Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual ReviewAnnual 2020 Review 2019-20

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AMOT Annual Review 2019-20

Chairman’s report 4 Director’s report 5

AMOT news Patrons FM Sir John Chapple GCB CBE DL AMOT update 6 Sir Robert Crawford CBE AMOT World War I digitisation project update 8 Chairman Lt Gen Sir Philip Trousdell KBE CB Heritage sector updates Deputy Chairman Archive assistance 10 Major General David McDowall CBE War and Conflict Subject Specialist Network 16 Trustees Mr Jeremy Archer Digital skills for heritage 18 Ms Christine Bernath Mr James Codrington Colonel Steve Davies MBE Netwrok projects Brigadier Charles Grant OBE Major General Craig Lawrence CBE The Royal United Services Institute 19 Brigadier Allan Mallinson The Royal Signals Museum 22 Mr Timothy Parkes TD Ms Tansy Robson REME Museum 26 The Hon Mrs Katherine Swinfen Eady Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life 28 Director The Army Flying Museum 32 Andrew Lloyd MBE The Scottish Horse 35 Deputy Director The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh 39 Jennifer Allison

Front Cover: © REME Museum Research

Registered Charity No. 250907 Decoding distinguishing marks 40 58 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2EX Fusiliers in captivity 42 Telephone: 01722 332 188 Email: [email protected] www.armymuseums.org.uk Learn more...

Produced by Kate Knowles Alabaré 44 Military Publications and Communications [email protected] Waterloo: Living History 46

www.armymuseums.org.uk 3 AMOT news Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Deputy chairman’s report by Major General David McDowall CBE

I was delighted to accept the invitation to become Vice Chairman of AMOT earlier this year, and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to my predecessor, Brigadier Charles Grant. I know that the chairman and my fellow Trustees are delighted to know that Charles will continue to serve on the Board.

These have been difficult times for all the museums to visit again. within the AMOT network, and AMOT staff have I wish to pay tribute to the AMOT staff who have aimed to support collections in a number of ways, been available by phone and email throughout this depending on the individual need. crisis, to discuss any issues which museums have. AMOT, like all organisations, has had to adapt quickly Resilience and no doubt this will impact on our ongoing future Army museums have demonstrated their tenacity way of working. and resilience by adapting to the demands of the Thank you current environment. We are not out of the woods yet, but I believe that I pay the same tribute to the Trustees, curators and the last few months have not only demonstrated the all members of staff in army museums throughout the ability of the network museums to rise to a challenge, it United Kingdom and thank you for your continued has also shown the support which they have from their dedication and efforts. local and national communities in their desire to be able We will meet again.

4 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 AMOT news Director’s report by Andrew Lloyd MBE

If there is one theme that has been a constant backdrop to the work of AMOT since we were founded by Robert Ogilby in 1954 it is public access. This has moved collections from the private preserves of the regimental messes to endowed museums. We have adapted to museum development over the years with educational outreach and travelling exhibitions and hands on visitor experiences. Our curatorial staff are probably better trained and museum experienced than at any time in our collective history and present a closer reflection of the nation.

This memorable year in all our lives has presented much more. new challenges none of us expected and we have met We as a team have enjoyed working with you over the challenge but not without some bruising. AMOT this year and thank you for your vital role in preserving will try to help where it can over the next months and and creating an accessible national treasure house of you will hear more quite soon. military heritage. 2021 is almost upon us and launching TOM will feature high on the events calendar for Deeply grateful AMOT and the over 100 participating collections. The Ogilby Muster (TOM) has dominated our work over much of 2020 and we are deeply grateful for Fabric of our nation the interest, enthusiasm and occasional constructive We will not forget the more routine business of criticism you have contributed. This digital future telling the stories and keeping the British Army in the is going to grow in importance and will extend well family fabric of our nation which is our core mission. beyond archives to artefacts, marketing, research and Stay safe and keep in touch

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Covid 19 network. We will continue to monitor the guidance As the impact of Covid-19 began to be felt and and will stay in touch with our members to keep them lockdown was implemented in early 2020, AMOT staff updated on any changes which come about as a result faced similar issues to other organisations across the of Covid-19. UK and needed to adapt to a new way of operating. Trustee Changes The AMOT team moved to home working, and despite some internet ‘hiccups’ and a few other issues, The Army Museums Ogilby Trust has welcomed we were up and running within a couple of weeks three new Trustees to its Board in 2020. and able to respond to the network, offering support Major General Craig Lawrence CBE was the Director for funding applications, signposting to appropriate of Joint Warfare and is now a lecturer at the Royal resources and helping with other requests for College of Defence Studies. Craig is also a published information and advice. Home working created some author, with his first book being a commemorative challenges, but it also had its benefits, including some history of the Gurkha Regiment: The Gurkhas: 200 four-footed work colleagues who were keen to offer Years of Service to the Crown (Uniform, 2015). their support! Ms Tansy Robson is a policy adviser in the Strategy Our focus moved from physical meetings to online and Design Team at the Department for International digital engagement and we have continued working Trade having previously worked at the Cabinet Office in this way for the majority of 2020. Those meetings and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Tansy which were scheduled and could be moved online went has an MSc in International Relations and War Studies, ahead, and those that required in person attendance is an RAF Reservist and has a keen interest in military were delayed until guidance allowed for them to take history. place. Mrs Katherine Swinfen Eady is a professional Digital meetings have been especially successful for artist having trained at the Edinburgh School of Art. us. We now host our own Trustee meetings online and Katherine has an MA in War Studies and has published have found that we are able to arrange digital meetings a memoir of an officer-ancestor: Cornerstones: The with partners, old and new, which would have been Life of HM Farmar, from Omdurman to the Western problematic pre-Covid. Front (Helion, 2018). Access to our offices in Salisbury became possible We bid farewell to Justin Maciejewski DSO MBE, from July 2020. However, the period of lockdown and Director of the National Army Museum who decided the time since has given AMOT the opportunity to to leave the Board in February in order to focus on his consider its future working style. Working from home work as a trustee for a non-heritage charitable trust. We and restricting travel to other locations has not only thank him for his contributions during his term with reduced Trust expenditure, which can be redirected into AMOT and wish him well. the network, but has also reduced the carbon footprint of the Trust, an incredibly important consideration for Slack Support Groups any organisation. Soon after lockdown was implemented, AMOT AMOT has been able to show that staff can continue established four online support groups for use by with the core responsibilities of the Trust despite the its members using the platform Slack. These groups restrictions which were put in place. As such, we will covered four key areas of museum operations: now introduce a mix of home and office working. Collections, Education, Front of House and ‘Director’ This will have little to no impact on museums and which represented those responsible for areas such as collections and we will remain flexible in our approach policies, governance and senior management decisions. so that we can continue to respond to the needs of the During the lockdown period and since, these groups

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Rather than division by job or responsibilities, all of those signed up will have access to all discussions taking place, increasing the opportunity to share best practice, to ask for advice and to offer support. If you would like to find out more, or if you are a member in the network and would like to It’s hard work working for AMOT sign up for the group, please get in touch.

