Reflecting on a historic year of change

Annual Review 2016–17 Annual Review 2016–17 1

The National Army Museum is a The leading authority on the Chairman’s and its impact on society, past and Statement present. We examine the Army’s General Sir Richard Shirreff KCB CBE role as protector, fighting force and Chairman of the Council General Sir Richard Shirreff 2017 marks a truly historic year A valuable resource KCB CBE was until 2014 in the Museum’s development – At the same time, the Museum peacekeeper from the British Civil NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied the most momentous, perhaps, Commander Europe and since continues to play an important part then has forged a career since its foundation and move as a crucial resource for academic Wars to the modern day. Through as an author and in business. to Chelsea in 1971 under the researchers and military historians, auspices of Field Marshal via the Templer Study Centre and In a varied Army career, General other research facilities. our collections we preserve and Sir Richard has commanded on Sir Gerald Templer. operations at every level from The reopening of the Museum Throughout this period of transition, platoon to division, including in March this year marked the we have had access to the constant combat in the as a support and encouragement of the share stories of ordinary people tank squadron leader and culmination of six years’ planning, National Army Museum Council, counter-insurgency operations involving five years of fundraising in , as well and of course, three years creating and of our donors and supporters with extraordinary responsibilities. as active service in Bosnia, the new building itself. who have played a major part in Kosovo and . He then went the re-creation of the Museum on to command the Allied Rapid As a result, the National Army as it is today. Reaction Corps before his final Museum, more than ever before, tour of duty as Deputy Supreme acts as a communication channel A royal presence Allied Commander Europe. between the Army, in its past and present form, and the wider public. We were privileged by the presence General Sir Richard is now Its new immersive, interactive of Her Majesty The Queen at the a partner in Strategia Worldwide, approach brings to life, uniquely Royal Preview in March; a proud a consultancy advising on the day for all who had experienced management of strategic risk. and compellingly, the experiences – as well as the weapons and equipment at close hand the transformation The National Army Museum – of the serving soldier through the of the Museum. This was a fitting is most fortunate to have ages up to the present day. celebration of the achievements General Sir Richard’s personal of the past six years – a celebration involvement and support as Our close connection with the which is continued daily, by the it moves into the next exciting British Army has given us unique presence of so many of the general phase of its development. access, not only to objects associated public who are now able to connect with its history, but to the personal with the history and experiences reminiscences of those who served – of the British Army and its and continue to serve – in its ranks. personnel as never before. 2 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 3

Director General’s Statement On a A year to remember – personal The National Army Museum note… My tenure as Director General is now coming to an end after seven Janice Murray extraordinary years in Director General the life of the Museum.

During that time we have seen it develop into a resource A re-envisioned Museum in an academic resource, but to use them to that will reach out as never before to a wider public, and a new building with a new provide a unique experience to the wider public. Importantly too, their display tell the untold stories behind purpose, designed for the the histories: the experiences needs of the 21st century. would strengthen our bond with the British Army and its serving personnel, of the men and women who as they saw their own experiences made up – and continue to A new vision mirrored in those of earlier times. make up – the British Army. By 2011 we knew that the old building, Our work in Chelsea was only part My thoughts, thanks and best while appropriate for the 1970s, had of the story. We took the opportunity, wishes are with the Museum, outlived its usefulness both in terms during closure, to ‘turn ourselves and everyone who contributed of capacity and public resource. inside-out’ – to access a wider audience to making it what it is today, In particular, we saw that with the 100th than we had previously enjoyed by but particularly the staff anniversary of the outbreak of the First extending our Outreach Programme who have worked so hard World War in 2014, our visitor numbers across the UK. This enabled us to to make it happen. would overwhelm the building as it was. develop new ways of connecting I also want to thank those The vision went beyond a simple with the public and reach new many friends of the Museum matter of capacity, we also saw it as an audiences throughout the UK. in so many walks of life who opportunity to engage new audiences have offered their support, as well as enhancing the experience The building as an asset friendship and advice and of our existing friends, whether The new building defines the wider who I know will continue Army, military historians or academic role of the National Army Museum. to help make the Museum researchers. We felt that there was a A vastly improved exterior is matched an even better resource to story to tell beyond the history of the by an interior carefully designed as explain and connect the Army as an institution, by bringing an open, airy space where people can Army with the wider world to the public mind the experiences meet, mingle and choose which of the of serving and non-serving soldiers: “ in the years to come. exhibition areas to browse. It symbolises It is for our visitors what they went through, how they lived our philosophy that it is for our visitors and sometimes died, and the record of to define their to define their experiences, rather extraordinary service to their country. than our role to define it for them. experiences, rather It was also an opportunity to build Additionally, the elegant spaces have on what was already an unrivalled been designed for use as private and than our role to collection of artefacts, written resources corporate functions, not only to raise define it for them” Janice Murray and personal accounts. This would enable awareness among opinion-formers, Director General us not just to reinforce our role as but to help grow our revenue. 4 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 5

