Touring cars were transformed into ambulances (From Keighley News)

Touring cars were transformed into ambulances

7:30am Thursday 14th January 2010

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This is one of the motor ambulances which served the Keighley War Hospital and its auxiliaries between 1916 and 1919.

They were described as having been “transformed from private touring cars into up-to-date ambulances”, made available by owners like Sir Harry Smith, of Yew Bank, Percy Clough, of The Knowle, and J H Craven, of The Beeches. One even bore the name of the Stockbridge Finishing Company. This example had been lent by Mr T H Haggas, of Cross Roads.

In addition to routine ferrying of patients between Morton Banks, Fell Lane, and Victoria hospitals, these ambulances met — often by night — a total of 73 trains carrying 10,235 wounded from overseas.

Lieutenant Colonel William Scattery, War Hospital administrator, penned a poignant picture of “the Northumberland miner, the little tough Cockney, the kilted Jock, the Dublin Fusilier, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Rhodesians, Duke’s son, cook’s son, alike in all save head-gear, happy, content, because once more in Blighty, the land of their dreams and home.”

The photograph has been supplied by Joan Harrison, of Gargrave Road, Skipton.

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