Five patients on the Winter Garden steps Quex Park VAD Hospi

Five patients are standing on the steps of the Winter Garden at Quex Park. The Winter Garden was a large conservatory which stood between the drawing room of Quex House and the buildings of the Powell-Cotton Museum, linking the two. During the First World War it served as the VAD Hospital Mess. The men are all wearing the hospital patient's uniform of hospital blues, which was blue serge jacket and trousers, white shirt and red tie - although in this instance some are wearing another shirt. Some men have had to roll up the trousers to make them fit. At least three of the men are wearing carpet slippers. These were made for VAD Hospitals by local War Supply Depots, for the men to use indoors. By their headgear all the men may be members of Scottish regiments. Patients were allowed to retain their regimental caps while in hospital, although their regular uniforms were handed in for cleaning and repair. The Quex Park VAD Hospital opened on 15 October 1914 and closed on 31 January 1919. The hospital was run by Kent/178, the Birchington Detachment. The Commandant was Hannah Powell-Cotton (1881-1964), wife of Major Percy HG Powell-Cotton (1866-1940) of Quex Park, founder of the Powell-Cotton Museum. Major Powell-Cotton was the VAD Transport Officer for the Isle of Thanet area, responsible for organising the transport of patients from the stations to the local hospitals

Allowed Although Brichington Commandant Conservatory Depots Detachment Handed Hospitals Instance Least Linking Mess Organising Patients Percy Quex Recuperation Regimental Regular Rehabilitation Repair Responsible Retain Serge Slippers Thanet Voluntary

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