A history of With so much happening Countdown virtually every day in such achievement, a hectic and demanding year, it would be impossible to cover the achievement to launch all those activities in this Review. The following photographs capture of history Highlights some of the key events, season by season, that led up to the The story of the National Army Museum, reopening of the Museum. from its beginnings to the present day, has been a history of evolution, modernisation and development. Since its move to Chelsea in 1971, it has grown continually, both physically and in its collections, over the past 45 years. It has long been an essential resource for military historians, academics and all those fascinated by the story of the British Army from its earliest times.

However, time doesn’t stand still. Changes in society, and public expectations of what a museum should offer, required a holistic look at what the National Army Museum should represent in the 21st century.

The need to close and reconstruct the building gave the Council and staff a unique opportunity to re-think the purpose of the Museum – literally – from the ground up.

They saw the need and the opportunity to widen the message of the Museum to the general public. Always a popular venue for the public and researchers alike, the Museum could now tell the story of the Army in ways that would create further appeal to a wider audience, while remaining an essential resource for professional historians and academics.

With Army involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and with the advent of social media, the general public became aware as never before of the day-to-day lives of the men and women who had to deal with difficult combat situations. In this environment of a new public understanding of British soldiers’ lives, a vision emerged of creating a museum which could engage new, wider audiences with the story – not just of the Army but of individual serving soldiers on a profoundly human level.

The period covered by this Annual Review is itself a record of achievement. In April 2016 the new building was still in the process of completion. Just one year later, the fully-functioning, revitalised National Army Museum was visited by Her Majesty The Queen before we opened ABOVE to the public. What follows is a season-by-season summary The new building taking of what was a complex, demanding but exciting process. shape during 2014–15 6 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 7

As the building work progressed, With the structure of the new our outward-facing activities continued building nearing completion, unabated. We entered the final stages Spring of our fundraising programme with the project moved into a different a reception at St James’s Palace, and at the same time continued our phase as large exhibits, including Outreach Programme, completing our 2016 Heritage Lottery Fund activities, and military vehicles, were installed. bringing to fruition projects such as ‘The Old and the Bold’ and ‘Kaur Values’.

1 Meanwhile, the conservation of our precious artefacts continued, a task made more challenging by the fact that a third of all our objects had either been recently acquired or had never before been on display. All of them had to be examined and where necessary cleaned and preserved for future generations.

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1 Installing the Humber Pig – an armoured personnel carrier used by the British Army 2 Council Members 4 Mr William Wells and Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner at our Downing Street fundraising event “Parents, kids, experts – 3 At the Royal Hospital Chelsea with they all see the collections The Old and the Bold community project through different eyes” 4 Conservation in progress – restoring old paintings 8 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 9 Summer 1 2016 “We balance our messages During the summer months, around our 3 audiences: academics, the Army the setting-up of the interior BELOW The Atrium and main entrance and the general public” of the Museum continued. hall beginning to take shape

1 Conversing with 2 3 the public on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme 2 Engaging with youngsters at the Hay Festival 3 One of 180 photographs collected and taken by Lt Gen Sir Reginald Savory during his career in the Indian Army which have now been digitised by the Museum 4 An exhibition case under construction

Offsite fabrication of the exhibitions 4 took place in locations across the UK, whilst the cases were designed and built in the Netherlands. Preparation work on the collections continued at Stevenage and conservation work was completed.

Meanwhile, the interior of the building began to take shape, with the design of the public spaces being completed, and the spaces themselves being constructed.

Digitisation of our collection of Indian Army photographs and disbanded Irish regiment enlistment books was completed and launched. Our national and international outreach continued with the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and attendance at events such as the Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye. 10 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 11

Our archives could now be brought back to Chelsea, and the Templer Study Centre fitted out. During this time, we were able to begin the installation of both exhibition graphics and the objects themselves in their eventual home.

