By Victoria Evans, Searchroom Archivist
Following on from last year’s blog post about what Christmas was like at Chichester Workhouse, this year we will be exploring how the festive period was celebrated at Graylingwell Hospital specifically during World War One. Once again, we have turned to a newspaper article to give us a glimpse into Christmas past.
An article entitled ‘Christmas at Graylingwell War Hospital’ which was published in the Chichester Observer on Wednesday 29 December 1915, goes into great detail about the celebrations: the decorations that were put up, the food that was eaten, the gifts that were given and the music that was listened to. Even the looming threat of war could not dampen the spirits of the patients and staff!
The wards were decorated with holly, evergreens and artificial flowers by the Sisters in charge of each. Of course, as with many workplaces, friendly competition over who could decorate the best ensued! Even a bed was transformed into a car in the King’s A2 Ward. The patient in the bed-turned-car had their leg amputated following injuries that were most likely from the frontline, but this gesture from the staff and maybe other patients too would have helped bring some joy to him during those hard times.
‘Kings A2 ward, Christmas decorations 1915, Graylingwell War Hospital’
‘Ford’s peace car. In Kings A2 ward, Christmas 1915, Graylingwell War Hospital’
The food that was enjoyed on Christmas Day started off with breakfast, which included gammon sent by Alderman A Ballard, J P and Messrs Shippam. The dinner included poultry, pheasant, partridge and an abundance of plum pudding for afters! Throughout the afternoon, patients partook in games and even those bedbound were included as much as possible.
According to the article the most notable gifts were as follows:
- A large number of pheasants and partridges from the King’s Sandringham Estate
- A Christmas cake weighing 80lbs! Upon which the front entrance of the hospital was reproduced in icing
- Fruit for all of the patients from the Brisbane Courier Fund
- Over 1,000 packets of chocolate from Cadbury
- Cigarettes and tobacco from the Australian War Contingent Association
- Apples from J Hooper & Son, of Chichester
- Packs of playing cards from the Worshipful Company of Playing Cards Makers
The staff were also not left out of the gift giving. They received a gift of tobacco, cigarettes and a silver bullet souvenir pencil. In addition to this, the staff working Christmas were granted a special furlough of four days each to visit family.
The patients also enjoyed multiple concerts, with one being on Christmas Eve and one being on Boxing Day. These were filled with carols, hymns and violin solos. The Christmas Eve concert even ended with a snow storm display! Although the article makes a comment we would make today: “…the falling snow was far and away more typical of the old-fashioned English Christmas than was the heavy fall of the rain experienced outside the building.” Some things never change!
🎅 From everyone at WSRO we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🎅
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