Debdale Hall Recovery Hospital
Debdale Hall
Mansfield Museum
Memories of Edward J Smith
By Liz Weston
As a child I was a patient at Debdale Hall in 1942. It was used as an isolation hospital and as a hospital for injured service personnel.
I was taken there suffering from Scarlet fever and a few days into my stay contracted German Measles as well, which was rather a lot for a little boy of five to take in. There was also a girl from the next road to us suffering with Whooping Cough. No visitors were allowed but my Mum and Dad were allowed to wave at me ( complete with my teddy bear ) through the windows which were barred and had a white cross painted on them.
I was in hospital approximately seven weeks and when I was recovering I was wheeled around the grounds in a wheelchair pushed by an injured soldier, named Mr Purser. I remember that one of the nurses was called Nurse Cotton and it was the first time I tasted leeks for dinner! – something I developed a liking for. I made a full recovery despite the fact that there weren’t any of the medicines we take for granted today and with the war being on there were no doctors available.
This page was added on 18/01/2010.