White Court
Now a residential housing estate of some 550 plus homes located to the south of Braintree town in Essex, England, it was formerly the 8th Army air force military hospital, built in the grounds of "White Court" which was previously a large detached house standing in its own grounds on London Road, originally known as "Oaklands".
It consisted largely of Nissen huts linked by sheltered walkways. Initially 750 beds then later increased to 834 following D-Day. On June 6, 1944 it was further expanded by the erection of tented wards.
To begin with, many of those treated were injured and sick U.S. airmen from the local airfields but following the invasion of Europe by the allies, specially equipped hospital trains loaded with injured soldiers began to arrive at Braintree station. 13 in total eventually received. On April 19, 1944 the hospital was bombed causing much damage but luckily no one killed or seriously injured.
The Hospital closed on the June 13, 1945 and lay derelict for some years.
Standing at the entrance to the estate is a monument to the men and women who treated or were treated at the hospital.
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