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Nine Chelsea Pensioners have died after contracting coronavirus, the Royal Hospital Chelsea has confirmed.
The retirement home for British veterans, which has a population of 290, made the announcement on Thursday, ahead of the 75th anniversary of VE day on Friday.
It revealed five of the deaths occurred in the hospital, while four died while receiving hospital treatment.
A total of 58 of its residents at the hospital – which is famous for its red tunic uniform – have recovered after either testing positive or showing symptoms of the disease.
Among the residents who died was 75-year-old Fred Boomer-Hawkins, who passed away on April 1.
Hawkins spent 20 years with the Royal Green Jackets infantry regiment, and became a Chelsea Pensioner in 2017.
In a tribute on Facebook, his son Terry Hawkins wrote: “Today I leave a post for all of you who knew my dad, a Chelsea Pensioner and a much loved father and grandfather and friend to many.
“Sadly at 21:34hrs on 1st April 2020 my dad left us after becoming another victim to this deadly virus.”
Describing his father’s last moments, he wrote: “If the government showed footage of someone at the end with this virus it would scare people and they would heed the advice I am sure.
“Please all stay home, keep your distance, wear a mask and wash your hands. If not you might put someone you love through this.
“My dad was a great man, he was much loved by many and will be sorely missed.”
General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, who is governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, said that most of the Chelsea Pensioners had risked their lives serving the nation through war and conflict, “just as our NHS staff and care workers are providing vital and sometimes dangerous service to the nation here at home during this Covid crisis”.
“We salute all those working in the health and care sectors at this time and we understand only too well the difficulties that they face.”
General Bradshaw said the hospital now has the capacity to test all those who show symptoms of the disease as well as all those living and working in the same accommodation areas.
He said the hospital was marking VE Day “in a manner appropriate to the current situation”.
“We will reflect on the debt that we owe to those who served the nation in every capacity during the Second World War in Europe,” General Bradshaw said.
“Especially, as we are a home for veterans, we will remember those who were in our armed forces, several of whom are living here in the Royal Hospital.”
He said the veterans will enjoy some “internal, socially-distant events” but these will be “against the backdrop of the recent losses we have suffered”.
Following the announcement, Chelsea FC tweeted: “All of us at Chelsea Football Club send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and all those who are associated with the Chelsea Pensioners, following today’s sad news.”