Robert Harwell Bibby

 

Morriston Hospital

Morriston Hospital was founded in 1942 as an emergency wartime hospital, it was government-owned and managed by Swansea Cooperation.  It was built on Maesygwernen hall part of its estate.  The hall became part of the hospital when it was finally demolished in 2017.

During the war, the hospital had 15 Nightingale Wards, which had 600 beds.  Since then, the hospital today has been modified and has now 750 beds, in modern wards which have been built since 1981. The hospital has an Accident and Emergency department and is managed by Abertawe Bro Morgannwy University Health Board.

Nightingale Wards were named after Florence Nightingale and were mainly one large room, which may contain about 24 to 34 beds situated on both sides of the ward.  There may have been a side room which was used for the utilities, or a side room which also may have been used for patient isolation.  These rooms are unlike the wards that are present in today's hospitals.  

It was at Morriston Hospital, on 21^st June 1944 that Robert Harwell Bibby died.

Warrant Officer Class II Robert Harwell Bibby served with the Royal Army Service Corps.  He was 28 years old and was the son of Thomas John and Mary Gwendoline Bibby.

1921 Census

The only census record for Robert would be the 1921 Census, having been born in 1916.  The census record that his name was Robert Howell.  He was residing at 10 De la Beche Road, the home of his parents, Thomas John and Mary.

Thomas, 32, came from Caernarvonshire and was a Commerical Traveller. Mary was 32, she came from Gloucestershire.  Their young children were Lillian May, 6; Robert Howell, 5 and 1-year-old John Hadyn.  Also present at the address, were Thomas’ brother and sister-in-law John Watts, 19, who was a Gardener, and his wife, Cornilla May, 17.  Also a boarder, George Barett, 44, Labourer.

Thomas John Bibby and Mary Gwenllian Helena Watts
marriage certificate
St. Matthews, High Street, Swansea 

Thomas John Bibby and Mary Gwenllian Helena Watts were married in June 1913, at St. Matthews, High Street.

South Wales Daily Post

South Wales Daily Post

The South Wales Daily Post, June 1944, reports the death of Robert, who was a patient at Morriston Hospital.  Robert or”Bert” had attended Brynmill School, and he played cricket for Swansea I and II as a bowler.  The article states that Robert had joined the Territorials before the outbreak of war, and directed to the R.A.S.C.

Robert Harwell Bibby
St. Pauls
credit - findagrave

A further article published by the South Wales Daily Post, reports his funeral at St. Pauls.