An autograph book containing signatures from over 100 World War One servicemen has been donated to the Addenbrooke's Hospital Archive in Cambridge. The book was originally owned by Sister Helen Strang, who worked at the 1st Eastern General Hospital during the war.
Sister Strang left the book to her housekeeper, whose niece and husband, Maureen and Captain John Watson from Dundee, inherited it. Captain Watson contacted Addenbrooke's to learn more about the book and subsequently donated it to the archive.
Archivist Hilary Ritchie is now researching the men who signed the book, which dates from 1916 to 1919. She noted that many servicemen included their home addresses, revealing several Australians, some Canadians, and one Argentinean with a Welsh surname. However, finding detailed records has proven difficult, as no patient records from the 1st Eastern General Hospital are known to survive.
Miss Ritchie hopes to have the autograph book on display at the hospital by October. Captain Watson is assisting with the research, and has already identified one signature as belonging to a doctor from Addenbrooke's, though the majority are from patients.
The 1st Eastern General Hospital was located on the site now occupied by Cambridge University Library.
