8 replies to this topic

[Lachlan]

My Granddad spent part of his war in a military hospital and a group photo shows him and the other servicemen, all in their hospital blue uniforms. I would like to ask when the practice of issuing these blue uniforms started, was it universal and was there any reason for that choice/design ?

Does anyone have a photo of a hospital blue uniform surviving today ?

[FROGSMILE]

Lachlan, on 07 May 2012 - 08:02 AM, said:

My Granddad spent part of his war in a military hospital and a group photo shows him and the other servicemen, all in their hospital blue uniforms. I would like to ask when the practice of issuing these blue uniforms started, was it universal and was there any reason for that choice/design ?

Does anyone have a photo of a hospital blue uniform surviving today ?

My understanding is that Hospital Blues were first issued during the Crimean War and arose from the public outcry engendered by William Howard Russell's dispatches that brought attention to the suffering of the wounded.  This is turn attracted Queen Victoria's attention and before long the special blue uniforms were issued and a large military hospital built at Netley, Southampton, for the better treatment of the wounded.  The uniforms were the same blue flannel, lined in white that served their purpose throughout the Boer War, WW1, WW2, Korea and as late as the 1960s, when they were finally withdrawn and replaced by issue striped pyjamas and dressing gowns, but on a much smaller scale.  These latter have also since been withdrawn (along with the military hospitals).  If you look you can see that the later pattern appears to be just a cropped version (as in coat cut into a jacket) of the original.  There were few sizes and most men had to turn up trouser cuffs to fit.  The lapels were originally designed to be fastened at the neck and so when turned back for the white shirt and red tie also showed a portion of white lining.

There is an interesting link showing the scale of effort involved in treating WW1 wounded here:  http://rusholmearchi...itals-1914-1918

And an explanation regarding the use of hospital blues here:  http://wellcomelibra...oldiers-in.html

Attached Files

•  queen-victoria.jpg   16.12K   2 downloads
•  wounded_soldier_blackpool_1915_baccy.jpg   38.49K   6 downloads

[munster]

Two very good links Frogsmile.john

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Photographs of the Hospital Blues in wear.
Whilst it was compulsory to wear the Hospital Blue uniform whilst convalescing in hospital, it was usual for the convalescing soldier to continue to wear their service headgear.
Many wounded soldiers from overseas forces also spent time convalescing in the U.K. and they also wore the Hospital Blue uniform.
There was also another version of the Hospital Blue uniform without the white lapels.
Soldiers wearing the Hospital Blue uniform may also wear the Hospital Blue armband.
LF

Attached Files

•  hosp blues 2.jpg   57.42K   3 downloads
•  hosp blues 1.jpg   39.65K   3 downloads
•  hosp blues 3.jpg   30.55K   1 downloads

[Lancashire Fusilier]

WW1 Hospital Blues cartoon.
LF

Attached Files

•  blues cartoon.jpg   30.87K   1 downloads

[FROGSMILE]

Lancashire Fusilier, on 07 May 2012 - 02:31 PM, said:

Photographs of the Hospital Blues in wear.
Whilst it was compulsory to wear the Hospital Blue uniform whilst convalescing in hospital, it was usual for the convalescing soldier to continue to wear their service headgear.
Many wounded soldiers from overseas forces also spent time convalescing in the U.K. and they also wore the Hospital Blue uniform.
There was also another version of the Hospital Blue uniform without the white lapels.
Soldiers wearing the Hospital Blue uniform may also wear the Hospital Blue armband.
LF

Apart from when worn on greatcoats, which were the nornal khaki drab type, it seems that the arm bands were to show the various stages of a man's treatment and recovery, as explained at one of the two links above.

[Stoppage Drill]

Whilst the blues were withdrawn in the 1950's, we continued to wear the white shirt and red tie under BD whilst convalescing. I wore this in 1964 at Cambridge Mil Hospital.

[FROGSMILE]

Stoppage Drill, on 06 November 2012 - 10:07 PM, said:

Whilst the blues were withdrawn in the 1950's, we continued to wear the white shirt and red tie under BD whilst convalescing. I wore this in 1964 at Cambridge Mil Hospital.

Some miltary hospitals still had their blues as late as the early 1960s, especially overseas.  The withdrawal was probably phased and began in Britain, as stocks were no longer replenished there first, but directed abroad.

[albert carter]

I spent eight month's in Tidworth Hospital during 1946 and we had to wear  the hospital blues, white dog collar shirt, pajamas type trousers, coat with orang-utan sleeves,and the red tie. Only one size was issued (One size fits all ) and I was only 5ft 4. After this it was convalescent to Queen Victoria Netley, Southampton. We wore various coloured sash to denote stages of recovery, I only managed three and then demob came to my rescue.
A.E. Carter. 3rd Division and 79th.