In War and Peace: The Erskine Story

23 September 2016 – 8 January 2017 Hunterian Museum

Admission free

A new exhibition opening this week at the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum celebrates the centenary of Erskine Hospital, 100 years after its foundation in 1916.

In War and Peace: The Erskine Story tells of Scotland’s response to caring for limbless First World War veterans and presents images from the University of Glasgow Erskine Archive alongside film footage and related objects. Curated by Conflict Historian Professor Tony Pollard, the exhibition shows how the charity, now known as Erskine, was founded in 1916 to care for limbless sailors and soldiers returning from battle. Professor Pollard said:

‘The inspiration for this exhibition was Sir William Macewen, Regius Professor of Surgery at the University of Glasgow. It was while researching the University of Glasgow’s Great War people that we discovered he was the driving force behind the foundation of Erskine. His rousing speech at Glasgow City Chambers in 1916 contained a phrase that showed amazing foresight. He said: ‘… a generation will pass before all the work connected with the maimed and limbless from this War is at an end.’ Today, Erskine is still caring for veterans of all Britain’s subsequent conflicts and this resonates with my own research on the lasting results of war on landscapes and on people.’

Sir William Macewen was instrumental in the foundation of the first Erskine Hospital and the development of prosthetics. In his speech he envisaged a place where limbless men could be treated with ‘sympathetic care and encouragement’ whilst obtaining the best medical treatment. Rehabilitation, workplace retraining and a lifetime of support would be provided.

Erskine Hospital, then known as the Princess Louise Scottish Hospital for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers, was opened in October 1916. Located in Erskine House it included wards, recreation areas and an operating theatre, with workshops for the manufacture of limbs added in 1917 (previous to this they were made in the shipyards on the Clyde).

The exhibition highlights the horrors of war and the experience of the hospital’s first patient – Corporal James Ritson of the 1/5th Royal Scots Fusiliers who had his left hand amputated due to injuries sustained at Gallipoli.

Other highlights include:

An early example of an artificial right leg, made for Erskine House between 1916 and 1918, on loan from the Science Museum, London. This is the only known surviving example of an Erskine leg.

A lethal fragment from a 6” howitzer shell, from Flanders, c. 1916, on loan from Professor Tony Pollard.
An amputation saw, made in Glasgow between 1880 and 1920, on loan from the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow.

Erskine Chief Executive, Steve Conway said: ‘I am delighted that as part of Erskine’s Centenary celebrations we are able to acknowledge the pivotal role that Sir William Macewen played in the foundation of the Princess Louise Scottish Hospital for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers through this marvellous exhibition. It is very fitting that the exhibition is being hosted by the Hunterian Museum within the University of Glasgow where Sir William was the Emeritus Professor of Surgery. I feel sure everyone who visits the exhibition will be reminded of the devastating effect trench warfare had on the lives of individuals and communities.’

The exhibition and its related events programme provide excellent opportunities to showcase active research by Professor Tony Pollard (School of Humanities, University of Glasgow) and offer the chance for new audiences to engage with this research and a range of University collections.

In War and Peace: The Erskine Story runs from 23 September 2016 until 8 January 2017 at the Hunterian Museum. Admission is free.

The exhibition will feature in a one-off BBC Scotland documentary to be shown in October and is part of the University’s programme of First World War Commemorative Event

The Hunterian

‘The Hunterian is one of the world’s leading University museums and one of Scotland’s greatest cultural assets. Built on Dr William Hunter’s founding bequest, The Hunterian collections include scientific instruments used by James Watt, Joseph Lister and Lord Kelvin; outstanding Roman artefacts from the Antonine Wall; major natural and life sciences holdings; Hunter’s own extensive anatomical teaching collection; one of the world’s greatest numismatic collections and impressive ethnographic objects from Captain Cook’s Pacific voyages.’

‘The Hunterian is also home to one of the most distinguished public art collections in Scotland and features the world’s largest permanent display of the work of James McNeill Whistler, the largest single holding of the work of Scottish artist, architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868–1928) and The Mackintosh House, the reassembled interiors from his Glasgow home.’

www.glasgow.ac.uk/hunterian

Erskine

‘Erskine is a family. Our strength lies in the very special blend of dedicated care, compassion and understanding we offer to our residents and their families. When Erskine was founded in 1916, our aim was to care for Service men and women who had been injured in active service. Today, care remains the cornerstone of our philosophy. We not only care for our veterans – we care about them.

As Scotland’s foremost provider of care for UK veterans, we provide unrivalled nursing, residential, respite and dementia care within our four homes across Scotland. Our person-centred care is tailored to the needs of each individual veteran.’

Erskine: Caring for Veterans since 1916