Our focus was now firmly set on creating a museum-wide visitor 1 The Stevenage experience. This informed our Uniform Store approach to every aspect of the 2 The new building’s interior. Nowhere was archives in action this more important than in the 3 Interactive design of the displays and exhibitions exhibits being as they began to take shape. installed

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“The collections remain at the heart of the Museum, telling stories accessible to the wider public Autumn as well as researchers” 2016 With the return of our collections into the new building, the work ABOVE could now begin of bringing Arranging the uniform displays in the Museum back to life. the Army gallery 12 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 13

A gratifying number of new gifts and acquisitions 1 6 reached us, including the robes of Captain TE Lawrence (‘Lawrence of Arabia’) and these, among many other objects, were also now installed.

We could also give our attention to the exterior of the building, including the exterior signage. On the visitor side, we began the process of designing literature, as well as setting up staff training programmes and planning our marketing campaign.

We also hosted a popular event at the House of Commons as well as a fundraising event at the Cavalry and Guards Club.

2 “We can now display many more objects than before, and rotate them to keep the displays fresh and relevant” 3

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1 New visitor literature is ready for launch 2 External signage installation outside the main entrance 5 3 Youngsters debating at the Houses of Parliament 4 Frank Gardner, Kate Adie and Field Marshal Sir John Lyon Chapple at the Cavalry and Guards Club 5 Director General Janice Murray and Alderman Peter Hewitt at the Cavalry and Guards Club 6 Installation of Capt TE Lawrence’s (‘Lawrence of Arabia’) desert robes 14 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 15

1 2 3 As the New Year dawned, the pace quickened even more as the projected opening day grew closer.

The interactive displays were 1 Our team of put in place, and the ‘War Paint’ volunteers provide exhibition finalised. Our new brand welcome support was made public for the first time, 2 HRH The Duke together with our new website and of Kent visited during the last accompanying pre-launch publicity. stages of the build 4 In January we were honoured by 3 Our Play Base a visit by our Patron, HRH The Duke facility almost of Kent, who toured the site and complete and ready for launch was able to see for himself our work as it neared completion. 4 HM The Queen is presented with a Play Base, our early learning book commemorating her association with facility, was installed and the café, the National Army retail and public areas fitted out. Museum by General Everything was finally cleaned Sir Richard Shirreff and polished before Her Majesty 5 Our new brand is The Queen graced us with her reflected in our digital presence at a Royal Preview of the communications new National Army Museum on 16 March – a crowning achievement! One thing only remained: our opening to the public, which occurred on 30 March. We were now ‘open for business’.

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Winter “Anyone, from any 2017 background, can now find something to relate to” Annual Review 2016–17 17 Winter 2017

The grand opening

In March the National Army Museum saw one of the most significant days Our first day open to the public. Old and young, in its history: the day we opened the from the public to serving soldiers – our Museum doors of the new Museum to the public. has universal appeal 18 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 19

And most importantly… External reactions The public

‘The proof of the pudding’, Congratulations Fantastic to @NAM_London for a so they say, ‘is in the eating.’ “collection, which is aimed “ Despite careful planning, and the at the general public rather truly stunning than ex-military people, refurb. Great exhibits, development of the new Museum which is as it should be.” excellent interpretation and wonderful staff. as a resource for the public, New benchmark!” Facebook Army and researchers alike, we had Twitter to wait until we opened to learn how the wider community would react.

National A £23 million The NAM The reworked Staff are really Visited today with the family – three kids Army Museum’s redevelopment is a fantastic Museum is a joy “knowledgeable “ “ “ “ “ and grandad. Loved it. reinvention is a has transformed achievement… to wander round, and eager to share Utterly fascinating.” thought-provoking the once stuffy it is exciting and with airy, open their knowledge.” triumph.” National Army enticing, engaging spaces and a

The Daily Telegraph Museum into and fascinating thought-provoking Facebook TripAdvisor The press March 2017 a bright, modern and I can’t wait object around space that to go back.” every corner. ” reconnects us with Tincture of Museum The Londonist soldiers’ lives.” April 2017 March 2017 Excellently The Times Fantastic March 2017 “curated and “what they’ve done incredibly with this place; a real pleasure to walk around.” interesting.” Facebook TripAdvisor I got to think about The layout of the What we really like “how families might “current Museum is “is how the National Army experience the spaces. absolutely terrific. Museum have really There are lots of Moving to themes enables thought about their Well structured, interactions, lots you to do so much more. different audiences.” Impressed “with the exuberance of “informative of opportunities A fantastic access to any Stuart Hobley to tell stories.” number of exhibits that displays, thoughtfulness and interactive. Heritage Lottery Fund of labels and friendliness could never have been Much improved on its Catherine McKeag of staff @NAM_London. previous arrangement.” Kids In Museums achieved before.” Highly successful redesign.”