AMOT Project Grants

The 2020 Project Grants programme took place as scheduled at the beginning of 2020. Unfortunately, soon after informing successful applicants, the impact Sybil finds the Northumberland Fusiliers’ article fascinating of Covid-19 became known. Projects were put on have increased in user numbers and have been a useful hold, some had to be cancelled and others had to be tool for sharing information such as reports from adapted in order to proceed. Work continues with these the wider heritage sector, and resources such as risk applicants to see how best AMOT can support them assessments. and their organisation with the work which they wish It quickly became apparent that the majority of to undertake. staff working in museums in the AMOT network The AMOT Project Grants programme has always wear multiple hats in order to carry out their roles. remained flexible in regard to the projects which the A curator might be responsible for education and Trust would fund and support. Our guidance attempted policy development, a director might be responsible to be non-specific in regard to what we would or for front of house management and enquiries, and an wouldn’t fund to avoid restricting what a museum education officer might be heavily involved in object would apply for and to encourage the development cataloguing and exhibitions. We have also recognised of projects which might be difficult to fund from other that information which one group is aware of and sources. discussing could be of use to other groups — cue a lot Due to the impact which Covid-19 has had on of cross-posting between pages. For those who had almost all of the museums in the network, the AMOT signed up to all four, having to log in and track four 2021 Project Grants programme will be adapted. We different accounts is not the best use of a person’s time. will offer further guidance and structure and will It was intended that these groups would be in place require more information from applicants. throughout the lockdown period, but we feel that they Information regarding the AMOT Grants could continue to be a useful resource for our members programme will be circulated via the AMOT newsletter in the coming months. As such, we plan to continue to and will be available on our website. Once information offer them for the foreseeable future. However, having has been made available, if you wish to discuss your recognised the varied nature of job roles across our project or ideas, or if you have any concerns regarding network, in November 2020 the four groups will merge the application process, please feel free to contact into one — the AMOT Army Museums Support Group. [email protected].

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AMOT World War I digitisation project update by Simon Chandler-Barratt, Project Manager - AMOT World War I Digitisation Project

AMOT secured funding (funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR Funds) for the purpose of the digitisation of document archive material; prioritising on World War I within a date range of 1900-1929; and for the preservation and access of material, giving research and public access. The project commenced in April 2017.

Current State of Play – Covid-19 Statement Digitisation Programme With the potential for delay from the current global Max Communications Ltd are continuing to digitise pandemic, AMOT are pleased to report that the LIBOR- material held at their Woolwich site and we are in funded project has continued to progress through detailed discussions on the planning and logistics implementation due to the sterling efforts of the AMOT of returning material, held at Woolwich, to available project team, the available participating collection participating collection holders, operating in line with holders and our contracted suppliers. Covid-19 guidelines. A programme has been agreed The project team understood that this was going to and is in progress. be an incredibly challenging time and as we all moved As an enhancement to the original brief we added forward into the developing “new normal” world an extra layer of metadata to the collections, enabling landscape, were mindful of the workload involved in transcription of key words within handwritten that endeavour and are working hard to support the documents giving increased searchability. participating collection holders. The project has been fortunate in being able to continue throughout the The Ogilby Muster Platform lockdown period and the project team have been in Following a rigorous OJEU (The Official Journal of daily contact with our main suppliers to ensure project the European Union) Procurement Process, the project progression. appointed Imagen Ltd as the platform provider on 25 We are grateful to the collection holders for all their November 2019. hard work and effort, especially during these difficult Imagen Ltd are progressing the ingest of collections’ times. material to The Ogilby Muster platform and have been

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AMOT World War I digitisation project update

able to continue to work remotely throughout the Covid-19 lockdown period. The platform gives access and a search function for the digitised material, some of which has highlighted the range, depth and interest of this very important time of British history. The collection includes some poignant, personal accounts of individual and family stories, shared for the first time through this project. organisations outside of the network, nationally The Ogilby Muster Platform currently holds over and internationally, who have expressed interest in 1.4 million media objects, documents, audio and video collaboration, which we are continuing to develop and recordings. These figures are increasing daily. link to our ongoing strategy for the sustainability of the We adapted the planned induction training for project. collection users from face to face to online training The Ogilby Muster Platform Key sessions in line with the Covid-19 guidelines. These Stakeholders Event – pre-launch have been well supported, well received and are ongoing. Following this induction, we will be working AMOT is intending to host a key stakeholder’s event with external agencies and network members to in the spring of 2021. Invitations will be extended to develop and offer a wider suite of courses in the future participating agencies who have been supportive of the as the platform develops. project and participating collection holders. Watch this space as we continue to move forward Representation with the launch and development of the Ogilby Muster The network collections are well represented Platform. AMOT and the project team will continue to throughout the United Kingdom and in some cases work closely with the participating collection holders cover the totality of the region. and our chosen suppliers on this exciting journey to The project has received enquiries from ensure continuing success and project sustainability.

www.armymuseums.org.uk 9 Heritage sector updates Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Archive assistance by Caroline Sampson Development Manager, National and Networks, The National Archives

I’m sure we’ll all have thought, read and heard many variations on this same sentence recently but doesn’t it seem incredible that just a few short months ago, we were only beginning to hear and think about something called coronavirus? We couldn’t have imagined the impact it would have on our lives, both personal and professional. 2020 really has been the most exceptional year and the repercussions could be with us for a good while yet.

The National Archives has, like other organisations the situation has evolved has, for me, been one of the in the cultural and heritage sector, been working its most striking aspects of the crisis. I was on leave when way through the COVID-19 challenges. For us, it’s lockdown was announced and didn’t even have a been a blend of making arrangements to close down chance to collect my laptop from my desk drawer! and then gradually re-open our own site at Kew, our sector leadership role and our responsibilities as a Support government department in our own right. The latter Alongside our own internal adjustments, such as has included advising DCMS on the impact of the swiftly enabling staff to work from home, we had pandemic on the sector and advocating for resources to move incredibly quickly to provide support for to support archive services through these tough times. archives who were making their own service closure arrangements. And therein lies one of our biggest Rapidity challenges — the sheer diversity of the archive sector, I am part of the Archive Sector Development comprising national museums, county archive services, Department at The National Archives and have been small specialist services, and museums like yourselves at the heart of communicating with the archive sector with archive holdings. Those working with archives throughout the emergency. The rapidity with which understandably turn to us as the lead body for the archives sector for guidance and reassurance that their decision-making is sound. In reality, every archive service or organisation which owns and manages archive collections is different. Staffing levels, premises and collections all differ widely across the sector and so solutions are not, and cannot be, ‘one size fits all’.

Flexible Our response regarding closure arrangements was a blend of ‘the big picture’ — updating official statements for key programmes such as Places of Deposit and Archive Service Accreditation - and responding to individual questions and enquiries. We also made our grant schemes more flexible. We extended application deadlines and explored with current grant recipients the opportunities to adapt projects that were already underway to reflect the changed circumstances. Overall, our key message remained that, while our

10 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 AMOT projectAMOT grants news

www.armymuseums.org.uk 11 Heritage sector updates Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020

Kew site itself was closed at the time, Archive Sector that The National Archives itself was taking at Kew, Development was very much open for business. In all recognising the interest from across the sector in how cases, we suggested a risk assessment approach tailored we ourselves were approaching the challenges. to the specifics of individual services’ circumstances. The speed and enthusiasm with which the heritage Keeping staff, users and collections safe was and and cultural sector has embraced video and other remains at the heart of all planning. virtual platforms has for me been one of the real success stories of the pandemic. We have joined others in Inform swiftly adapting our existing training and engagement Early on, we took steps to capture the impact of offer to be delivered virtually instead of face to face. COVID-19 disruption on the wider archive sector by circulating a brief survey. The main purpose of this was Skills and confidence to inform our plans for sector support now and in the One of our big lockdown successes has been future, and to understand the reality of this sudden the Novice to Know-How online training resource, change to our normal ways of working. We are very providing learners with the skills and confidence grateful to colleagues across the sector for providing required to implement a simple and proactive digital useful intelligence about their experiences and will be preservation workflow within their organisation. following up with a more detailed survey in the coming Demand has been incredibly high and we’ve received months. really positive feedback as colleagues working from We also ran webinars on business continuity, which home have seized the unexpected opportunity to target acted both as an information-gathering exercise for a key piece of CPD or tackle a known issue within their ourselves to inform future event planning but, also to organisation. bring colleagues together to share stories of what went well and what didn’t in a badly needed ‘get things off Collaboration your chest’ session. Collaboration has been another key theme for me. TNA has been working with the Archives and Records Generous Association (ARA) to support the record keeping We have published headline findings from the sector in as many ways as possible. We have provided survey and webinars and graphs of these findings additional funding to help ARA set up a COVID-19 on our website. I’ve been struck repeatedly by how support hub - ARA Together - and also helped fund generous colleagues across the sector have been in the creation and launch of the History Begins at Home supporting each other at this time, and how kind and project. understanding everyone is as many of us take our Colleagues from across the sector have come first steps into virtual event delivery and new ways of together to provide mutual support, share experiences working. and contribute to events and activities. I became an We have more plans in the pipeline so do keep an archivist 30 years ago and colleagues’ generosity and eye out for more events that may be of interest. willingness to share remain one of the key reasons why I have found working in the heritage and cultural sector Making plans so rewarding. It seemed that no sooner had services closed than we Update were starting to get questions about making plans for re-opening. Once again, we realised that it would not We continue to monitor official guidance as it be sensible or appropriate for us to try to issue formal evolves and update our making plans for re-opening guidance or instructions on what to do or not to do. webpages as necessary, sharing links and updates with Instead we advocated a risk assessment approach once networks and services on an ongoing basis. If AMOT again, and shared on our website a series of overarching members with archive collections have any concerns or principles to guide local planning, supported by lists queries about the implications of the pandemic on their of useful resources and checklists of things to consider. service or collections, please don’t hesitate to get in We also published some information about the steps touch with us at [email protected]

