BACK in August I wrote to Bournemouth council mentioning that, whilst in Boscombe, I had decided to visit King’s Park Cemetery and pay my respects to the graves of the servicemen who were buried there during the time of, and after, the First World War.

As you no doubt know, both the old Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe, and what are now Bournemouth council offices, previously the ‘Mont Dore Hotel’, were the two local principal hospitals during this period.

Casualties came by hospital train from the battlefields of France. Casualties who regrettably did not survive were buried in local cemeteries, this one in particular. The council at this time made provision and set aside a hallowed area.

I was therefore somewhat surprised even to say disappointed that the memorial within the cemetery, which has been specifically written to commemorate the lives of these servicemen, was not displaying a token wreath, of any kind, on behalf of the town and borough. Like that of the cenotaph in the central gardens to the fallen of the borough.

Perhaps it is because they are out of the public eye and not prominent that, at times, they are regrettably forgotten.

Whilst they all may not have personally originated within the borough they did serve and give their lives for the country.

Surely, at this time if no other, they should not be forgotten?

As we say “at the going down of the sun and in the morning – we will remember them”.

So, as an appreciative citizen, and on behalf of the populous, I asked if they could do just that.

To date I have not received either a reply or an acknowledgement of same.

Again, whilst recently visiting the cemetery, no wreath or floral tribute of any kind has been laid.

LESLIE ALLARD, Clifton Gardens, Ferndown