My Grandfather (Trooper R.F Ringwood D/10428 Inniskilling Dragoon) returned to the UK in 1917 as a casualty on board the Hospital ship SS Carisbrook Castle following a wounding at Cologne Farm. During my research into this event and in an effort to find out more about the Carisbrook Castle, I stumbled upon an item being sold on Ebay relating to the ship. It is a small cardboard box approx 6 x 6 inches, on the front is a short message from the Chairman of the Union Castle line, wishing the recipient a speedy recovery. I assume that this would have originally contained some kind of gift, chocolate? Cigarettes? The box bears the flag of the shipping line but also the name of the ship Carisbrook Castle.
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Was this common practice on Hospital ships and what exactly would they have contained. Also are there casualty lists for Hospital ships etc, if so where would I find them. Unfortunately I do not have a precise date, I do know he was wounded on 2nd July 1917.
Nick
Full Version: Hospital Ship Carisbrook Castle
Nick
As I live within the vicinity of the Isle of Wight (where the real Castle is situated) I don't expect the Carisbrooke Castle to be spelt without an "e" ! That might have stymied you if you were looking for any files,and yet it is spelt without an 'e' by whoever made the tin labels ! Anyway,there is a War Diary for that Hospital Ship under WO95/4143,which runs from Jan 1917 to May 1919the War Office elected to spell it with an "e" ! I don't know what sort of info it will carry. What I do know is that other WDs of that sort only generally summarise the number and types of patient they carry,as well as showing the daily record of the activity of the workers rather than the patients. But you never know,it's always worth a look !
Sotonmate
EDIT: That ship is actually spelt without an E by Union Castle,I just noticed by Googling,though subsequent ones were !
As I live within the vicinity of the Isle of Wight (where the real Castle is situated) I don't expect the Carisbrooke Castle to be spelt without an "e" ! That might have stymied you if you were looking for any files,and yet it is spelt without an 'e' by whoever made the tin labels ! Anyway,there is a War Diary for that Hospital Ship under WO95/4143,which runs from Jan 1917 to May 1919the War Office elected to spell it with an "e" ! I don't know what sort of info it will carry. What I do know is that other WDs of that sort only generally summarise the number and types of patient they carry,as well as showing the daily record of the activity of the workers rather than the patients. But you never know,it's always worth a look !
Sotonmate
EDIT: That ship is actually spelt without an E by Union Castle,I just noticed by Googling,though subsequent ones were !
She is illustrated in this document:
http://www.johnathersuch.com/genealogy/jesse.PDF
http://www.johnathersuch.com/genealogy/jesse.PDF
QUOTE (sotonmate @ Oct 30 2009, 09:32 PM) 
Nick
As I live within the vicinity of the Isle of Wight (where the real Castle is situated) I don't expect the Carisbrooke Castle to be spelt without an "e" ! That might have stymied you if you were looking for any files,and yet it is spelt without an 'e' by whoever made the tin labels ! Anyway,there is a War Diary for that Hospital Ship under WO95/4143,which runs from Jan 1917 to May 1919the War Office elected to spell it with an "e" ! I don't know what sort of info it will carry. What I do know is that other WDs of that sort only generally summarise the number and types of patient they carry,as well as showing the daily record of the activity of the workers rather than the patients. But you never know,it's always worth a look !
Sotonmate
EDIT: That ship is actually spelt without an E by Union Castle,I just noticed by Googling,though subsequent ones were !
As I live within the vicinity of the Isle of Wight (where the real Castle is situated) I don't expect the Carisbrooke Castle to be spelt without an "e" ! That might have stymied you if you were looking for any files,and yet it is spelt without an 'e' by whoever made the tin labels ! Anyway,there is a War Diary for that Hospital Ship under WO95/4143,which runs from Jan 1917 to May 1919the War Office elected to spell it with an "e" ! I don't know what sort of info it will carry. What I do know is that other WDs of that sort only generally summarise the number and types of patient they carry,as well as showing the daily record of the activity of the workers rather than the patients. But you never know,it's always worth a look !
Sotonmate
EDIT: That ship is actually spelt without an E by Union Castle,I just noticed by Googling,though subsequent ones were !
Yes confusing I'd agree. Have found some photos of the ship spelt with an e and indeed some without. Thanks Sotonmate for info, I will look up the WD next time I am at Kew.
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