12 www.armymuseums.org.uk Deliver a wide variety of information to your visitors’ mobile phones. Quickly and easily.

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14 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Advertorial Solutions to cope with Coronavirus

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www.armymuseums.org.uk 15 Heritage sector updates Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 War and Conflict Subject Specialist Network Reviewing our first year, July 2019 – July 2020 by Charlotte Pearce, War and Conflict Subject Specialist Network Manager

The War and Conflict Subject Specialist Network (SSN) is a partnership programme led by Imperial War Museums with the generous support of Arts Council England, to build capacity, connections and confidence in the cultural heritage sector. Our aim is to share knowledge and skills amongst the many organisations and groups across the UK and further afield, who look at stories of war and conflict from the First World War to the present day. We also have a strand that focuses on Wartime Aviation Heritage, kindly supported by Art Fund.

The SSN is free to join, and open to those who also communicate with our members via our regular work for or with not-for-profit organisations. We enewsletters and @IWM_Network Twitter. welcome members from the museums and galleries sector, community organisations, national and local Building knowledge and sharing skills government, heritage institutions, performing arts The core of the SSN is to share specialist knowledge groups, and from the education sector. We have more and develop good practice for telling stories relating than 450 members, throughout the UK and in several to war and conflict. To this end, we provide a secure overseas countries including Japan, USA and Australia. online file sharing service, where members can access In this article, we will reflect on our first year of and share content such as historical resources and activity from July 2019 – July 2020, and look ahead to guidance documents. Recent examples include digitised our future plans, particularly in light of COVID-19. collections material relating to the anniversaries of the Battle of Britain and of the end of the Second World Networking opportunities War, including film, photographs and timelines. In July 2019 we held our first SSN event, closely Additionally, we have a range of practical resources followed by a launch event for the Wartime Aviation relating to social media, podcasting and fundraising, all Heritage strand in August 2019. At these events we of which are particularly relevant as we adjust to new invited short presentations from our members, and ways of working. encouraged informal discussion and networking. Before COVID-19 we held study visits, where Following on from this, we held a further three small groups of SSN members spent two days visiting networking events in different locations so as to attract different cultural institutions and looked at alternative regional audiences, and we welcomed more than 100 practices and approaches to specific subjects. We people in total. continue to offer this digitally, by providing skills-based We also created an online Register of Expertise, workshops and conference-style events, all of which available on the SSN pages of the IWM website. This are free for our members to attend. In July 2020 we also is a searchable directory of SSN members, which launched a partnerships blog on the IWM website, and includes their basic information and their particular invite members to write guest posts so as to showcase subject specialisms/skills. This tool has been very their activity to a public audience. useful for members to make connections and encourage collaboration. Working with members on projects The COVID-19 pandemic prompted us to re- The SSN also undertakes projects which involve co- evaluate our event plans for 2020. With sector concern production with our members, which produce content about travelling and holding face-to-face events, that benefits the whole Network as well as our public we offer online programming including informal audiences. networking and presentations on historical themes. We The DCMS-funded First World War Centenary

16 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Heritage sector updates War and Conflict Subject Specialist Network Reviewing our first year, July 2019 – July 2020

Digital Portal, Mapping the Centenary, launched on the IWM website in June 2020. The portal contains information about projects undertaken by SSN members and other organisations that marked the First World War Centenary from 2014-2019. This was supported by a programme of in-person and online events to share best practice on digital archiving and preservation, including a webinar in partnership with the University of Glasgow and the Digital Preservation Coalition. We were also delighted to have been awarded funding from The Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, delivered by the Museums Association, for a new project entitled Connecting, sharing, learning: sustaining relationships between collections and older communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between July 2020 and June 2021, IWM will work with Cold War study visit August 2019 SSN members to pilot a programme which trials new methods of digital engagement with people aged 70 “It has been useful and a benefit to us.” and over — both those living at home and those in residential care — with long-term benefits for audiences “What they have done so far is great, more of the and organisations. same in the future.”

Reflections 2020 Conference Continuous evaluation and being responsive to the The ‘next normal’: engaging with schools with needs of our members is crucial for the success of the stories of war and conflict, in light of COVID-19, SSN. A survey of SSN members conducted in May 2020 Thursday 19 and 20 November 2020 has been invaluable in helping us to look back over our The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected first year, and to make future plans in the challenging the ways that children learn, and the heritage sector context of COVID-19. Below is some of the wonderful faces the challenge of adapting to this. This online feedback we received in the survey — we hope that conference will consider how we can continue to you too will join our network and we look forward to engage schools with stories of conflict from the First working with you going forward. World War to the present day, by looking at the digital Find out more about the SSN, and sign up free of offer across different organisations and preparing for charge, at ssn.iwm.org.uk physical visits to resume. We will have sessions looking specifically at STEM provision (Science, Technology, Thank you Engineering and Mathematics). “Thank you to the IWM team. They are highly In collaboration with Aviation Heritage UK, Military professional and the way that content is presented Aviation Heritage Networks and Army Museums shows their high production values.” Ogilby Trust.

www.armymuseums.org.uk 17 Heritage sector updates Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Digital skills for heritage by Harriet Hall Campaigns Project Manager, The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Launched in February 2020, Digital Skills for Heritage is an initiative from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, designed to raise digital skills and confidence across the whole UK heritage sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the need for organisations to understand and make use of digital more pressing than ever before.

Digital technology keeps staff, volunteers and progresses we will be sharing case studies and learning communities connected. It helps organisations increase across the sector. We will be looking to recruit a second resilience and bring heritage to more people. But cohort in 2021. making use of digital has required many organisations The Digital Skills for Heritage initiative has also to quickly up-skill. We have worked with our partners championed the development of digital skills for and grantees to make sure we are meeting the sector’s smaller heritage organisations through the Digital emerging needs. So far, Digital Skills for Heritage Confidence Fund. This fund provided grants and has directly supported nearly 6,000 people working mentoring for organisations to get started on specific in heritage through online training, workshops and digital initiatives. It was targeted at organisations active other activities. Many more have made use of online in one of our 13 Areas of Focus outlined in our Strategic resources that provide practical advice on a wide range Funding Framework. We will be providing case studies of topics, including working with children and young to the sector that look at how these organisations have people online, making online content accessible to all, developed their digital skills. online privacy and security and getting started with To better understand the needs of the sector, online learning. we commissioned Timmus Ltd to conduct a sector As part of the initiative, we have funded two benchmarking survey which ran from 14 April to 10 July projects to provide free digital skills training to heritage 2020. It enabled heritage organisations to gain insight organisations across the UK. into their use of digital technology and provided them The Digital Heritage Lab is a free programme for with practical support for developing this. The sign ups small and medium heritage organisations seeking also helped us to identify digital priorities for the sector. to develop their digital capabilities across a range of We will be sharing the findings in October 2020. areas. The programme offers workshops, events and These activities have helped organisations to digital bootcamps. It is managed by the Arts Marketing develop their effective use of digital technology — Association in partnership with Arts Fundraising and many for the first time — and navigate the challenges Philanthropy, One Further and the Collections Trust. of lockdown. The National Lottery Heritage Fund Heritage Digital is a digital skills programme led by recently received an additional £1m funding from The Heritage Alliance and supported by Media Trust, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Charity Digital and Naomi Korn Associates. They (DCMS) to support the next stage of our digital skills are offering training, masterclasses and resources work — helping organisations increase resilience, focusing on marketing, engaging audiences, intellectual attract new members and volunteers and provide property, data protection and online business tools new digital services. We will be producing further and processes. In addition to these programmes we information on how you can get involved in September have commissioned Culture24 to run a professional 2020. development course called Leading the Sector. They To find out more, sign up to our newsletter and are working with a cohort of 16 leaders from medium- select the ‘digital’ box and visit our Digital Skills for to-large organisations across the UK. As the course Heritage web page.

