Letters written by soldiers that were hospitalized at the Royal Pavilion during World War One have been found on the Royal Pavilion Estate.
They have been discovered during the redevelopment work at Brighton Dome Corn Exchange. Whole pages and fragments give a detailed look into the personal lives of the Indian Soldiers.
The letters were hidden behind the rear cladding to the timber frame of the Corn Exchange, they could have only got there by being dropped down from above.
JC Cocks a patient at Queen Marys Hospital, Roehamption wrote a letter dated 20th April 1918 to his friend Brown a patient at the Pavilion hospital. It reads; “I dare say you are expecting a letter from me as to how they are treating me at the above. Well it is not too bad here at all, it is a little out of the way, we find this especially so in bad weather as amusements are not next door to the hospital as at the pavilion. I am being fitted with a [illegible] arm (a French make) it is very light in weight and will suit my purpose very well. I don’t think this arm is suitable for manual labour & what I have seen of the arms I should think a Anderson + Whitelaws would suit you.”
Michael Shapland, Historic Building Specialist at Archaeology South East will be speaking about the finds and the Quaker burials discovered at the site on Septemeber 10th from 1-2pm as part of Hertiage Open Day at Brighton Dome.
For more information visit their website here.
So cool