A Manchester Military Hospital in World War One for Facial Injuries

This WW1 photograph shows a large number of inpatients in front of a British hospital. The memorial stone on the front, reads ‘Alderman Thomas Turnbull Hospital’, and has the name, ‘Manchester’.

World War One Manchester Military Hospital

War Inpatients during the War

The group of about 150 wounded and convalescing servicemen seem to have mostly eye, nose and chin wounds, suggesting the hospital specialised in facial injuries. Apart from rifle and machine gunfire, a large number of injuries were caused by the metal fragments from exploding shells, often causing blindness, deafness and burns to exposed skin. Injuries often required regular cleansing and dressing leading to long periods of convalescence. In the community, some civilians were shocked at how disfigured the inpatients were.

The servicemen in the photo are wearing hospital blue uniform with a white-facing collar and red tie. Between the two sergeants in the centre of the second row from the bottom, is a coloured colonial soldier with long service stripes.

A colonial black solder amidst a sea of white faces, likely from South Africa.

The field service badges showing are Seaforth Highlanders, Worcestershire Regiment and a Glengarry headwear. Most of the servicemen are in their prime with just a few in middle age.