18 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Network projects Digital skills for heritage The Royal United Services by Harriet Hall Campaigns Project Manager, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Institute Its collections, developing military history as a discipline and its ‘lost’ museum by Jacqui Grainger, Librarian, RUSI/Techne AHRC CDA, University of Westminster

The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies was founded in 1831 and is the world’s oldest surviving think tank for security studies. Its founding played a key role in establishing both military science and military history as academic disciplines. Less well known, is its role in museum history.

The museum, and library, were integral Adm William Henry Smyth (1788 – 1865) was a parts of RUSI’s founding mission to address the Royal Navy officer, hydrographer, astronomer and perceived military failures of the Napoleonic numismatist. He is noted for his involvement in Wars by providing a forum for the exchange the early history of several learned societies, for his and development of ideas and information. The hydrographic charts, his astronomical work, and for museum performed the role of a ‘national’ military a wide range of publications and translations. Smyth museum for most of the 19th and early 20th century, had built up significant private collections through waning in significance as the Imperial War Museum, his professional experience and scientific studies. the National Maritime Museum and the National Henry Downes entered the Royal Navy in 1805 and Army Museum were founded in turn from 1917- retired in 1829 when he became the first Director of 1960. the United Service Institution. Downes had made his name with the capture of the Henriquetta, a notorious A more professional approach Brazilian slaver in 1829. He was also a serious amateur In 1829 an article in the United Service Journal natural historian and had amassed a collection of written by Capt WH Smyth advocated for a military exotic taxidermy and ‘curiosities’ (O’Connor, Between and naval society that applied ‘the tone of science’ Peace and War, RUSI, 2011). Gen Sir Howard Douglas, to a more professional approach to the training 3rd Baronet (1776 – 1861) was an English army and education of officers and men. The founding general, author, colonial administrator and member of what was to become RUSI, the Naval and of parliament for Liverpool. He saw action in the Military Library and Museum, was the response Peninsular War but had risen to fame supervising the to this carried out by Cdr Henry Downes and Royal Military College in High Wycombe, later the Staff Maj Gen Sir Howard Douglas. These approaches College and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. included officers developing a paternalistic mode Douglas published works of military science, was a of command and not deserting the battlefield when Fellow of the Royal Society and a founder member of battle approached; and that they would be more the Royal Geographical Society. effective if trained to think and act on their own initiative. These changes, too, were a consequence Founding collections of contemporary social change: a growing middle- The collecting habits of Smyth and Downes probably class who educated their sons in public schools and influenced the founding collections of the Naval bought them commissions. and Military Library and Museum. Douglas was an

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experienced networker who bought in support for the ‘Ethnological and Miscellaneous portion of the Museum new venture from ‘the highest echelons of the British of the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall Yard’ political establishment’ (O’Connor, 2011). This bought for the Pitt Rivers Museum. As a sale of an ethnological about the endorsement of the founding patrons: King collection it was unique as most sales of collections at William IV and Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. the time were of private libraries. The museum was In 1833, after briefly being in temporary a highly successful visitor attraction and appeared in accommodation, the Board of Works granted the use of popular guidebooks. The Siborne model of the Battle Vanbrugh House in Whitehall Yard. Vanbrugh House of Waterloo, now to be seen in the NAM, was its prize underwent building work to provide a library, a model exhibit, commissioned by the institute, it ensured room, and a natural history room. Further buildings popular interest. were acquired by the institute so that in 1849 there was The development of Whitehall Yard in 1895 also a lecture theatre. meant that RUSI had to move from Vanbrugh House. Queen Victoria provided a ‘grace and favour’ lease Eclecticism in Banqueting House as a new home for the museum This interior scene is from the Illustrated London and a new building adjoining Banqueting House, was News. The early eclecticism of the museum isn’t shown commissioned from Sir Aston Webb and his partner here; its strengths in natural history and ethnography Ingress Bell, architects of many significant buildings were notable. including Admiralty Arch. The new prestigious Indeed, it was ‘swamped with... stuffed animals and building was to have offices, reception rooms, library geological specimens’ (O’Connor, 2011) and in 1858 the and lecture theatre. A new space, the Map Room, was collections were refocused and some of the collections created on the top floor for the Institute’s substantial were sold. This reorganisation of the collections was map collection. focused on four areas: military, naval, ethnological and Some notable exhibits in the museum included: natural history with odd heterogenous specimens and The skeleton of Marengo, the famous war mount duplicates cleared out. The next phase of reselection of Napoleon I of France. Named after the Battle of took place in 1861, when at a sale at Sothebys, Col Fox, Marengo 1800, between French forces under Napoleon later Pitt Rivers, purchased lots from a sale listed as Bonaparte and Austrian forces near the city of Alessandria, in Piedmont, Italy. Marengo was imported to France from Egypt in 1799 as a six-year-old. Marengo was captured in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo by William Henry Francis Petre, 11th Baron Petre, brought to the United Kingdom and sold to Lt Col Angerstein of the Grenadier Guards. After his death his skeleton, minus two hooves, was preserved and later passed to RUSI and is now at the NAM. One of the remaining hooves was given to the officers of the Brigade of Guards as a snuff box. The other hoof was mounted as a silver Indian Armoury, Old and new London c.1880 inkwell and retained by the

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Angerstein family and is now on loan to the Household Cavalry Museum. The exhibits in this photograph have been identified with the assistance of the staff at the Scott Polar Research Institute, we know most of the objects in this photo relate to Scott and Antarctic exploration. Lady Kathleen Scott, a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors, made this bust of her husband, Robert Falcon Scott, Scott of the Antarctic, for the Scott Polar Institute and it was exhibited at RUSI prior to the institute’s opening and the sled, too, is now at the SPRI.

Dispersal

In 1959 the lease on Banqueting House was rescinded and the museum closed in 1962. The Charity Commission intervened with the dispersal of the collections. They opposed the sale of the museum’s collection in its entirety — which was the government’s financial alternative to future support for RUSI. The Glenbow Foundation of Calgary, backed by the Canadian Government, had expressed an interest in buying the Bust of Robert Falcon Scott, digital image provided by RUSI, original photo copyright RUSI Museum collection outright but of AMOT and held in the collections at RUSI the outline the Charity Commission of militaria as part of their founding collections. The proposed dispersed the collection across many archival records of the museum are now the subject of institutions and into private ownership. The Charity a research project in collaboration with the University Commission addressed a letter to all the stakeholders of Westminster for which I have been awarded Techne that divided the collection into three categories: that AHRC funding. on trust to the nation, that owned by RUSI and that on loan from individuals. The artefacts deemed on Continued to evolve trust were those donated to the museum because of its RUSI has continued to evolve, in the 1860s it significance nationally as a repository and these were addressed the issue of an aging membership no longer to remain accessible to the public; most of the collection on active service by launching the RUSI Journal, a falling into this category was transferred to the IWM, peer-reviewed journal of significance today, as a means the NMM and the NAM, some went to institutions with of attracting officers posted across the empire to the similar public remits. benefits of membership. The closure of the museum halved RUSI’s income Significant and began a process of transformation that widened its The parts of the collection RUSI owned outright it focus on international relations, geopolitics and security could keep or sell as it wished, and those artefacts on studies and now has a membership that includes civil loan were returned to their owners. In the final event, servants, politicians, journalists and academics as well the Glenbow Museum purchased a significant collection as the military.

www.armymuseums.org.uk 21 Network projects Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Roger So Far… by Nick Kendall-Carpenter, Museum Director, Royal Signals Museum

Roger So Far… celebrates the history of the Corps of Royal Signals as they mark their centenary year in 2020. Nick Kendall-Carpenter, Museum Director, reflects on the creation of the book: Picture yourself agreeing to do what you think will be a 10,000 piece jigsaw that must be completed within a rigid deadline. Once you have completed the jigsaw the manufacturer will make 10,000 copies of your version.

