Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ada Rose Alleyn embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT Benalla A24 on 12th may 1917 and arrived in Plymouth on 19th July. The main hospital she worked at was the Croydon War Hospital. The Croydon war hospital was originally a large school approximately 16km away from London. The military took over the school during the war and from 1915 to 1919 it was a war hospital. The hospital had 1,000 beds and consisted of a nursing staff of 80. The hospital was created for the troops in the eastern command, who were based in London and fought on the western front. The hospital treated those suffering from nerve, joint or jaw injuries, diseases of the ear or those needing general medical care. It also provided care for any sick servicemen in the area. As the war progressed, the treatment that the hospital gave changed. Ear and nerve cases were transferred to other hospitals and the newly vacant space was given to wounded and sick servicemen from overseas.

Before the war Australia was a small colony ready to prove its self to the rest of the world. Ada was born to Francis Alleyn and Eliza nee Clements, in the small town of Wallaroo approximately 160km from Adelaide. In the early 1900s Adelaide had a population of 162,000. Ada’s family moved to the city so they could access more work and education. They lived at 19 George Street, St. Peters. Before Ada joined the war as a nurse she had completed her certificate and had experience working in the Royal Adelaide hospital for three years as a nurse. Back then the nurses wore a uniform similar to the nurses in Britain. They had a white cap and a full length, hite bib apron over the nurse’s long skirt. Ada also had to wear another uniform going to and from the hospital; this uniform was a black cap with streamers and wide white fine material bands for tying under the chin, with a long black cape to cover the nurses dress.

When Ada boarded the ship Benalla in Melbourne on the 12th may 1917, the atmosphere was one of excitement. The ship was carrying just medical officers, headed for Plymouth, England. It docked in Plymouth on 19th July, (380 km from London). Ada then caught the steam train to London. The medical officers stayed at the hotel York for a few weeks. From there they caught another steam train to Croydon. Life in the Croydon War hospital was hard work, with the constant flow of men coming in with new injuries. It was a very large hospital with lots of beds and patients and not many staff.

The hospital was spilt into five divisions/sections as it had been when it was a school.

The first section (Davidson Road War Hospital) had 250 beds for the sick and wounded servicemen from overseas.

The second section (Ecclesbourne Road War Hospital) had 140 beds for servicemen suffering from joint injuries.

The third section (Ingram Road War Hospital) had 165 beds for recovering patients needing massage and exercise.

The fourth section (Stanford Road War Hospital) was built just before the war and hadn’t yet been used as a school before the military claimed it. This section had 165 beds and was for jaw injuries (mandibular fractures) caused by shrapnel or gunshots

The fifth section (The Crescent War Hospital) had 350 beds for servicemen with nerve injuries.

Due to the nature of the hospital’s work, it is assumed that Ada was skilled or specialised in the areas of treatment the hospital provided. Not only did Ada deal with physical injuries but most men would’ve been traumatised by the war. The patients suffering from jaw injuries would’ve been a rather hideous sight. This would have included those with blown off jaws, infections or any other such injuries suffered in war. The men had few pleasantries when the hospital first opened, but by the time Ada arrived the public had provided many billiards tables and several bagatelle boards. This helped the men focus on something other than the war and to get out of their rooms. Christmases were celebrated with turkey dinners, Christmas puddings, cakes, apples, nuts and other provisions. It was very different to Christmas in Australia. It was the first white Christmas Ada had seen and even though she was working in a war hospital, Christmas was a nice break from the business of the hospital. Ada left the Croydon War Hospital on the 29th January 1918 to work at no.1 AGH (Australian General Hospital), Rouen, France. Like the Croydon War Hospital, the hospitals in Rouen weren’t near the front lines. Shortly after Ada arrived the hospital was under command of a new matron, Matron E. Cornwall A.A.N.S. This meant that not only was Ada getting used to some changes but the whole hospital was too. The hospital closed on 7th December 1918, a few weeks after the war had ended. Instead of traveling to Sutton Veny, England where it was re-opening, Ada returned to the Croydon War Hospital on the 19th December.

 She was able to enjoy another Christmas at the hospital before falling ill on the 20th February 1919 with influenza. She was first admitted to the no1. AGH, then on the 5th March she was transferred to the Australian sick sister’s hospital, Southwell gardens. The hospital had a total of 26 beds and a nursing staff of three and the matron. The hospital was quite a comforting place and even though she was sick it was nice for Ada to be taken care of for a while. There was also a drawing room that Ada could spend time in as she began to feel better as well as a dining room. She was dispatched on the 31st of march 1919. She embarked on the ship 'Shropshire' from England on 1st April and disembarked in Adelaide 5th July 1919. The Croydon war hospital closed on the 9th May 1919. Over all 19,182 patients were treated with 177 who died. The hospital had a mortality rate of under 1%.

Born 07 November 1883 at Wallaroo, SA
Daughter of Francis ALLEYN and Eliza nee CLEMENTS
Of 19 George Street, St. Peters, SA
Occupation prior to enlistment Nurse at Adelaide Hospital 3 years