A programme on the BBC World Service mentioned that a Squash Court in the UK had been used as a mortuary in World War 1.  After some investigation the airfield was identified and a reply received from the current owners.  The full text is shown below.

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From: "Helen Tempest" <Helen_t@biplane.demon.co.uk> 
To: <mikegree@yahoo.com> 
Subject: RFC Rendcomb Airfield 
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 13:29:35 -0000 

Dear Mike

Your letter has been passed on to us by Mrs Purcell regarding the Squash Courts at Rendcomb. Unfortunately the building is abandoned and empty, it is constructed of rendered brick with a corrugated metal and glass roof (which is mostly smashed) and you can still see the squash court lines around the walls. The building is just the other side of the current airfield boundary and owned by a local farmer, so it is does not form part of the current airfield.

The airfield was built in 1916 and active from 1918 to 1920  when it closed. The airfield was then given back to the original owners and reverted back to crop. During the 1st World War the building was used as a hospital, a mortuary and squash court, depending on what was happening that day!!

It is very foggy here in England at the moment, but I am sure we can go down and take some photographs sometime when the sun is shining and then email them to you. (Will be put on this page when received)

Kind regards


Helen Tempest
Operations Director
AeroSuperBatics Ltd.