You don’t have a picture but you know that you are stressful staff teamwork, strong 11th hour engagement missing many of the pieces, some of the pieces you have from the serving corps and far too many late nights, are duplicates (although possibly cut up into smaller early mornings and week-end workings. pieces) and some belong in different puzzles. Many of Read on for an extract from Roger So Far… The First the pieces appear interchangeable but should you put a 100 Years of the Royal Corps of Signals: piece in the wrong place it will certainly be found when it is too late to correct it and you will be ridiculed as a The Operations Continue… result. You know that some of the missing pieces are in During the decade from 2009 to 2019 the corps your archive or library or the bowels of your computer deployed overseas on numerous operations. Each but you don’t know where or even what they look like. operation came with its own set of human and technical You do know, however, that very few pieces relating to challenges, which corps personnel met with innovation the last 25 years have been put in the archive. and adaptation. The following examples represent a You find that you and the manufacturer are using very small sample of the corps’ overseas activities. different software that doesn’t communicate easily, that the recently retired volunteer who you had been Operation Elgin counting on to do a lot of the work is recalled to work Following the easing of tensions in the Balkans, on a government emergency, that quantum physics the EU maintained a force in Bosnia, and Nato one is more complicated than you thought and that the in Kosovo. After 2012, the EU force in Bosnia was a person you deal with at the manufacturer has gone on 600-strong multinational battalion, and the Nato force maternity leave. in Kosovo was significantly stronger (3,500). Both forces You then discover that some of the pieces you have sought to maintain safe and secure environments. Small put into position have been copied verbatim from the numbers of UK forces, with corps support, continued to jigsaw equivalent of Wikipedia, others contain errors deploy in support of both forces. This was known as Op and need replacing with almost identical but accurate Elgin. pieces, others contain language that only people under 25 understand and some are too secret to be Operation Toral included. Some of the pieces given to you to fill gaps After Op Herrick the corps maintained a reduced directly contradict other pieces given earlier and if you presence in Afghanistan. Approximately 600 British change either then you will offend someone. forces deployed on Op Toral as part of Nato-led As you approach the deadline you are told that the training, advisory, assistance and the counter-terror size of the jigsaw has been increased to 15,000 pieces mission Op Resolute Support. 11th Signal Brigade and you are given an extra 6,000 pieces but suspect only units rotated a corps commitment to form the Kabul 3,000 of them belong to your jigsaw. Communications Unit, providing technical support The result: the task completed with seconds to spare to UK and Nato IS/communication and information as a result of contributions from more than 400 people, systems (CIS). They ensured interoperability massive support from the volunteers, good if, at times, of CIS with Nato partners while maintaining

22 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Network projects Roger So Far…

Task Task Task by Stuart Brown

tactical communications in theatre and strategic multiple satellite bearers. communications back to the UK. They worked with As one of the first British SNCOs in the Combined multinational partners providing and mentoring on the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Syria HQ, SSgt tactical CIS capabilities, including Bowman and Harris Marty Sloan deployed to Jordan in March 2015. He 117F and 152A radios, and operational CIS such as DII was an embedded member of a new US SF-led joint and Housekeeper. They also managed the in-theatre coalition HQ. His role was as the UK J6 (CIS) Manager Swe-Dish CCT-120 SatCom points of presence and the – a particularly challenging role as his deployment GIN-T, as well as working closely with Nato contractors covered the initial, critical period of establishing a new to provide mission secret information services. brigade-sized HQ and several satellite nodes.

Operation Shader Expert Assistance In 2014, Op Shader, the UK provision of training and In March 2016, Maj Andy Campbell, Capt James support to forces battling against ISIS (aka ISIL, Islamic Brown and Capt Bruce Dorrian-Clarke from The Land State, or Daesh) in Iraq and Syria, began. In 2019, the Information Assurance Group (LIAG) mobilised to UK’s training force numbered roughly 500 personnel support a cyber and information assurance review with soldiers from the corps deploying to support a for Op Toral in Kabul. The team was completed by coalition HQ staff team. They were responsible for members of PJHQ J6, Northwood Crypto Cell and providing dedicated specialist communications support 643 Signal Troop. The aim of the task was to provide to UK force elements across theatre. The coalition a multi-disciplined team to review all elements of environment resulted in an intricate communications cyber and information assurance, and was the first landscape, which included 6 different UK and US CIS of its kind. In 15 days they conducted vulnerability systems across a range of security classifications and assessments of the deployed operational CIS, advised

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Operation Trenton on Information and Communication Services (ICS) Operation Newcombe processes, conducted compliance checks of network In January 2013, Sigs Tommy Fullegar and Scotty rooms, completed an information assurance audit, Doherty, from 30 Signal Regiment, deployed to Mali with reviewed the crypto and information management an Operational Liaison Reconnaissance Team (OLRT) and exploitation processes and conducted technical on Op Newcombe. At the time, French forces were surveillance countermeasure assessments of nominated conducting an operation to reclaim large parts of Mali secure areas. from rebel forces. The signallers’ main priority was to establish an operations room and secure communications Operation Monogram back to the UK as quickly as possible. They achieved this In 2009, SSgt (YofS) Autar Shrestha and 3 Corps within an hour of arrival. Initially the RAF transported NCOs from 228 Signal Squadron deployed to Kenya armoured vehicles, freight and personnel in support for 7 weeks on Op Monogram, supporting a counter- of the French operation. Five years later, with French terrorism initiative. troops still deployed, the French requested more British They provided training and advice to Kenya’s support. As a result, 3 RAF Chinook helicopters and Administration Police, a branch of the Kenyan police almost 100 service personnel, including a detachment force mainly responsible for law and order in the rural from 244 Signal Squadron (AS), deployed to Mali in 2018 areas, building counter-terrorism capability. They were to assist with logistics and troop movement. part of an eight-person team, led by an RAF squadron leader, along with members of the Royal Marines and Operation Orbital infantry. From 2015, 11 Signal Brigade soldiers routinely They taught theory and practical lessons on voice deployed to assist in Op Orbital in response to a procedure, antennas, propagation and communications request from the Ukrainian government for guidance plans. They ensured students understood the and training for the Ukrainian armed forces in areas importance of selecting the right HF antenna for including medical, logistics, locating IEDs and general operations around the extensive eastern borders with infantry skills. This followed the Russian annexation of Somalia and advised on gathering information for Crimea and conflict with Russian-backed separatists in intelligence purposes. eastern Ukraine.

