CHELSEA HOSPITAL. The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, to give the institution its full title, was founded by Charles II. Tradition has it that Nell Gwynne moved the King to build the hospital, but it is probable that the idea originated with Sir Stephen Fox, who had been a Paymaster General to the Forces. Christopher Wren was the architect, and the building was com pleted in 1692. Many military trophies are preserved at the hospital, including the colours captured at Blenheim and Water loo, and there is a fine collection of medals and pictures in the Great Hall.
The candidates for a Chelsea In-Pension must be Out-Pension ers, i.e. in receipt of either a service, disability or campaign pension. Candidates must be 55 years of age, unless through loss of limb or other disability, the result of army service, they are considered eligible for admission to In-Pension at an earlier date. The establishment of In-Pensioners is 558. The candidates must be capable of looking after themselves. In-Pensioners may leave the hospital and revert to Out-Pension if they so wish, but unless there are some exceptional reasons such men are not again admitted to In-Pension.
In addition to the In-Pension establishment, the Board of Commissioners administer long service pensions, special cam paign pensions, and deal with disability pensions other than those arising from the World War and earlier wars, which are adminis tered by the Ministry of Pensions. They also approve, after investigation, the applications of pensioners who desire to receive a commuted sum in lieu of a portion of pension for the purpose of house purchase, etc. The number of men on the Army Pension List administered by the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital was in 1927 approximately 103,000.