolded ,the scheme would be terminated….presumably sometime in early May.

[ManoutotCity]

Sounds a bit more hazardous than visiting the Northern General!

[Duffems]

My great grandparents Frederick and Ada Norton visited their son Harold Norton's grave :

HAROLD NORTON

Private

Service Number: 143004

25th Bn.

Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)

United Kingdom

Died 14 April 1918

19 years old

LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY

XXVI. F. 18A.

Belgium

I think this was after the war had ended. I have often wondered how they travelled there because they'd never been out of Sheffield prior to this.

Regards,

Duffems

[Edmund]

Travel to visit the graves was not allowed initially due to military concerns, probably the fact that there was only an armistice until 28th June 1919 when the peace treaty was signed, and until then Germany could have restarted operations.

Other concerns were more concerning though:
Huge volumes of relatives were interested.  There were bodies being re-interred into centralised cemeteries hence many cemeteries were closed.  Transport and accommodation in France and Belgium were very poor.

After the Treaty of Versailles was signed there was no further military objection, but any traveller was advised to check the locations of graves with the War Office before departure. Passports were required but were not easy things to obtain,  the objective of travel had to be stated and visiting graves was a low priority.  By July 1919 Travel Agents had started arranging visits with hotels and motor-car transport included.  A few travel agencies were set up by ex-officers who knew the areas. Some travel agents advertised all-inclusive deals at £6-0-0. One option from Sheffield was a day trip offered in August 1920 by Cooks (if the relative's grave was in the Boulogne area), for a return fare of £4 10s 4d, and no visa or passport was needed, so saving 30s.  The trip took you by rail to Charing Cross, rail onward to Dover, then a boat to Boulogne.  Six hours were spent in Boulogne before the return journey.

By early 1920 visits were more commonplace with charitable organisations doing much of the work (e.g. YMCA, Salvation Army, Church Army, Fields of Honour Society)
 

[Duffems]

That's very interesting Edmund, thank you for the information.

 

Regards,

Duffems