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During the course of the Great
War there were eight VAD hospitals established in Cheltenham. The
purpose of the hospitals was to receive those sick and wounded from the
battlefields who had travelled along the Army Medical Services evacuation
chain. Many thousands of patients passed through their doors though
some succumbed to their wounds or illness, despite the best efforts of their
carers. Some of these unfortunate soldiers were taken by their relatives for
burial in their home towns, but others, perhaps without close relatives or being
far from home were buried in Cheltenham Cemetery. The best
known of these are the ten Australian soldiers (one a native Cheltonian) buried
close to one another in a plot near the Chapel of Rest - the plot can be viewed
here.
The British Red Cross has
issued an information paper in respect of the VAD in the First World War which can
be found here.
The purpose of the paper is to provide guidance on the tracing of VAD personnel
and advise on sources for useful background information on their
activities.
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