ADDENBROOKE'S HOSPITAL, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

The First Eastern General Hospital was a military hospital established by Royal Army Medical Corps in 1908 provisional upon mobilization. Many of Addenbrooke's medical and nursing staff served on its staff in both world wars. The Matron of Addenbrooke's was also the Matron of the First Eastern. During World War I the hospital had its headquarters in Trinity College, with beds in the Leys School and in the grounds of Trinity College, and later in temporary buildings on the cricket grounds of Clare College and King's College to the south of Burrell's Walk, with over 1500 beds by the end of 1915. The hospital continued its war duties until 1920. Wounded soldiers were also offered beds in Addenbrooke's itself, Albert, Griffiths and Bowtell wards being commandeered for this purpose and regarded as an extension of the First Eastern. The last soldiers were withdrawn from these wards in March 1919, 2885 having been admitted since 1915. During World War II the First Eastern became known as the Twentieth General Hospital. It was commanded by Charles Budd, who had been Senior Anaesthetist at Addenbrooke's. The Leys School, which had been evacuated to Pitlochry, was opened as an annexe of Addenbrooke's.

Records held include the Gazette (a fortnightly magazine published by the First Eastern during World War I), photographs, press cuttings, correspondence, lists of personnel and reports.

Cambridgeshire County Record Office holds further records of the First Eastern General Hospital, 1915-16 only.