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Operation Newcombe

Operation Trenton Multiple Operations In May 2016, UK forces deployed to South Sudan After Op Herrick the signal brigades continued to on Op Trenton in support of the UN peace-keeping work hard. mission to prevent a humanitarian crisis following the In 2018, 11 Signal Brigade supplied manpower country’s declaration of independence in 2011. Royal for eight operations, 84 soldiers for six-month tours Engineers provided a temporary field hospital to assist in overseas bases, 196 personnel for additional non- the international peace-keeping force and then built a allocated tasks around the world, an average of eight permanent hospital. 11 Signal Brigade units deployed students to each of 119 special-to-arm training courses teams of nine signallers on six-month rotations. They (952 total), contributed to 24 major exercises and to provided both inter- and intra-theatre connectivity, 11 collective training activities in the UK, Kenya and using a CCT-120 (Swe-Dish) satellite bearer, enabling Canada, and supported 47 Support to Experimentation the engineer regiments and infantry force protection and Training (SET) tasks. companies to operate. In addition, installation technicians from 10 Signal Regiment installed the Copies of the book can be purchased via www. communications infrastructure for the hospitals. royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/centenary/

www.armymuseums.org.uk 25 Network projects Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Digital education during lockdown at the REME Museum by Andrew Skelton, Education Officer, REME Museum

Although lockdown didn’t start until 23 March 2020, the REME Museum had identified a closure was likely and had already started planning to use its digital platforms to keep the museum in the public eye.

The museum digital platforms includes Facebook, Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle (BARV) a converted Instagram and Twitter along with our website and its Sherman tank used on D-Day Normandy landings. The blog. The museum also has its own YouTube channel. plan was to create a child-friendly worksheet, showing Prior to lockdown the museum didn’t use its digital families how to use Lego to create their model BARV, platforms to deliver its education offer, providing only with a simple PowerPoint presentation that would be a ‘hands-on’ visitor experience. Digital engagement was uploaded to our YouTube channel to show them how to used however to advertise what was available, when run the experiment at home. All this would go out on activities were taking place and how to book a school Friday, 27 March 2020, the first week of lockdown! trip, or group visit. This makes it sound so much simpler than that first This all changed though as we realised the activity actually was to create. As some of you may seriousness of the situation we were all facing. Now have found out, if you aren’t used to creating digital that visitors couldn’t physically come to the museum, content what can appear very simple online is actually the education officer, curatorial and front of house very daunting to create, especially if it’s your first staff planned a digital campaign to ensure that the attempt. As the museum’s education officer, when we museum’s education programmes were accessible and were all sent home I took with me a museum laptop engaging for all. and a lot of enthusiasm, but not a lot of technological The result of planning was to create a series knowledge. That first week involved a lot of Google of activities that children and their parents could searches. I soon discovered how easy it is to convert a do together whilst lockdown at home. All would PowerPoint presentation into a YouTube video, how feature the museum’s collection at their heart and to add music to it and also how to vary the video’s all with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering timings, to ensure people could easily understand what and Mathematics) as the theme. Every week I, as to do. It was a steep learning curve, but was also highly the education officer, would create a themed activity rewarding. To aid me in achieving all this I had support that would be shared on our digital from the curatorial team. Colleagues helped with ideas, platforms and the curatorial editing, proofreading and finally testing everything team would post articles, before that first activity went ‘live’. images and a blog that The question was, now we knew we could do it, would complement the how to make these activities stand out? The answer education theme. The first activity was to be a simple science experiment that looked at water displacement using as the collection item the museum’s World War II

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was to create a unified brand and to promote it in a utilising simple ingredients or material that families consistent, planned and monitored fashion, and so would normally have at home, as well as linking all #rememuseumchallenge was created. these together by a unified campaign of Facebook, We held regular weekly meetings to discuss key Instagram and Twitter posts, tweets and pictures. dates in the REME Corps history and how to tie these The work we produced was spotted by the Kids in to items in the museum’s collection. We then assigned Museum’s team who featured us as one of their Top tasks with deadlines to the relevant staff members. 10 online activities, and we’ve been liked, shared and Most importantly we conducted lots of analysis to followed by various museums throughout the UK, both determine what was proving popular and when people military and civilian as well as gaining a lot more accessed and downloaded the information. We then followers on our various digital channels. used this analysis to plan the optimum timing and All of this can be frequency of adverts and challenge releases. seen by going to These meetings also helped highlight issues or our website www. problems that would arise, from the failure of my WiFi rememuseum.org. to how to upload large files to YouTube. Even, what to uk on our YouTube do when you’ve accidentally reconfigured part of the channel https:// museum’s website – top tip: ask if anyone knows how www.youtube. to sort it out, you’ll be impressed at the skill set of your com/feed/ colleagues and friends. my_videos or Since then, the museum digital education offer has by following us gone on to include YouTube video’s featuring myself on Facebook demonstrating how to make air powered vehicles, at https:// create bottle rockets, make an origami tank and a www. rubber band pistol amongst others. We have also facebook. produced worksheets for every activity we feature, all com/REMEMuseum.

www.armymuseums.org.uk 27 Network projects Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Blood, Sweat and Tears Working with veterans on a contemporary collecting project by Jules Wooding, Museum Manager, Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life; Trustee, Royal Military Police Museum

In 2019, we embarked on an ambitious contemporary collecting project, supported by a grant from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund. Our task? To create an archive of material connected to the recent conflict in Afghanistan. Inspired by the Third Afghan War of 1919, of which our antecedent the Border Regiment was involved, our initial idea was to work with a group of veterans to curate an exhibition using original photographs from 100 ago. However, it soon became apparent that our initial ideas had to change. The more modern conflict was waiting to be documented…

Having an idea is one thing, finding participants is which included establishing an archive of material for another. Cumbria is a large geographical county with the museum. Some brought in loan items to include a relatively small population. The local regimental in the exhibition, many gave us photographs, and association gave us a start point with a few veterans others contributed ideas and advice on what should be offering to help, which was followed up with a piece included in the displays. on the local radio station, putting posters up in shops, As the archive was the goal of this project, we were postcards in pubs, speaking to the local press and keen to capture their recollections and memories. The promoting the project at every opportunity. Take-up was initial meeting provided a structure, evolving into a slow but the message started to generate interest. questionnaire, which was sent out to all who expressed We were keen for the modern project to be owned an interest. But we also wanted to use film and audio by the veterans themselves, and it was important the to capture their responses. Together with a local museum did not lead on the project. We established filmmaker, we utilised the questionnaire as the basis for a series of weekend meetings to encourage interested interviews, but not everyone was keen to be filmed. So, people to drop in. The first meeting immediately hit a a few were recorded, including one over the telephone. problem clashing with an England Six Nations match, Their voices, whether through written answers, or highlighted by one of the veterans themselves. A quick on audio or film, were to provide a major part of the rush to reschedule timings met with only two veterans exhibition and contribute to the Afghan archive. turning up and no meeting agenda. Luckily, one veteran Although the participants were very patient with brought a photograph which became a discussion the process, they were also keen to get the exhibition point. The ice was broken, the two men recounted their up and running. One stumbling block was the title. On experiences, I asked questions and frantically wrote their signing up to the project, each participant was asked responses down. As the pair departed, more veterans to contribute three words which they felt described arrived. Seemingly, the Six Nations issue had not affected their time in Afghanistan. Initially an evaluation idea, the group that arrived in the afternoon! By the end of the this became an illuminating part of how they saw their day I had copious pages of notes, and as co-production service and their experience in Afghan. Words like was an essential part of the process, these became the ‘life-changing, ‘proud’ and ‘challenging’ were often basis of a questionnaire and structure for the project. As repeated but others such as ‘camaraderie,’ ‘relentless’ the drop-in meetings progressed, participants further and ‘apprehensive’ also appeared. As the participants contributed and developed ideas to progress the project, increased, so did the three words. At one meeting

