A refurbished plaque has been unveiled in Dorset County Hospital nearly 100 years after it was originally presented to staff there.
Representatives from the Dorset Regiment met with the Arts in Hospital staff to see the plaque, which commemorates the war dead, back on display.
It was given a new lease of life thanks to a joint effort between the Regiment and the Dorset County Hospital (DCH) Arts in Hospital programme.
On January 15, 1925, the large bronze engraved plaque was presented at the hospital's former site in Princes Street, Dorchester.
It was unveiled by the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Lord Lieutenant, in the presence of Lord Ellenborough, who was chairman of the Hospital Committee.
The bronze engraved plaque, now proudly re-displayed at Dorset County Hospital, originally marked the re-equipping of the hospital in 1925 with 40 new beds, and the virtual rebuilding of several wards.
It was part of the war memorial to the 4,000 members of the Dorset Regiment who had fallen in the Great War. Funds had been provided by public subscription.
When the new Dorset County Hospital was opened on its current site by HM The Queen in 1998, this plaque was installed in its present position, near the hospital’s bereavement room.
In the last 25 years the plaque’s condition had deteriorated and in late 2022 this was brought to the attention of the Regiment.
Captain Mick Jarrett took up the case, and with the help of DCH Arts in Hospital Manager Suzy Rushbrook, arranged for careful refurbishment to be carried out.
Local craftsman Chris Groves completed the work to restore the plaque.
At the meeting Nick Speakman gave a short presentation on the history of the plaque and its importance to the Regiment and its long heritage.
Mr Speakman thanked Chris for the high quality of his work and the hospital for continuing to give the plaque the space and respect it deserves.
Suzy Rushbrook said: “It was a privilege to meet past and present members of this historic local regiment and to understand more about the significance of the commemorative plaque.
"We would be honoured to be part of a small ceremony in November as an act of remembrance and thanks for those who served in the first and second world wars.”
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