MORE than 100 years ago, Britain, and its empire, was at war.

Towns and cities across the country and the world played an important role in supporting the war effort, with Bournemouth being no exception.

But a little-known part of the town’s wartime history was its connection with the British Indian Army.

Between November 1914 and November 1915, what is now Bournemouth Town Hall and was then the Mont Dore hotel, was converted into No. 8 Indian General Hospital.

Primarily based in Brockenhurst in the New Forest, Indian soldiers were sent to this hospital as the hospital built there was full.

While here, recovering soldiers were active in the town, forming sports teams, playing cricket and football against local teams, including Bournemouth School for Boys.

Bournemouth Echo:

Now, Ramesh Lal, chairman of the BPC Indian Community Association, is spearheading a project to raise awareness of this vital part of history that has, to date, been ‘lost to the haze of history’.

Ramesh only found out about the connection a few years ago, having attended a memorial service for Indian soldiers who came to the convalescence hospital at Barton-on-Sea.

“At the time, I thought this is unbelievable. I’ve been living in this area for 25 years, I had no idea,” he said.

“That’s when the research started, that’s when I found out that I wasn’t one of the first Indians in Bournemouth. There were Indians walking the beaches of Bournemouth 100 years ago, and we’ve got photographs.

Bournemouth Echo: Wounded Indian soldiers were sent to the Mont Dore Hotel in Bournemouth in 1914 and 1915.

“Slowly over time, my calling is to raise awareness of the British Indian Army soldiers who came here 110 years ago for hospitalisation when they were injured on the Western Front.

“To discover that the building where they built the temporary hospital was the present town hall was just unbelievable.”

A plaque is set to be unveiled at the town hall in November, to mark the 110th anniversary, while Ramesh is working closely with Bournemouth University and the Russell Cotes Museum.

Ramesh helped organise a presentation to councillors and guests at the town hall with historian Nick Saunders in October.

Bournemouth Echo: Ramesh helped organise a presentation on the connection at the town hall to councillors and guests,

It is hoped an exhibition will be held at the museum documenting the link between the Indian community and Bournemouth during the war.

“What I have realised is that hardly anybody in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and Dorset know this connection. It’s lost in the haze of history,” Ramesh said.

“I think it’s very important, because this enriches the history of Bournemouth.

“Bournemouth is a relatively new town, and this will add to the colour of the tapestry that we have already.

“We have local institutions that are showing interest in this project, Bournemouth University, the museum and the Central Library as well as the council itself.

“I think together as residents of this area, we should be aware of our history and more importantly the contribution of all soldiers that came here who were willing to sacrifice their lives for us to enjoy what we have today.”

For more information on the project, contact: ramesh_lal@hotmail.com.