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Postcards, posters and leaflets were distributed to encourage people to sign up to the project we decided to ask participants to use these words as participants themselves. Comments included ‘I wanted inspiration for a title for the exhibition. They delivered to share my experiences; I kept a lot to myself post- the goods — ‘Blood, Sweat and Tears’ was born. Afghan. It was a great chance to let others know how it Participants actively assisted in the creation of the was!’ and ‘In all the staff listened to everyone involved, Blood, Sweat and Tears exhibition, including choosing and then as a group decided on the best way of putting the paint colour (woven jute for those interested!) and these into the exhibition’ showed that the process was helping us paint the display walls, writing Afghan appreciated and valued by all concerned. This was their camp names on the exhibition signpost, approving exhibition, their project which included the creation of exhibition branding and design, describing the use a modern archive of the material recorded, captured, of ‘wag bags,’ recalling their Afghan experiences to and stored for future generations to use. This was an ensure that everything included in the displays was accurate and relevant. The final film, approved by all participants beforehand, became a dominant part of the exhibition, screened on a large wall with a loud soundtrack that could be heard throughout the displays. This was important so that the participants’ voices were heard throughout the exhibition. Their words, taken from the questionnaires, audio, and film, were also quoted directly onto the text panels. From the exhibition preview, to which everyone was invited, press interviews, talks to groups and Armed Forces Day events, participants were involved in all associated activity, as it was their experiences the project was highlighting. We evaluated the co- production process throughout and held a debrief at Charlie, loaning items to the exhibition =- seen here with curator the end of the project to monitor the impact on the Stuart Eastwood

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A general view of the Blood, Sweat and Tears exhibition at the museum Three veterans being interviewed by ITV Border within the exhibition opportunity to raise the profile and awareness of our Armed Forces in a much more recent conflict. Overall, we had 34 participants sign-up to the project of which 21 were actively involved, eight were passive (ie: did not respond after initial contact) and five were outside the scope of the project. Participants could be from any branch of the Armed Forces but had to live in Cumbria or have served in the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. Between 20 May and 4 September 2019, over 10,000 people visited the exhibition. The feedback from visitors was exceptional, 124 evaluation forms completed, and our comments book was full. Although not put together as a touring exhibition, Blood, Sweat and Tears has been on display Tony writing the names on the camp signpost at the York Army Museum and is due to go to the Fusiliers Museum in Bury and the Royal Military Museum at Southwick Park as coronavirus restrictions are lifted. The museum also toured a smaller display within Cumbria visiting Barrow, Keswick, Alston, Workington, and Kendal to promote the project. The exhibition has been a real learning curve for both the museum and participants, and although the Afghan project focused on working with a small group, the museum staff have developed confidence in engaging veterans and is keen to develop this in the future. We continue to communicate with our Afghan veterans and in February, three of the project participants and a reservist soldier from 4 Lancs accompanied me on a visit to the Imperial War Museum in Salford to find out more about the #Iwasthere volunteering project. Many of the participants enjoyed working with the museum, are keen to support us and have expressed an interest in being involved with us in the future. All together a successful project, culminating in an addition to our archives ‘Afghanistan’ and a It was important that the veterans contributed ideas and suggestions. Here Kav, Graham, Pete and Charlie help develop ideas supportive group of veterans who are keen to be for content involved with the museum.

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Branding of the exhibition was important and the style was approved by veterans

Visit to the Imperial War Museum – February 2020

www.armymuseums.org.uk 31 Network projects Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 A flying success by Dan Ball, Outreach and Engagement Manager, Army Flying Museum

As part of the Army Flying Museum’s National Lottery Heritage funded Project Eagle we have been working with a range of different community groups and individuals to discover stories of courage, bravery and comradeship through immersive object handling sessions with groups across Hampshire and Wiltshire, through our exciting programme of community curated café spotlight displays. Additionally we have been working with the Army Welfare Service to run museum connected sessions with the young eagles youth group using the museum’s collections, stories and artefacts as inspiration for learning, engagement and inspiration.

Since the start of the project and throughout 2019 which involved over 30 different community groups and 2020 we have undertaken several community involving cub, beaver, scout and young people’s projects. The current art installation is called Pilots group, dementia support groups, Headway Salisbury on Parade where we invited knitters and crafters to and older people’s social groups run by a number of help create a mass display of mini pilots and soldiers housing schemes and support organisations such as inspired by a world war knitting pattern which invited Brendoncare and the Methodist Housing Association. people at home to knit things for the forces during Each group made their own flag, inspired by historic world war two. Over 100 mini people were created, army air corps symbols and badges to represent them, with some created by individuals across the UK and their group and local community. These will be on one even being loaned to us from a person in Canada, display until the end of October with a number of them complete with an eagle sitting on its shoulder! These being handed back to the groups who participated, to were created by people during lockdown and now are keep as a legacy. proudly on display until early November. Once they come off display they will form a family friendly i-spy Young Eagles: trail for people to follow and spot the pilots deployed Another branch of the project has seen us work around the museum’s aircraft and galleries. closely with the Army Welfare community development Another community project we undertook with officers based at Middle Wallop, Worthy Down, community groups across Hampshire and Wiltshire Thorney Island and Marchwood. For the families of prior to lockdown was the Squadron Flags project, serving personnel at Middle Wallop, we were running

32 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Network projects A flying success by Dan Ball, Outreach and Engagement Manager, Army Flying Museum

monthly sessions at the museum through our Young group ‘The Base’ and members of Southampton Young Eagles sessions where activities are inspired or linked to Archaeologists Club (YAC). These bags will be on specific themes or stories in the museum’s collections. display for visitors to see until the end of the year. At the moment we have broadened our reach and are Five groups took part, with 175 people in total taking now working with families online. These sessions have part. This project was featured in the Army Families explored life for people both on the home front as well Federation magazine Army and You. as serving personnel during world war two. These Magnificent Mini Medals for Remembrance: sessions have paused for the summer but will continue on a monthly basis for the rest of the year and until the Our next community display, inspired by the end of the project in July 2021. Over 50 young people museum’s medal collection, is inviting people to help have taken part in these sessions since they started create mini medals inspired by our stories of courage, last September. As part of the virtual sessions we were bravery and comradeship in time for Remembrance joined by actors from local theatre companies, Red in November, along with poppies. Last year we had Sauce Theatre and Historical Huzzahs who performed over 3000 poppies made by people from across the UK stories of civilian and military personnel during World and this year we will be inviting people to help create War Two and D-Day. a mass art installation using the poppies and medals. Alongside the display, (pending social distancing Community kit bags restrictions) we will be working with groups either in Five different community groups across Hampshire person or virtually to discover some of our fascinating also created their own patches for their own community stories from the first world war (Royal Flying Corps kit bags. Each group had an interactive outreach session Victoria cross recipients) and the stories of the brave where they explored the history of army flying through and courageous glider pilot regiment of the second objects, sounds, smells and uniforms and then used world war. these as inspiration to create their own kit bag. Kit All these community curated displays have been bags were made by 5th Winchester Cubs, 6th Gosport featured on BBC local radio including BBC Radio Cubs, Barton Stacey Primary School Forces children Solent, Berkshire and Wiltshire, on social media, in Let’s

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lockdown we launched our digital sessions using Zoom and Microsoft Teams so that we could still work with already engaged audiences and groups but, also with more groups further afield both in the UK and internationally. Through lockdown we worked with over 200 groups including over 6000 people across the country and abroad. Going forward we will be continuing these as well as hopefully running in- person sessions with groups, across the Hampshire and Knit and Simply Knitting magazines, and featuring on Wiltshire area as well as reaching out to groups further British Forces Broadcasting Service Radio at Salisbury afield virtually. Plain and Forces TV News. We are approximately just over half way through our three-year National Lottery Heritage funded project Outreach sessions: which will end next July, but have already engaged and As part of the NLHF project we have been visiting worked with just under 10,000 people from across the and working with a range of community groups of Hampshire and Wiltshire area through our outreach different ages across Hampshire and Wiltshire to sessions (in person and digital sessions), through our bring the museum to them, including access groups, community spotlight art installation displays (working older people’s social groups, those with learning with different organisations, community groups, disabilities, youth groups and young carers. Since individuals and older persons groups), and pop up museum activities at events.

Exciting, unusual and relevant

Both the outreach sessions and community spotlight displays have been a fantastic way to bring the story of army flying to life through exciting, unusual and relevant ways to a much wider and bigger audience to a range of new and existing audiences and groups who might not have known about the army air corps, its predecessors and its history. For more information about the museum’s outreach and community engagement services and programmes see: https://www.armyflying.com/outreach/ or contact [email protected]

34 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Network projects The Scottish Horse by Ruth Brown, Scottish Horse Archives

The Scottish Horse collection used to be held by the Scottish Horse Museum which was located within the original headquarters of the regiment in Dunkeld. This museum closed in 1994 and the collection was dispersed between the National War Museum in Edinburgh, Blair Atholl Castle, Yeomanry House in Cupar and ourselves. As we did not have room at the time within the archive, which was housed in the tower of the cathedral, we chose to take the records only.

