Imperial Military Hospital, Baragwanath
| Imperial Military Hospital, Baragwanath | |
|---|---|
| Geography | |
| Location | Diepkloof, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 26°15′41.99″S 27°56′25.62″E / 26.2616639°S 27.9404500°ECoordinates: 26°15′41.99″S 27°56′25.62″E / 26.2616639°S 27.9404500°E |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Military personnel |
| History | |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Closed | 1948 |
| Links | |
| Other links | List of hospitals in South Africa |
The Imperial Military Hospital, Baragwanath, was a British military hospital built near Johannesburg, South Africa, during the Second World War. After the war it was purchased by the South African government and became one of the biggest hospitals in the world. Today (2016) it is called Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
At the beginning of the war the South African government, Parliament and electorate were divided on whether or not to join Great Britain in the war against Germany. When South Africa did declare war against Germany, her forces were committed to serve in Africa only. In June 1940 Italy declared war on the Allies and in August that year it invaded British Somaliland. Meanwhile, South African forces had moved to Kenya. The war had moved to Africa.
In September 1940 the British government asked the South African government to provide health care facilities for Imperial troops of the Middle East Command. It suggested two hospitals of 1 200 beds each in the Cape and Natal. South Africa decided to rather build one of the hospitals near Johannesburg, Transvaal. There was already a university medical faculty, a nurses' training college and facilities for rehabilitation. The site of the proposed hospital was to be on the farm Diepkloof, south-west of the centre of town. The ground was bought from The Corner House mining group and it was to be situated at the 8th milestone on the road from Johannesburg to Potchefstroom. It was decided to call the hospital the Imperial Military Hospital, Baragwanath.
Sometime after the discovery of gold in 1886, a young Cornishman, John Albert Baragwanath, arrived on the gold fields to make his fortune. He decided to open a refreshment station near the place where the roads from Cape Town and Kimberley met, about a day's journey by ox-wagon south of Johannesburg. He called it The Wayside Inn, but transport riders simply called it Baragwanath's place. After the First World War an aerodrome was built close by and it was called Baragwanath as well. When the Second World War started, the Baragwanath aerodrome was used by both RAF and SAAF air crews under the Joint Air Training Scheme.
The initial estimate of the cost of erecting the hospital was £324 000, but it was then decided to make provision for 1 544 beds (instead of 1 200) because of the increase in hostilities in the Middle East. The layout of the hospital resembled a military camp with many huts containing the various wards. There were about 50 wards that could accommodate 40 beds each. The Johannesburg municipality provided electricity, water and drainage. Construction commenced on 3 November 1941 and the first patients were admitted on 28 May 1942. A section was reserved for the medical and surgical treatment of tuberculosis. There was also a workshop for Occupational Therapy. The final cost of the hospital was £328 000. Prime Minister Jan Smuts officially opened the hospital on 23 September 1942.
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