Rainhill Asylum
In the early 1900's Rainhill County Lunatic Asylum had over 3000 patients, reputedly making it the largest asylum in Europe. It was demolished in the early 1990's and subsequently replaced by the Reeve Retirement Village and a housing development.
At the time of the First World War, Rainhill Asylum was extremely over-crowded with 2395 patients. 110 staff had been called up and 4 out of the 6 medical staff had joined the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps). In the first 9 months of 1918 there were 498 deaths, 119 of which were from tuberculosis and the remainder from the Spanish flu epidemic.
Staff who Enlisted
The Asylum understandably had a large number of staff who lived in Rainhill and the surrounding areas of St. Helens and those that fought in the Great War were recognised on a painted memorial which was once on display in the Asylum.
Unfortunately the whereabouts of the memorial below is now unknown.
At the time of the First World War, Rainhill Asylum was extremely over-crowded with 2395 patients. 110 staff had been called up and 4 out of the 6 medical staff had joined the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps). In the first 9 months of 1918 there were 498 deaths, 119 of which were from tuberculosis and the remainder from the Spanish flu epidemic.
Staff who Enlisted
The Asylum understandably had a large number of staff who lived in Rainhill and the surrounding areas of St. Helens and those that fought in the Great War were recognised on a painted memorial which was once on display in the Asylum.
Unfortunately the whereabouts of the memorial below is now unknown.
A Roll of Honour (painted on wood) from the Asylum was saved and is now in the possession of Rainhill British Legion who gave permission to reproduce it here.
Below is a close up of the foot of the Roll of Honour showing the names of eight members of staff who were killed in action - the names being added later.
The text under the Roll of Honour heading is transcribed below together with the names of staff members shown listed in alphabetical order for ease of reference.
A Record of those Members of the Staff Annexe County Asylum Rainhill, who in the hour of need and trial nobly responded to the Nations Call for her Sons to serve their KING AND COUNTRY
ALDCROFT W. Garrison Artillery
ARMER W.H. Royal Garrison Artillery
ATKINSON H. (Lieut.) Royal Army Medical Corps
BARKER R. Royal Engineers
BELL G.B. Royal Army Medical Corps
BILLINGHAM P. Garrison Artillery
BENSTEAD P.W. Royal Army Medical Corps
BISHOP J. 11th batt. South Lancs. Reg.
BOWDEN F. 11th batt. South Lancs. Reg.
CARTMELL F. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Reg. killed in action
CLARK C.S. Royal Garrison Artillery
CLARKE H.G. 9th batt. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
CLARKE T. Royal Army Medical Corps
COOKE C. Royal Field Artillery
CORDWELL F. Supernumerary South Lancs. Reg.
COUGHLAN B. Royal Field Artillery
COWLING J.H. 2nd batt. South Staffs. Reg. killed in action
DALTON F King's Liverpool Reg.
DEAKIN H. Supernumerary South Lancs. Reg.
DENNING G.F. (Lieut.) Royal Army Medical Corps
DUFFY C. Supernumerary South Lancs. Reg.
DUTSON F.S. Royal Army Medical Corps
FARTHING C. Army Service Corps
FINLOW S. Army Service Corps
FISHER M. Royal Engineers
FORD E. South Lancs Reg.
HAYES R. King’s Liverpool Reg.
HUGHES W. Royal Field Artillery
KETTLE H. 11th batt. South Lancs. Reg.
Mc.INTOSH G. 2nd batt. Scots Guards killed in action
MARSH T. Royal Army Medical Corps
MOSS A. Royal Army Medical Corps
MYTTON J.H. Royal Army Medical Corps
OWEN J.P. 2ns batt. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
OWEN R.R. Royal Garrison Artillery
PATTMAN W.R. Royal Engineers
REEVE G.F. (Capt.) Royal Army Medical Corps
ROGERS J.H. Royal Army Medical Corps
SEYMOUR C.F. killed in action
SHELTON G.H. killed in action
SILLS H. Army Service Corps
SMITH E. Army Service Corps
SMITH T. 2nd Naval Brigade
STANLEY C. Army Service Corps
TROBRIDGE J. 1st batt.Cheshire Reg. killed in action
TROWER H.J. Royal Army Medical Corps
WHITE F. Royal Army Medical Corps
WEAVER W. 1st batt. Coldstream Guards killed in action
WELBURN A. 2nd batt. Coldstream Guards killed in action
?PILLER ?. Royal Field Artillery
In September 2020, the manuscript was restored and is now on display near the entrance to the Ex-Services Club. The Roll of Honour was discovered many years ago by the British Legion Club. Although it was in a dilapidated state, it has been carefully restored by Mike Gaffney, a local artist. Rainhill Civic Society paid for the work to be done. The framed manuscript was presented to the British Legion by Chairman Colin Ince.
Rainhill Civic Society research has uncovered some brief details about a few of the men treated at the Rainhill Asylum, but would welcome any further information about these men or other soldiers who received treatment there. If you feel you can throw any further light on the matter please contact us via our Contact page.
Brief administrative details about Rainhill Hospital can be found on the website of the National Archives