Lasting tribute to US casualties (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Lasting tribute to US casualties

8:20am Saturday 27th January 2007 in News By Richard Vernalls

TREATMENT of casualties carried out at a wartime US Army hospital in Wolverley could earn lasting recognition thanks to the efforts of a villager.

Mike Webster is leading a campaign to raise the £2,000 needed to have a plaque made and installed at St John the Baptist Church, in memory of those who worked, were treated or died at the site during the Second World War.

"I went to the local Remembrance service at the church, in 2005, and listened to the vicar's sermon," he said.

"He told of the number of memorials in the church to people who had gone off to fight for our country and made the ultimate sacrifice but afterwards I realised no mention was made of the American hospital.

"I thought it would be nice to have a memorial to the thousands of people who worked and were sent there."

Mr Webster wants to raise enough money to have a plaque made with an inscription dedicated to those who served and were treated at the wartime base of the US Army's 52nd General Hospital unit.

He already has permission from the Parochial Church Council to place the memorial alongside others in St John's and has launched another appeal for funds in the United States.

The 43-acre complex was built at the end of 1942 and had room for 1,700 patients and 600 staff, treating thousands during the conflict, but was nearly completely demolished in the 1970s to make way for the sports and leisure facilities of Brown Westhead Park.

People who want to find out more about the appeal should e-mail Mike Webster at mike2005@blueyonder.co.uk