TOPIC:

There was a hospital in the Goldfields Hotel in Umtali, Rhodesia.

Umtali was a stop on the Beira (Portuguese East Africa) to Salisbury rail line, being located just inside Rhodesia. It looks like it might be called Mutari these days in Zimbabwe.

The hospital treated many members of the Rhodesian Field Force who were recovering from malaria, dysentery and other tropical diseases contracted during the inland trip from Beira.

I have Sharrad Gilbert's book "Rhodesia and After" that has a chapter on the hospital, but am wondering if there may be any other sources of information on the activities there, particularly during the June-October 1900 time frame? Patient admittance and discharge records (a long shot, I know) would be very helpful.

Thanks very much,
Nick

Hello Nick,
I do not know that the state of play in Harare these days, but, even just a decade ago, things were pretty bad as far as archived material goes, I think that I would perhaps speak to the Zimbabwe Medal Society, to be quite honest, I suspect that only published contempory source information will be available, as much as it grieves me to say it, but, Rhodesia is not only long gone, but, it has gone forever, in the space of just a single generation too!
Kind regards Frank

Frank Kelley wrote: I think that I would perhaps speak to the Zimbabwe Medal Society

Thanks Frank,

I didn't think this would be simple or straight-forward. What is the best way to contact them? I did some googling and it doesn't appear they have a website. I found a couple links to email addresses associated with the society, but they appeared to be personal email addresses and I could not determine if the information was current or not.

Nick

Hello Nick,
Yes, I've often thought them to be a little like a closed order, but, you must understand they exist through the efforts of their individual members so really, I would suggest that you talk to them, also, internet and even just electricity are unreliable in Zimbabwe too thesedays.

Zimbabwe Medal Society, BOX GD 470, GREENDALE, HARARE.

IN addition;

Keith Holshausen
PO BOX AY30
AMBBY
HARARE
ZIMBABWE

Ian Johnstone
PO BOX 2418
HARARE
ZIMBABWE

Anthony Brown TD Capt Ret
30 TWICKENHAM DRIVE
MOUNT PLEASANT
HARARE
ZIMBABWE

Thank you Frank,

At least one of those names rings a bell from the Googling I did. I guess I will have to go old-school with pen and paper (or at least word processor and printer).

I had heard that Zimbabwe is suffering some infrastructure issues these days. That's really a shame.

Thanks again,
Nick