Day 4 of our Advent Calendar brings us to the Christmas Celebrations at Gledhow Military Hospital. During the First World War, Gledhow Hall was offered for use as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) hospital and run by the British Red Cross.

This first image from 1917 shows one of the small huts in the grounds of Gledhow Hall. Competitions were often held between the seven huts to “dress” them according to different themes. This shows one such competition when the huts were dressed up to represent different countries; the first prize went to Whiz Bang Hall, seen here, which was representing “Egypt”, while the hut representing “Canada” took second place.

The second images, c1915-1918 View shows nurses and patients on one of the wards with Christmas decorations seen all around the walls and ceiling. On the left is Miss Edith Cliff, the Commandant throughout the war.