Chelsea pensioner

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Chelsea pensioners in scarlet coats and tricorne hats at the Founder's Day parade in the Royal Hospital Chelsea

A Chelsea Pensioner, or "In-Pensioner" is a resident at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home and nursing home for former members of the British Army located in Chelsea, London. The Royal Hospital Chelsea is home to some 300 retired British soldiers, located on Royal Hospital Road. Historically, the phrase "Chelsea Pensioner" applied more widely, referring to both In-Pensioners and Out-Pensioners.

In- and Out-Pensioners

File:William Hiseland.jpg
Sergeant William Hiseland, an English Civil War cavalier and one of the first pensioners to be admitted to the Royal Hospital in London.

The Royal Hospital was founded by King Charles II in 1682 as a retreat for veterans.[1] The provision of a hostel rather than the payment of pensions was inspired by Les Invalides in Paris.[1]

During the reign of King William III and Queen Mary II, the Royal Hospital was still under construction so they introduced a system for distribution of army pensions in 1689. The pension was to be made available to all former soldiers who had been injured in service, or who had served for more than 20 years.

By the time the Royal Hospital was completed, there were more pensioners than places available in the Royal Hospital. Eligible ex-soldiers who could not be housed in the Hospital were termed Out-Pensioners, receiving their pension from the Royal Hospital but living outside it. In-Pensioners, by contrast, surrender their army pension and live within the Royal Hospital.

In 1703 there were 51 Out-Pensioners. By 1815 this figure had risen to 36,757.

The Royal Hospital remained responsible for distributing army pensions until 1955, following which the phrase "Out-Pensioner" became less common, and "Chelsea Pensioner" was used largely to refer to "In-Pensioners".

Life of In-Pensioners

File:MovingIn.jpg
A ward within the Royal Hospital Chelsea

Upon arrival at the Royal Hospital, each In-Pensioner is given their own room, or "berth" in a ward, and is allocated to a Company. Up until refurbishment works carried out in the 1950s, these rooms measured 6 x 6 feet. Work completed in 2015 has ensured that all In-Pensioner berths include en suite facilities, a writing desk, and natural light. On entry, In-Pensioners surrender their army pension, in return receiving board, lodging, clothing and full medical care.

Conditions for admission as an in-pensioner

To be eligible for admission as a Chelsea Pensioner, a candidate must be a former non-commissioned officer or soldier of the British Army (including National Service) who is:

  • Over 65 years of age, and;
  • Either in receipt of an Army Service Pension or War Disability Pension which you would be required to surrender upon entry to the Royal Hospital or, if you do not receive an Army Pension you would be required to pay a £175 per week contribution towards your living costs. Please note, if your Army Service Pension and/or War Disability Pension is less than the £175 per week minimum you would be required to top-up to that amount, provided it does not place you in financial difficulty;
  • Free of any financial obligation to support a spouse or family, and;
  • Be self-caring and able to live independently on the Long Wards.

Also eligible for admission are any former officers of the British Army who meet the criteria, provided they served for at least 12 years in the ranks before obtaining a commission or if they were awarded a disablement pension while serving in the ranks.

Admission of women

File:Marjorie Cole.jpg
Marjorie Cole, middle, one of many female Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital

Until 2009, only male candidates were admitted. It was announced in 2007 that female ex-service personnel would be admitted on the completion of modernisation of the long wards.[2] In March 2009 the first women in the Hospital’s 317-year history were admitted as In-Pensioners: Dorothy Hughes (aged 85) and Winifred Phillips (aged 82).

Hughes had joined the British Army in 1941, later working as part of 450 Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery in the London Division. In 1945 the Battery was deployed near Dover to defend against V1 rocket attacks. Phillips trained as a nurse and later joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1948 before enlisting in the Women's Royal Army Corps in 1949 while serving in Egypt. After 22 years service she retired with the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2.[3][4][5][6][7]

The records at Royal Hospital show that another woman, a Mrs. Christian Davies, was admitted to Chelsea Hospital circa 1717, and was awarded a pension for her service in the army and the wounds she received in the service of the King. She died in 1739 and was buried in the Royal Hospital Chelsea with full military honours.

Clothing

File:Arthur Portrait Cheslea Pensioner July 2007 007.jpg
A Chelsea pensioner in scarlet uniform.

Chelsea Pensioners are entitled to come and go from the Royal Hospital as they please, and are permitted to wear civilian clothing wherever they travel. However, within the Hospital, and in the surrounding area, they are encouraged to wear a blue uniform. If they travel farther from the Royal Hospital, they should wear the distinctive scarlet coats instead of the blue uniform. The scarlet coats are also worn for ceremonial occasions, accompanied by tricorne hats. (At other times a peaked hat, known as a shako, is generally worn).

In uniform, the pensioners wear their medal ribbons and the insignia of the rank they reached while serving in the armed forces. They may also wear other insignia they earned during their service and many pensioners now wear parachute jump wings and even SAS jump wings. Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal to impersonate a Chelsea Pensioner; the myth probably dates from a ruling prohibiting fraudulent claims to pensions that belonged to Chelsea Pensioners. (repealed by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2008).

Men In Scarlet album

Seven Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea released an album on 8 November 2010 in order to raise money for the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal. Featuring Dame Vera Lynn, Katherine Jenkins, The Soldiers, and Janey Cutler, the album is full of well known wartime songs and includes their traditional march, "The Old Brigade".[8]

Chelsea Football Club

Nearby Chelsea Football Club has been affiliated with the Chelsea Pensioners for many years; the club's first nickname was the Pensioners and until the 1950s the club crest featured a Chelsea pensioner. Residents of the Hospital can be seen attending Chelsea's home games at Stamford Bridge.[9]

When Chelsea won the Premier League title in 2005, Chelsea pensioners formed a guard of honour as the players and management came out for the trophy presentation. This was done again when Chelsea won the title in 2010.[10] In tribute to the trademark red coats worn by the pensioners, Chelsea's kit for the 2010-11 season featured a red trim on the collars.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Guidebook, p. 3
  2. Women to join Chelsea pensioners BBC News 26 February 2007
  3. [1] ‘The ladies in red: Chelsea Pensioners welcome first female recruits in 300>-year history’ Daily Mail 13 March 2009
  4. [2] ‘Dorothy Hughes and Winifred Phillips become first female Chelsea Pensioners’ The Times’’ 13 March 2009
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  6. [3] 'Now I feel just like Cinderella at the ball' Daily Telegraph’’ 5 March 2009
  7. "Women joining Chelsea pensioners, BBC News, 12 March 2009
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External links