{Below the Royal Hospital crest:}
In memory of those officers in-pensioners and residents of the Royal Hospital, named hereon, who lost their lives within the precincts by enemy action in two wars.
Killed on 16th February 1918
{5 names – see Subjects commemorated on the page for the WW1 names}
Killed on 16th April 1941
{13 names – see Subjects commemorated, this page}
Killed on 3rd January 1945
{5 names – see Subjects commemorated, this page}
For more information about this plaque see the page for its WW1 names.
The 1941 bomb fell on the east wing of the Hospital. This was the Sir John Soane’s 1818-33 Infirmary. It had to be demolished and the Army Museum is now on the site. The has more information and photos of the building, and some details about the dead.
Both the 1918 and the 1945 events caused death and destruction at the north east wing of the Hospital, where there is another plaque.
Site: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Middle Court (5 memorials)
SW3, Royal Hospital Road, Royal Hospital Chelsea, Middle Court
In our photo you can see the Latin text on the frieze to the arcade. The statue faces the building and backs the Thames, and the camera. The Carlos plaque is at the base of the statue. You can see that there are dozens of plaques in the arcade along the whole length of the south-facing façade. These are mainly to individuals associated with the Hospital, many of them former Governors. We collected only the plaque that you can see to the right of the entrance, to those killed at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in WW1 and in WW2.
This is a good place to raise the subject of the orientation of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Looked at on a map the strong thrust to the north-west is inescapable - the central axis runs in this direction from the river, through the 'South Grounds', cuts this Middle Court in half, runs through the arch at the centre of the very symmetrical Hospital complex, continues across the private Burton Court into Royal Avenue, finally ending at the Kings Road. This is all that is left (was ever built) of what calls Kensington's lost triumphal avenue, desired by King Charles II, designed by Christopher Wren. See the Royal Avenue plaque.
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