TRIBUTES are planned for mentally ill servicemen who died at Littlemore Hospital during the First and Second World Wars.

Hundreds of soldiers were treated at Littlemore for the effects of what was then known as shell- shock. The hospital was known as Ashurst War Hospital during the First World War.

It is now recognised the men suffered from what is now known as post traumatic stress disorder.

Because patients were committed to the hospital by a legal process which required them to stay there until they were deemed fit to leave, many died there.

Hundreds were buried in unmarked graves on the burial site for patients beside the hospital.

Littlemore Parish Council is now calling for a memorial there and is planning to plant trees in their memory.

Oxford Mail:

Cllr David Henwood 

Parish council vice-chairman and city councillor for Cowley David Henwood said: “We think between 800 and 1,000 soldiers are buried there, but we are not sure of the numbers exactly. It is at least hundreds.

“Many suffered from shell-shock and were never commemorated or acknowledged for the price they paid during the wars.

“I have written to Help for Heroes and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to see if they will commission a memorial of some kind.

“Littlemore Parish Council will take the positive step of planting trees in Cowley Airfield to commemorate them. We have applied for a grant through the Woodland Trust for 420 trees and we find out at the end of the month if we have been successful.”

During the Second World War 580 beds at the hospital were assigned for soldiers, sailors and airmen.

Insulin, tranquilisers and hypnosis were used to treat them and many men stayed at the hospital well into the 1960s.

Mr Henwood said: “As a small boy in 1964 or 1965 I delivered milk and bread each morning to the different wards. I remember the shell-shocked well. They had dignity and were proud of their medals, which some never removed. Now that we are remembering those who lost their lives during the First World War perhaps we should also pay homage to those who went through traumatic mental experience.

“We should also consider and remember the treatment of those soldiers.”

Spokesman for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Jeroen Roskam said the organisation would consider any requests for memorials on their individual merit.

He said: “First of all we need to establish if the servicemen died within the period in which we commemorate them.

“That means between the beginning of August 1914 to 31 December 1921 for the First World War and from 3 September 1939 and 31 July 1947 for the Second World War.

“If there is evidence such as a death certificate then we would be looking at finding the grave locations and putting up a memorial.

“We would then contact the Ministry of Defence, if it was a British soldier for example, and they make the final decision.”

Mr Henwood said: “Those soldiers from both wars lie in unmarked graves in the grounds of Littlemore hospital. They have been stigmatised and worst of all forgotten. This year we should remember them.”

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