WW1 County of London War Hospital - Brass and Enamel Matchbox Cover – Christmas 1916

Here on offer is an impressive brass and enamel matchbox cover for the County of London War Hospital.

The front depicts the shield shaped crest of the London County Council in red, white and blue enamel, topped with a gilt crown and with a lion set in the centre. The reverse side has a raised ribbon in the brass, with the words:

CHRISTMAS 1916

On the spine it has the words:

COUNTY OF LONDON WAR HOSPITAL
Horton Asylum Epsom - County of London War Hospital – during WW1.

On 9 February 1915 the decision was made that Horton Asylum would become a war hospital and was known as the County of London Hospital. The medical superintendent since 1907, John Robert Lord, remained in charge but now with the army rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Between 12 March and 8 April 1915, and with much overcrowding, some 2,143 mental patients were shoehorned in to other LCC mental hospitals. During the next four years, Horton (County of London) War Hospital treated more than 44,000 wounded servicemen, from all parts of the Empire. It had a capacity of 2,532 beds and the first batch of 72 wounded servicemen arrived on 20 May 1915, and the war hospital finally closed on 17 October 1919.

During this time Horton treated 44,613 service personnel of whom less than 1 percent (351) died. The CWGC plot in Epsom cemetery saw the burial of 94 of these men, the other 257 presumably being returned to their hometowns.

After the end of the First World War the hospital reverted to treating the mentally ill but with a new name – Horton Hospital.

The last of my photos is the image of part of the hospital.

The matchbox cover is in excellent condition for its age with just some loss of detailing on the back through wear and a tiny piece of red and white enamel missing, that is hard to see.

The matchbox cover measures 2.4” (6.2cm) high by 1.7” (4.3cm) wide and is 0.8” (2.2cm) deep.

It weighs 49g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Thank you for taking the time to look.

Code: 52002