Bournemouth at War

Bournemouth was originally a deserted heathland on England¿s south coast until the area was developed as a health resort in the early nineteenth century. The town grew rapidly in size and by 1900 Bournemouth was firmly established as a popular tourist destination and a fashionable home by the sea with grand hotels, gardens, a concert hall and a host of other cultural and entertainment venues. During the Second World War Bournemouth was a direct target, with aerial bombing raids destroying many homes and familiar buildings with a significant loss of life. The seafront was fortified and the beach mined and covered with obstacles as it was a possible target of invasion, and many iron structures were dismantled for the war effort. Communities learned to deal with rationing, air raids and large numbers of evacuees. The war had a devastating effect on local communities through the loss of life, the destruction of familiar places, the movement of people and the hardships experienced at home,