48 Percy Gardens

48 Percy Gardens was used as an auxiliary hospital during the First World War by the Joint War Committee (British Red Cross and the Order of St John of Jerusalem). The committee was ordered to raise and organise Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs) trained in First Aid and Nursing. The nurses were a mixture of qualified nurses and volunteers (mostly middle-class women). Many hospitals were set up in large houses on loan to the Red Cross during the war. VAD hospitals received the sum of 3 shillings per day per patient from the War Office. This building was run by the 5th Northumberland VA Hospital Unit. Honours for service to this hospital were received by: Mrs Mary Brumell (Quartermaster) - MBE and Miss Mary Rowell (Nurse) - Royal Red Cross 2nd Class.