{Below the crest of the Royal Hospital Chelsea:}
The main part of this North East Wing of the Royal Hospital was destroyed by a 500 lb bomb dropped by a German aircraft on the night of 16th February 1918 causing the loss of five lives. It was rebuilt in 1921 in its original form.
The new building was again destroyed on the 3rd January 1945 by a German V2 Rocket causing the loss of five lives and injury to nineteen other persons. It was again rebuilt in 1965 and was opened on the 24th January 1966 by the Prime Minister.
The names are listed at Killed at Royal Hospital Chelsea - WW1, and Killed at Royal Hospital Chelsea - WW2, respectively.
Site: Royal Hospital Chelsea - north east wing (1 memorial)
SW3, East Road, Light Horse Court
The Great War Forum has information about the WW1 bombing raid: "On the night of 16th/17th February 1918, five Zeppelin Staaken 'Giant' R.VI bombers departed their base at Ghent, Belgium and bombed London and Dover. According to German records, all five 'Giants' attacked, but according to British records only three did. 4,250 kilograms of bombs were dropped that night, killing twelve and injuring six. ... One 'Giant', R39, was the only one to be converted to carry a 1,000kg bomb (the plaque incorrectly says it was a 500lb bomb), and only three were ever dropped on the UK. The first to be dropped was on this raid, hit the north east wing of the Royal Hospital on the night of the 16th. Five were killed, and three children were pulled out of the rubble."
From Sherborne Historical Society: "January 1945; 25 IPs evacuated to Rudhall following the V2 attack on the Hospital that destroyed the North East Wing for a second time in a generation, killing four staff (including one who survived the 1918 bombing) and one Pensioner with eighteen others injured. This time it would not be rebuilt until the early 1960s..." Rudhall Manor was a Tudor house outside Ross-on-Wye which had been lined up to receive casualties from the Hospital, should the need arise.
John Soane was called on to make a variety of repairs, alterations and additions to the existing buildings which means that the Soane Collection holds plan drawings of the original buildings including this north east wing.
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