The Middleton Memorial Hospital World Wars Plaques are dedicated to the memory of the local war dead of the First and Second World Wars. In 1921, the F.E. Cox residence on Commercial Street was purchased, moved to Gates Avenue, and converted into a hospital. The Soldiers Memorial Hospital became a corporate body under the laws of the province of Nova Scotia. The Hospitals' Board of Management was formed to direct the overall planning and operations of the hospital. Funds for the new hospital were received from local organizations, private donations and other sources.
The Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire undertook the supply of equipment for the operating room and maintained it over the years. The workload of the hospital gradually increased over the years to the point where more space was needed. In 1936, a committee comprised of Dr. Braine, Annapolis, Dr. O.R. Stone, Bridgetown, and Dr. L.R. Morse, recommended an addition to the total number of beds at Soldiers Memorial Hospital to 27.
With the need for expansion again in 1946, it was decided to construct a new and modern hospital. The present hospital site, at the east end of the town, was purchased in that year from Mrs. B.B. Gwillam. With the advent of a Provincial Hospitalization Program and the opportunity to receive Federal and Provincial Construction Grants, construction of the new hospital began in 1960 and the hospital was officially opened in August 1961.
