A HOSPITAL is being recognised for its help during war.

A plaque was unveiled at St Woolos Hospital, on Newport's Stow Hill, to acknowledge its importance as a military hospital in the First World War.

The building - previously Newport Workhouse - was requisitioned by the military in 1915 as an extension to Cardiff's third Western General Hospital.

By the end of the war, St Woolos Hospital had treated 20,000 soldiers, often arriving by the trainload.

The plaque depicts a patient being attended to by a medical officer and nursing sister, and was designed by Danielle Mayer and produced as part of Gwent Branch of the Western Front Association’s Journey’s End project.

It was funded by the National Lottery, with the support of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

Chair of Western Front Association's Gwent Branch, Peter Strong said: "We are very pleased to be able to display the plaque at St Woolos Hospital and would like to thank Aneurin Bevan University Health Board for its support of this project.

"We hope that it will help to widen local awareness and recognition of the importance of the hospital during the Great War.

"We would also like to thank players of the National Lottery, who have made the funding possible."

The unveiling, on July 6, was performed by Lieutenant Colonel Simon Lawrence.

Mr Strong added: "We are delighted that Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence from 203 Field Hospital was able to attend to unveil the plaque, acting as a reminder that in 2018, as in 1918, we owe much to the teams of dedicated men and women who show true heroism to save lives amidst the horrors of war."

A photograph of hospital staff from 1918 is also now displayed at the hospital's reception, provided by Newport Museum and Art Gallery.

Children from Stow Hill Primary School - whose buildings were used as a nurses' home during the war - attended, along with assembly members, councillors and Newport City Council Deputy Leader, Mark Whitcutt, amongst others.

The Journey’s End project has already produced a plaque to commemorate highly decorated Newport nurse Annie Brewer, led tours of war graves in St Woolos Cemetery, and organised workshops at Gwent Archives.

The project is working with schools for a commemoration event on November 9, and a public day of commemoration at St Woolos Cathedral on November 10.