Eight of Scotland's 180 auxiliary hospitals were based in Moray, run by qualified medical staff, assisted by VADs. These units, based in Aberlour, Advie, Buckie, Cullen, Elgin, Fochabers, Forres and Keith, supplemented the limited provision available in the general hospitals in Aberlour, Dufftown, Elgin and Forres in which small numbers of beds were set aside to take the war wounded. At times, even this provision was inadequate and the wounded were accommodated in hotels – such as the Stotfield Hotel in Lossiemouth, and the Spey Bay Hotel - and private houses such as Oakbank in Elgin.
The Auxiliary Hospitals across Moray relied heavily on community support for their day-to-day running, including the transporting of patients to the hospitals from the nearest railway stations, providing and laundering bed linen and clothing, supplying food, tobacco and reading materials. Many of the communities rallied round to provide treats and entertainments for the patients too, and the hospitals apparently were seen very much as the responsibility of the whole community. Details of the role that many of these hospitals played in the First World War may be found on the individual pages.
The interior of the Forres Auxiliary Hospital which was based in the Mechanics' Institute in the town
Cullen Auxiliary Hospital which found a home in the former parish home of the town
Buckie Auxiliary Hospital and kitchen in Portessie
Probably Moray's largest auxiliary hospital at Gordon Castle, Fochabers