asm and ability, and she and
her colleagues worked to such purpose that, on March 17, 1900, a base
hospital containing over 500 beds (which number was subsequently
increased to 1,000), fully equipped, left our shores. So useful did
these institutions prove themselves, that as time went on, and the evils
of war spread to other parts of South Africa, the committee were asked
to inaugurate other hospitals, and, the funds at their disposal allowing
of acquiescence, they established branches at Mackenzie's Farm, Maitland
Camp, Eastwood, Elandsfontein, and Pretoria, besides a small
convalescent home for officers at Johannesburg. Thus in a few months a
field-hospital and bearer company (the first ever formed by civilians),
several base hospitals, and a convalescent home, were organized by the
Imperial Yeomanry Hospitals Committee, who frequently met, with Lady
Georgiana Curzon presiding, to discuss ways and means of satisfactorily
working those establishments so many thousands of miles away.

The Hospital Commissioners who visited Deelfontein in November, 1900,
said it was one of the best-managed hospitals in Africa. A similar
opinion was expressed by Colonel A.G. Lucas, M.V.O., when he visited it
in the autumn, and this gentleman also reported most favourably on the
section at Mackenzie's Farm. Through Colonel Kilkelly, Lord Kitchener
sent a message to the committee early in 1901, expressing his
admiration of the Pretoria Hospital. In this branch Lady Roberts showed
much interest, and, with her customary kindness, rendered it every
assistance in her power. At a time when military hospitals were being
weighed in the balance, and in some instances found wanting, the praise
bestowed on the Yeomanry Institutions was worthy of note. From first to
last the various staffs numbered over 1,400 persons, and more than
20,000 patients were treated in the Yeomanry Hospitals whilst they were
under the management of Lady Georgiana Curzon and her committee.
Although sick and wounded from every force under the British flag in
South Africa were taken in, and many Boers as well, a sufficient number
of beds was always available for the immediate admittance of patients
from the force for which the hospitals were originally created. The
subscriptions received for this great national work totalled over
L145,300, in addition to a subsidy of L3,000 from the Government for
prolonging the maintenance of the field-hospital and bearer company from
Januar