A brief history of Whipps Cross Hospital
by Alan Simpson
Essex County Chronicle, 23 November 1917
KING AND QUEEN AT LEYTONSTONE
A POPULAR VISIT TO WAR HOSPITAL
On Saturday afternoon the King and Queen, accompanied by Princess Mary, paid a visit of inspection to Whipps Cross War Hospital, Leytonstone. West Ham had a particular interest in the visit because the Hospital was formerly the West Ham Infirmary, and was placed at the disposal of the War Office by the West ham Guardians, whose main buildings and meeting place are also in Leytonstone district. The Hospital stands on the borders of a part of Epping Forest which is nearer to London than any other, but is not less interesting than its remoter parts, though partaking more of the nature of open common than of woodland. Near by is also the once appropriately named but now thickly populated Forest Gate. The Hospital is p-laced in ideal surroundings, and has played a large part in the care of wounded soldiers.
Great interest was taken in the royal visit, and the route from Stratford Town Hall to Whipps Cross was lined with spectators, while a great crowd assembled outside the Hospital. Their Majesties, attended by Countess Fortescue, Lord Stanfordham, and Commander Sir Charles Cust, came by motor as far as Stratford Town Hall, where they changed to open carriages for the rest of the journey. The route from Whipps Cross Road to the Hospital was lined by Boy Scouts, and a guard of honour, composed of Essex Volunteers 11 , was posted outside the main entrance. Both at Stratford and Leytonstone bodies of Special Constables were on duty controlling and directing the traffic.
The King, Queen, and Princess occupied a considerable time in the inspection of the wards, in which were patients from the Colonial forces as well as English troops. In one ward the King took the opportunity of bestowing the Military Medal 12 upon two men to whom it had been awarded, His Majesty pinning the medal on each man’s breast.
Some amusement was caused by a youthful inmate of the children’s ward in the Infirmary. Harold McDermott, aged eight, who, in his anxiety to see the visitors, stripped off his bandages, and attired only in his nightshirt, ran down to an open space where their Majesties were to pass. A nurse “retrieved” the little fellow and wrapped him in a shawl. His object having been made known to the King and Queen, both spoke to him kindly in passing.
11 The Essex Volunteers comprised four second-line Territorial Force battalions (2/4th–2/7th) of the Essex Regiment. Together they constituted the 206th (2/1st Essex) Brigade in the 69th (2nd East Anglian) Division and remained on Home Defence duties throughout the war. The 4th Battalion had its headquarters at Brentwood; the 5th at Colchester; the 6th at West Ham; and the 7th at Walthamstow.
12 The Military Medal (MM) was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The medal was established on 25 March 1916. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Military Cross (MC), which was awarded to commissioned officers. The MM ranked below the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), which was also awarded to non-commissioned members of the army. Over 115,000 awards of the MM were made for actions during the First World War.
Leyton & Leytonstone
Historical Society
