Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, As Lady Hardinge Hospital, 1915 Postcard
A rare 1915 postcard of Lady Hardinge War Hospital in Bombay (Mumbai) during WWI. The building was originally intended as the Prince of Wales Museum in 1914. Just before its completion, it was converted into a war hospital. After the outbreak of World War I, there had been a shortage of hospital beds. Many of the Indian troops sent to Europe faced casualties; they were brought to Bombay for treatment.
There was a shortage of hospital beds in the city to house the injured soldiers. It was then that the Bombay Presidency decided to temporarily convert the museum into a war hospital; the building was said to be most suitable for its new purpose. It was capable of accommodating 250 beds, and makeshift cabins were erected on the outside yard for the purpose of offices, clinics, an operating theater, staff residences, etc. These are partly visible on the left and right sides of the postcard.
The temporary hospital was named Lady Hardinge War Hospital, in honour of the then Viceroy, Lord Charles Hardinge’s wife. The museum’s structure was designed by George Wittet, who gave it an Indian character. Wittet had gained fame for his design of Bombay’s most famous landmark, the Gateway of India.
After the end of the war, the building underwent restoration for its original use as the Prince of Wales Museum. And its doors opened in January 1920 after an official ceremony. Lady Lloyd, wife of the then-governor of Bombay, George Lloyd, presided over the impressive ceremony. Click image to enlarge.
See post Prince of Wales Museum Bombay – Old Postcard 1915.
Did you know- that the Foundation Stone was laid by the Prince of Wales in 1905, after whom it was named.
