Christmas 1918 in A Ward at Quex Park VAD Hospital
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Christmas 1918 in A Ward at Quex Park VAD Hospital
A Ward in the Drawing Room of Quex House on Christmas Day 1918. The room is highly decorated with flags, greetings, paper decorations and festive greenery. In the doorway at the far side the three daughters of the family - Diana, Antoinette and Mary Powell-Cotton (left to right) are standing with a woman, perhaps their Governess. To the left of this group stands Camille Van Dyck, the Belgian patient who remained at Quex Park throughout the War, working as a Hospital Orderly. He had been struck dumb by shock in 1914. Further left can be seen two VAD staff - a nurse is rolling a bandage with the help of a patient. Seated is Jack Hedge, the Masseur, treating a patient. Standing on the right below the Christmas greeting can be seen the bearded and crowned figure of Santa Claus, with a sack over his shoulder. In fact this was Hannah Powell-Cotton dressed for the part. The Quex Park VAD Hospital opened on 15 October 1914 and closed on 31 January 1919. The hospital was run by Kent/178, the Birchington Detachment. The Commandant was Hannah Powell-Cotton (1881-1964), wife of Major Percy HG Powell-Cotton (1866-1940) of Quex Park, founder of the Powell-Cotton Museum. Date: 1918
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Media ID 14247599
© The Powell-Cotton Museum Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Antoinette Belgian Camille Cotton Daughters Decorations Diana Doorway Dumb Dyck Festive Further Governess Greenery Highly Orderly Patient Powell Quex Remained Shock Stands Struck Ward
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph taken on Christmas Day 1918, the drawing room of Quex House in Birchington-on-Sea, Kent, is transformed into a vibrant and festive scene. The room is adorned with an abundance of Christmas decorations, including flags, greetings, paper decorations, and festive greenery. In the doorway at the far side, three sisters, Diana, Antoinette, and Mary Powell-Cotton, stand proudly with a woman, believed to be their Governess. To their left, Camille Van Dyck, a Belgian patient who had remained at Quex Park throughout the war, working as a Hospital Orderly, is shown. He had been struck dumb by shock in 1914. To the left of this group, two Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) staff members are visible. One is a nurse, rolling a bandage with the assistance of a patient. Seated to the right, below the Christmas greeting, is Jack Hedge, the Masseur, treating a patient. In a delightful twist, the bearded and crowned figure of Santa Claus, with a sack over his shoulder, is none other than Hannah Powell-Cotton, the Commandant of the Quex Park VAD Hospital, dressed for the part. Quex Park VAD Hospital opened on 15 October 1914 and closed on 31 January 1919. The hospital was run by Kent/178, the Birchington Detachment, under the leadership of Hannah Powell-Cotton, wife of Major Percy HG Powell-Cotton of Quex Park, who was also the founder of the Powell-Cotton Museum. This heartwarming image captures the spirit of Christmas during a time of great hardship and sacrifice, as the hospital community came together to celebrate the season and provide care and comfort to those in need.
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