Our associates Lt Col Tim How Twitter Royal Tank Regiment Facebook 20 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 21

“We wanted to create a seamless experience; not just in the galleries but in all areas of the building” 22 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 23

From vision to launch

“My thoughts, thanks and best wishes are with the Museum, and everyone who Every aspect of the Museum Every member of staff was involved in the contributed to making it was up for reconsideration and process of transformation, operating across conventional disciplines and contributing to what it is today, but particularly ‘reframing’, from the function of the development of the Museum as a whole. the staff who have worked the building itself, to its approach Our thanks are due to every member of staff, so hard to make it happen” to the display of the collections and our many volunteers, whose hard work and its interface with the public. and expertise made it all possible. Janice Murray 24 National Army Museum Donors We cannot close this Review without giving our heartfelt thanks to the following donors, together with those who have chosen to remain anonymous, and those who have given smaller gifts for which we are equally grateful. Without their support and encouragement, The National Army Museum’s major we could not have achieved this pivotal point in the history of the Museum. redevelopment was made possible in We send a sincere and extended thanks to all those who have part thanks to a grant of £11.5 million been part of this project over the past three years. from The National Lottery.

Donors 2016–17 Major Supporters Ministry of Defence National Army Heritage Lottery Fund Museum Council Cadogan Charity City Bridge Trust General Sir Richard Shirreff KCB CBE Hamish Parker, in memory of Major Horace Parker (1929–2010), (Chairman) The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Performance Mr Patrick Aylmer 8th Marquess of Anglesey, in memory of the 7th Marquess Mr Keith Baldwin indicators 2016 –17 WREN from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund Mr Patrick Bradley Grant Funders Individual Supporters Corporate Supporters Brigadier Douglas Erskine Crum 744,701 Website visits ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Serena Barrow and Members The Rt Hon The Lord Hamilton of Epsom Everard Foundation Col Sir Brian Barttelot Aviva Professor William Philpott Hintze Family Charitable Foundation Alice Berkeley BAE Systems Ms Jessica Spungin 1,936,323 David and Julia Hunter Mr Patrick Bradley Barnard & Westwood Charitable Trust Mr William Wells Website page views Mr & Mrs Timothy Clode Benson & Clegg John Ellerman Foundation Lieutenant General Sir Barney Mr Stephen Curran C&C Catering Equipment John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust White-Spunner KCB CBE Mr Chris Ellis Cavalry & Guards Club , Lord and Lady Somerleyton’s Brigadier Douglas Erskine Crum Ms Caroline Wyatt 3 279 Charitable Trust Grundon Waste Management Enquiries Lt Cdr Paul Fletcher Ms Deborah Younger Loveday Charitable Trust Hewlett-Packard The Rt Hon The Lord Hamilton of Epsom Moynitrust L3 Technologies Financial Information can Mr & Mrs Harper Orrin Charitable Trust Lockheed Martin be found in our Annual Report Sarah Ingham Peter Stormonth Darling Charitable Trust Optima Group and Accounts at www.nam.ac.uk Colonel Neil Johnson Vitabiotics Foundation Rockwell Collins Nicholas Lambert Mr Martin Lees Richard Oulahan Regiments and Major William Peto Associations Martin and Joanna Reeves Aden Veterans Association Brian Ritchie, in memory of Artists Rifles Association Gunner William Andrew Ritchie, Coldstream Guards 315th Brigade R.F.A. National Malaya & Mr Dominic Rossi Borneo Veterans Association Mr Henry Simpson The Rifles Mr Steve Strachan USDAW Mr John Sunnucks Mr Patrick Trueman Mr William Wells Ms Karen Wilkins National Army Museum Royal Hospital Road Chelsea, London SW3 4HT nam.ac.uk Reg. Charity No. 237902