COUNTLESS wounded servicemen were cared for at Woodlands Convalescent Home in Rawdon during both World Wars.

Built in 1877, it was a convalescent home for servicemen until 1951when it became an orthopaedic hospital.

It was finally closed in 1993 and was later converted into apartments.

Some of those injured in the First World War can be seen in these photographs donated to the archives of Aireborough Historical Society by Janet Jones.

The first, with nurses seated in the front row, shows

servicemen and nurses outside Woodlands.

The society’s website says: “The man on the back row marked with an x was Hugh Robinson, born in Rochdale he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers.

“He served in Egypt and it is presumed he was sent with the Fusiliers to Gallipoli, on March 21st 1918 he was killed aged 24.

“He has no known grave but his name is on a memorial at Pozieres, northern France.”

Further information has been added to the webpage by Janet Jones who is a great niece of Hugh Robinson.

She says: “ Since our last correspondence I have found that he did indeed fight at with the Lancashire Fusiliers at Gallipoli and was wounded in August 1915. No more info than that but maybe as a result of that injury he ended up at Woodlands.”

There is a message on the back of the card which has faded over time and is now difficult to read.

It says: “Dear B?, I received your letter to hand. I will stay another week before I -? Hope you are enjoying the best of health as it is with me at present. Wilson is here with ? - my best respects to Edith when you ? again”