Nurses, staff and convalescing soldiers at Abotts Barton Hospital in Canterbury, Kent

I’m continuing my tribute to those battling COVID-19 in our hospitals, nursing homes and as first responders by digging through my archives of First World War photographs.

This week I”m featuring an undated photo taken at Abbots Barton V.A.D. Hospital in Canterbury, Kent. The building was the family home of MP and former Canterbury Mayor Francis Bennett-Goldney who served as an assistant military attache at the British Embassy during the war. An excellent article on the Bennett-Goldney was published on The History of Parliament blog. Sadly he never saw his home again as he died in France on July 26, 1918 from injuries sustained in a car accident. His former home and V.A.D. hospital is now a hotel.