A WOLVERLEY historian has forged a special link with a renowned American scholar thanks to his research into the former 52nd General Hospital.

Mike Webster, who is busy putting the finishing touches to his own book on the US Army 52nd General Hospital's time at Wolverley has just received a signed copy of SUNY Upstate Medical University: A Pictorial History by Eric v.d. Luft, curator of Syracuse University.

Mr Luft has also presented a copy of this book, which features a whole chapter on the 52nd, to Kidderminster Library so it is available for all Wyre Forest residents.

Mike said: "The book donation really re-kindles the friendship struck up more than 60 years ago when the 52nd were in Wolverley.

"The book is something to give back to the people of Wyre Forest and is a nice gesture to give a copy to the library so people have a permanent record of these events in Wyre Forest."

Mr Luft said he had been grateful to Mike, Norman Tilt, and others from Kidderminster who have corresponded with him over the years about the 52nd.

"I want to assist Mike's goal in forging a closer bond between my community and his, focused on our common legacy of the 52nd," he added.

The chapter in the book focusing on the 52nd features many photographs that are in the archives at Syracuse University.

The book says the unit arrived at its permanent quarters at Wolverley in 1943 "with Spartan facilities for 600 staff and 1,700 patients".

Photographs of the camp taken back in the 1940s are included and, in one of them, the building behind some nurses, which was the officers mess, still exists today.

The story of Captain Max Kutzer being appointed morale officer at the camp and setting up a sports programme centred on baseball is explained.

Captain Kutzer featured in the Shuttle/Times & News recently when a baseball found at Wolverley by Norman Tilt was sent to him in America. A photograph of the donated baseball also features in the book.

Calling its team The Chiefs, the 52nd played baseball against other American units throughout England.

Another morale booster for the 52nd was Corporal Fitzgerald, who everyone knew as "Fitz". Being a natural artist, he created the unit's mascot - a stubby corporal with a chamber pot for a helmet, a syringe for a rifle and a bedpan for a kitbag.

Some of the most intriguing photographs in the book are of the medical treatment being carried out at the hospital such as full plaster body casts being applied and the taking of X-rays.

The book also reveals how surgeons had to switch specialities to cope with the unit's need such as a qualified pediatrician working in pathology.

The hospital didn't deal with its first battle casualties until June 1944 but from then until early 1945, the beds were filled nearly to capacity. The 52nd treated more than 21,000 people altogether and was rated as one of the best military hospitals in the Second World War.

In June 1945, the unit was transferred to Bristol and then, in September, was disbanded and a photograph of one of the surgeons, Kenneth J. McDermott, returning home on the Queen Elizabeth is included.

The chapter also gives some idea of the way the 52nd affected social events in Wolverley and even includes a printed invitation to the first anniversary dance and festive cards, which were signed from "somewhere in England".

For further information about the book log onto the website www.gegensatzpress.com