- An exhibition exploring the largely unknown story of the British Indian Army in Bournemouth during the First World War
- Co-curated by historian Nick Saunders and Devanshi Rungta
- Featuring photographs, war diaries and personal accounts
- An online talk to accompany the exhibition takes place on 7 October
- Exhibition runs 9 September – 23 November 2025
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum has just opened a new exhibition in its Café Gallery, Recovering by the Sea: The Indian Army in Bournemouth, 1914-1915.
Exploring the largely unknown story of the British Indian Army during the First World War, this exhibition has been co-curated by historian Nick Saunders and exhibition designer Devanshi Rungta and is free to view at the Russell-Cotes in Bournemouth until 23 November 2025.
In November 1914, around 100 Indian soldiers arrived in Bournemouth – wounded or unwell from the Western Front—to be treated at the Mont Dore Hotel (now the Bournemouth Civic Centre) after it was requisitioned by the War Office as a military hospital. Over the next year, hundreds more followed, cared for in a town far from home.
Recovering By The Sea explores this lesser-known wartime history of the British Indian Army in Bournemouth during the First World War. Drawing on rare photographs, postcards, war diaries, and personal accounts, the exhibition reveals how the Indian servicemen experienced recovery and rest on England’s south coast, the complex dynamics of colonial war service, and the quite unusual connections they formed with local residents.
Sarah Newman, Manager at the Russell-Cotes, said:
‘This exhibition offers a poignant glimpse into a forgotten piece of Bournemouth’s history and contributes to a fuller understanding of the town’s role during the First World War. We’re thrilled to host it in our Café Gallery and invite visitors to reflect on the stories of these soldiers who found temporary refuge by the sea.’
Ramesh Lal, Chairman of the BPC Indian Community Association, said:
‘This is a truly historic occasion to remember the Indian Army Soldiers of WWI, marked for the first time in Bournemouth with this exhibition after almost a century.’
An accompanying free online talk by Nick Saunders takes place on 7 October, available to book now on the Russell-Cotes website.
