Medical dates:

Medical character:

When her husband joined his regiment, the London Scottish, for active service at the beginning of the war, Mrs Mackinnon opened their house in Queen's Gate Terrace as a hospital for wounded officers.

Within a few weeks of being at the Front, Capt. Mackinnon was killed.  However, Mrs Mackinnon carried on running the Hospital, which had 20 beds.

The ward on the ground floor opened onto a lounge.  The ward above had a balcony, accessed via French windows, where convalescent patients could rest in comfortable chairs while enjoying the fresh air in fine weather.  The officers' dining room was also on the first floor, with a kitchen beyond which had a gas stove, a sink and other conveniences for the easy service of food.  The up-to-date, well-equipped operating theatre was on the second floor.  The Hospital also had two single wards for cases needing special nursing care and quiet, or for higher-ranking officers, such as colonels, who preferred the privacy of their own room.

The wards of the Hospital were decorated throughout in a grey colour, which toned with the pretty flowered curtains.  The white beds were covered with bright pink silk eiderdowns.  This colour scheme was carried out through the house.

The nursing staff consisted of a Sister-in-charge, a Day Sister and a Night Sister, and seven VADs, two of whom were Mrs Mackinnon's sisters.  The staff had a room on the ground floor at the back of the house, with French windows which opened onto a small garden.  Otherwise the rest of the rooms were given up to the patients.

The Hospital closed at the beginning of 1919.

Present status (July 2010)

The Grade II listed building still exists.  Most of the large houses in this street have been converted into apartments.