Memorial details

Memorial type
Hospital / Clinic
District
Wigan
Town
Wigan
County
Greater Manchester
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
45449

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Current location
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Previous locations
  • Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
    200 Wigan Lane
    Wigan
    Wigan
    Greater Manchester
    WN1 2LA
    England

    OS Grid Ref: SD 58429 07104
    Denomination: Undefined
Description
A ward within Wigan's Royal Albert Edward Infirmary was remodelled and equipped largely with surplus funds from the activities of the Wigan Division of the East Lancashire Branch of the British Red Cross Society in the Great War. The ward has since been demolished during an extensive building project on the site. The plaque which was once on display in the ward unfortunately went astray following the demolition. It was a cast brass plaque in a wooden surround. The Red Cross symbol, on a shield, with the organisation's motto in a scroll beneath, with a surround of laurel wreathes was in the top left-hand corner. The lettering was raised, and surrounded by a border of flowers. Two other plaques relating to the laying up of the flags flown by the three Auxiliary Hospitals, named Woodlands 1,2 and 3, are still on display - that for Woodlands 1 and 2, a brass plaque with an inscribed inscription and a Red Cross symbol, is in the space under the tower in Wigan Parish Church; that for Woodlands 3, a stone tablet with red incised lettering, in the form of a scroll, with a carved design of a shield, at the top of which is the Red Cross symbol with a scroll beneath bearing the organisation's motto, is on the rear-most pillar on the North side of St Wilfred's Church, Standish.
Inscription
On the plaque installed in the Ward: Inter Arma Caritas (Amidst Arms, Charity)/ This Ward was remodelled/ and equipped by the Wigan/ and District Division of the/ British Red Cross Society./ The Division, founded in 1912, maintained/ six Voluntary Aid Detachments in/ Wigan, Standish, Ince, Pemberton-/ -Orrell and Parbold, three Auxiliary/ Military Hospitals known as the/ Woodlands Hospitals and Workrooms/ in Wigan, Appley Bridge, Parbold &/ Shevington, during the War of 1914 - 1919. On the plaque in All Saints Church, Wigan: British Red Cross Society/ Wigan and District Division./ Flag of the Woodlands Hospitals/ Wigan./ 1914-1919. On the tablet in St Wilfrid's Church, Standish: Inter Arma Caritas/ The Red Cross Flag/ of the/ 3rd Woodlands Aux: Military/ Hospital/ 'The Beeches', Standish./ Presented / for safe Keeping/ by the/ Wigan and District/ Branch of the/ British Red Cross/ Society/ 1914 - 1919/ The Lord bless their work and reward them
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Brass
  • Backboard
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Wood
Condition
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Responsibility
HOSPITAL AUTHORITIES
Reference
  • Wigan Observer, 30/10/1920: Account of the handing over of the Red Cross Ward to the hospital authorities on 25/10/1920
  • Wigan Observer, 05/04/1919: Hauling down of the Red Cross Flag at the Woodlands Hospitals (1 and 2 - The Woodlands and The Marriebonne, almost opposite the Infirmary) on 31/03/1919. Announcement of a commemorative service to be held at the Parish Church on Sunday, 27th April.
  • A War Effort - Being the Report of the Wigan and District Division of the British Red Cross Society, 1912-1919. Narrative account of the work, with lists of all the staff and management involved, together with copious Accounts, including the residue which went towards the Red Cross Ward. Wigan and Leigh Archives, ref.: WD 1283. B8

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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© WMR-45449

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