George Albert Bilton

Mr George Albert Bilton MStJ

Orderly, Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), British Red Cross

Date of Birth: 1862
Place of Birth: Tambo, Queenslands, Australia
Date of Death: 1940
Buried: Teignmouth Old Cemetery - T128

VAD hat badge

Made a Serving Brother of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (MStJ)

Mr George Albert Bilton, MStJ of London Hotel, Teignmouth, Devon.

In the 1911 census, the family are living at the London Hotel, 24 Bank Street, Teignmouth, Devon.

George Albert Bilton aged 49, born 1862 in Tambo, Queenslands, Australia, profession is Hotel Proprietor.

His wife Annie Bilton aged 49 born 1862 in Islington, London profession (Hotel) Assisting In the Business and daughter Mary Margaret Bilton aged 17, born in 1894 in Cardiff, Wales.¹

Star of a Member of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Public Domain)

George served part-time at Newton Abbot V.A.D. Hospital throughout the war. His duties included Transport and Olderly work.²

George's son, Second Lieutenant Lewis Albert E. S. Bilton, was killed in action 23 April 1917 aged 22, he had only been at the front for a few weeks.

In 1927, George was made a Serving Brother of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (MStJ). He and his wife Annie attended Buckingham Palace to receive the order from the hands of King George V.

To carry food to the various wards and, as far as possible, assist in its distribution is a small matter that will suggest itself to everyone; but it may not at first be quite so obvious that in each ward there is throughout the day a constant accumulation of pails containing discarded dressings, all more or less septic, which require emptying and disinfecting.

An inquiry at regular times in the ward will save many a struggle to a hard worked nurse, who will bravely struggle with these heavy weights if left to herself.

Royal Army Medical Orderly Wilson Crewdson
Describing how an orderly could aid nursing staff

Newton Hall VAD Hospital, Newton Abbot

Newton Hall VA Hospital was opened in 1914 and run by the St John's Ambulance Brigade. It began as a 40 bed hospital but was subsequently enlarged to about 100 beds.

Two Hours' Notice

"The St John Hospital at Newton Abbot received a sudden message that forty cases were coming direct from overseas and would be with them in two hours time. The hospital was not open to patients but the staff turned to, and within two hours forty beds were ready for the men."

The Story of British V.A.D. work in the Great War by Thekla Bowser

Photo taken at the Newton Abbot VA hospital (TBC) From the Teign Heritage Collection

The rail connection between Teignmouth and Newton Abbot in Devon existed during WW1.

As it is only a 10 minute between the two towns so several of the Teignmouth and Shaldon VAD nurses and support workers worked at the Newton Abbot VAD hospital.

“2,560 patients have passed through the hospital, (1914-1919) but although many were very critical cases, only six deaths have occurred during the whole time, which is a remarkable tribute to the zealous care shown by the doctors and trained staff.

It was a first line hospital and received patients direct from overseas.”

Mid Devon Advertiser

The Newton Hall VAD Hospital was located on College Road, Newton Abbot, it closed in 1919 and was later demolished.