Richmond Park, London: The South African Military Hospital

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In 1916, a hospital was built within Richmond Park. It was established to treat South Africans serving on the Western Front. The twelve acre site was accessed by a new gate built on the park’s boundary with Cambrian Road. More than 9,500 patients were treated at the South African Military Hospital including “Jackie” the monkey. Jackie was a regimental mascot who lost a leg as a result of a German shell. The hospital had more than 600 beds and more than 2,000 operations were performed there. Nearly 40 South African soldiers, the majority infantrymen, are buried in nearby Richmond Cemetery. Location: Richmond Park, London TW10 Image: Jackie the Regimental Mascot, courtesy of Robert Wood of the Hearsum Collection