5031: A Wounded Soldier Finds Romance in the Hospital

online resource

posted on 2024-01-18, 10:42 authored by Lest We Forget Project Team

George Jack was my father. He was the eldest of 5 brothers. My parents met when my father was wounded (Ypres 1917) and returned to England - to Ilford Emergency Hospital. He served with Seaforth Highlanders and was chosen to serve in Machine Gun Corps. 106156 was his regimental number. George Lindsay Jack.

My mother, Ruth Gillam, nursed him in Ilford Emergency Hospital. The small book of photos of this hospital was sold to raise funds for an extension (due to WWI casualties) though the hospital was only built in 1910.

My parents did not marry until 1925 and I recently discovered that this was due to his "flash backs" causing his mother to remark (so I am told) that "He's not well enough to take a wife yet."

They moved from England to the Highlands.

He lived to 84 years of age.

Several soldiers (patients at the hospital), family and friends wrote in her autograph book and some drew! It is mainly in 1918. I keep it as treasured memories.

History

Name of contributor(s)

Anon

Subject of the story/individual the object(s) relate to

George Lindsay Jack. Private in the Seaforth Highlanders, Machine Gun Corps.

Date(s) the event(s) in the story took place

1917-1918

Location(s) where the event(s) in the story took place

Ypres. Ilford, Essex, England.

Object(s)

1. Snapshot Album of Ilford Emergency Hospital containing 12 views in sepia. Printed for fundraising. 7 images. 2. Autograph book kept by Ruth Gillam, Ilford Emergency Hospital. Mainly 1918. 17 images.