A FASCINATING link between wartime leader Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a former hospital in Okehampton has been unearthed by local historians Mike and Hilary Wreford.

A certificate has been submitted to the Times from their historical collection, which was presented to Okehampton by Winston Churchill as a tribute to the work carried during the 1914-1919 Great War by the Okehampton Auxiliary Hospital. 

Churchill was State Secretary for War and the  Airforce at the time of the first world war.   

This is quite intriguing, as the The Okehampton War Memorial Hospital in East Street, which is now demolished, was not opened until October 26, 1926.     

Mike Wreford said: 'In many cases in both wars, large houses were of course turned into hospitals and nursing homes for the numerous wounded service personnel returning home.

'One clue could be the activities of the then Okehampton District Nursing Association, which had been formed in 1897 to patients within a "reasonable" distance of the town. 

'Nurse Wallis was the first nurse engaged for this project followed by the long serving Nurse Grimaldi. 

'For many  years thereafter the association compaigned for a hospital in the town, and finally Woodlands House in Station Road was secured for this admirable project — although it was more like a convalescent home in it application.  

'This could have been used by the forces, although we have no firm evidence to support this.

'Another  interesting  fact is that the certificate was actually posted to the Rev A E Hutchinson at Epworth, Okehampton, who was the minister at the  Westleyan Church in Fairplace, but he had not been the minister during the war, not arriving in Okehampton until 1919, but it certainly looks as though the Fairplace Church must have had some imput.' 

The Wrefords are asking if any Times readers can can throw any more light on

 If you have any information please contact Hilary and Mike  Wreford on [email protected]">[email protected]