Previously, the community archive was staffed by Community Fund, to install interactive screens to allow volunteers and opened three mornings per week. They the archive to showcase all Dunkeld’s history, including also carried out research requests via email. The archive that of the Scottish Horse. A web site for the archive is had been running with an annual deficit for some time being built and we hope to launch this at the beginning and ways of covering its overheads had to be found. of September, along with our Facebook page. AMOT’s support has enabled us to employ a We have also gained funding from Museum member of staff who has been working at ways of Galleries Scotland for contactless donation boxes improving what the archive has to offer to the ‘tourist’ and PPE to enable us to re-open during the Covid-19 with a view to increasing foot-fall and in turn, revenue. pandemic, which we hope to do in September. Dunkeld attracts a huge number of visitors each year, Museum Galleries Scotland have further funding with over 88 000 visiting the cathedral alone. The available to us so we are in the process of applying for visitors pass by our door daily, so it made sense to think new IT and digitisation equipment, and as they are of ways of encouraging them in. offering funding to create new business streams, we are Further funding has been granted from the applying to establish a shop, both within the archive Scottish and Southern Electricity/ Griffin Windfarm and online. We feel very privileged to now be part of AMOT’s project to digitise the World War One collections held in regimental and corps museums throughout the UK. We are achieving all we had ever hoped but were unable to do so as an individual unit. Because of the amalgamation between the Scottish Horse and the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in 1956 and the closing of the museum in Dunkeld in 1994, we knew that the Fife and Forfar held many Scottish Horse artefacts within their barracks. These artefacts, such as musical instruments, the regimental silver, medals etc. are not currently available to the public as the barracks at Cupar remain in use by the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, Reserve Light Cavalry Regiment. We are in the process of photographing these objects with a view to creating a ‘virtual museum’ to be shown within the archive and online. During the initial visit to Cupar Barracks it became apparent that they held regimental records and photographs for the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry and after discussion between them and AMOT, they are now part

www.armymuseums.org.uk 35 Network projects Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020

of the digitisation project. training and reinforcement units. The remaining six We also plan to encourage students from schools, formed the 1st and 2nd Scottish Horse Brigades and colleges, and universities to use the Scottish Horse moved to England. In 1915 the 1st Brigade sailed for collection for research. Egypt but on the way was diverted to Gallipoli where Thanks to AMOT’s support the Scottish Horse it fought as infantry from September to December. It collection will be made more available through the then moved to Egypt. In September 1916 part of the online database, The Ogilby Muster. This database will brigade was converted to infantry and formed the 13th also enable us to pull out the stories of the Scottish (Scottish Horse) Battalion of The Black Watch (the rest Horse from the vast collection of letters, telegrams, of the brigade helped to form The 10th Battalion of the diaries etc. Cameron Highlanders). From Egypt, the 13th Black AMOT’s support has created many opportunities to Watch and the 10th Camerons moved to Salonika and secure the future of the archive and its collections, and fought there until June 1918. The 13th Black Watch we very much appreciate their help. moved to France and took part in the final advance in late 1918. The 2nd Brigade stayed in England, A brief history; moving later to Fife and, in 1918, to Ireland. After the The regiment was originally raised to form two war the Scottish Horse reformed as a Territorial Army mounted infantry units in the South African War; one cavalry unit based in Dunkeld with squadrons in made up of Scotsmen living in South Africa and at Aberdeen and in Perthshire. In the Second World War home, and the other made up of Scotsmen from home the regiment was converted into 2 artillery units, the and living in Australia (mainly Victoria). This regiment 79th and 80th (Scottish Horse) Medium Regiments, was disbanded after the war and in 1903 was raised Royal Artillery. Both regiments trained in the United again in Scotland as a territorial (or part-time) army Kingdom initially; the 79th moved to Normandy in cavalry unit, forming two regiments; the first based in 1944 and fought in France, Holland and Germany and Dunkeld and Perthshire, and the second in Aberdeen the 80th moved to North Africa in February 1943 and and the North East. On the outbreak of the First World fought in Sicily and Italy – including at Anzio. After the War these two regiments were mobilised and recruiting Second World War the regiment again reformed as a was so brisk that a third regiment was quickly formed, Territorial Army cavalry unit based in Dunkeld until it followed by each of the three regiments forming a was amalgamated with the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in second-line and then a third-line regiment. The three 1956. A successor unit, C Squadron of the Scottish and third-line regiments remained in the Dunkeld area as North Irish Horse, is based in Cupar, Fife.

36 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Network projects

“When you read about the Gordons and the glories of the Greys, The Black Watch and the Seaforths and you’re singing Scottish praise, Don’t forget to Scotland’s glory there is still another force, That will live in song and story: The Famous Scottish Horse.

For they were ranked as yeoman, and they quickly made their name, Feared and honoured by their foemen and upon the roll of fame, Stands Tulebardin’s Horse and Scotland’s yeoman force- The equal of the glorious Greys: The Famous Scottish Horse.

At Benson’s fight near Bethel, where explosive bullets fell, The field was filled with fallen and it seemed a living hell; There was no thought of surrender to that overwhelming force. For surrender is unknown to: The Famous Scottish Horse.

In the dim and distant future when the years have rolled away, And your prattling toddling babies have grown old and worn and grey, They will tell their children’s children of that famous yeoman force, Once Scotland’s pride and glory: The Famous Scottish Horse.

Written by Quartermaster J.W.W.Campbell, a former New South Wales ‘Lancer, from Newcastle, Australia, 1901

www.armymuseums.org.uk 37 Network projects Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 The relocation of The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh by Richard Davies Curator, The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh

Readers of this excellent publication may be aware of The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh’s plans to move from our current location on Brecon Barracks to a new location in the town centre. This project revolves around the acquisition and refurbishment of the Grade II listed former Brecon Library.

Officially opened by Prince Charles on 23 July the solid Victorian and Edwardian buildings associated 1969, it was designed by Breconshire County Council’s with libraries. County Architect JA McRobbie. The building’s The museum’s desire to move has been prompted appearance was meant to mimic a series of books on by continued difficulties in obtaining a lease for a shelf, but McRobbie’s innovative plans also took our current home from the Defence Infrastructure advantage of modern materials and design principles Organisation. The museum’s trustees had spent a great to create a structure that was completely different to deal of time over a long period negotiating with the DIO and their representatives in order to create an acceptable lease, but these efforts ultimately proved fruitless. We then became aware of Powys County Council’s (the successor local authority to Breconshire County Council), plans to enlarge Brecon Museum and create a cultural centre for the town by incorporating the library into a new building. The trustees expressed an interest in the former library to the council, and after some preliminary discussions, a draft contract for purchase was provided to us in July 2020. Negotiations are currently on-going in order to produce a mutually satisfactory document. Although I have never served in the military, I am given to understand the phrase “concurrent activity” is often used by the armed forces in order to describe a situation where many things are happening simultaneously. This would certainly be a very good description of our project’s current circumstances. A sub-committee of the museum’s board of trustees has been formed, and this is directing the acquisition of the building as well as the initial structural work to make it weatherproof (due to a lack of available funds, Powys County Council has somewhat neglected the building’s maintenance in recent years). The same committee has also begun to consider the vital issue of fundraising,

38 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Network projects The relocation of The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh by Richard Davies Curator, The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh

and how the groups and individuals we have identified as potential supporters might be best approached. In addition to this, a firm of conservation architects has been appointed and a number of meetings have been held with the conservation and senior planning officers of the local planning authority, the Brecon Beacons National Park. They were understandably keen to learn of our plans, given the former library is a prominent local building in the middle of the town centre and they do not want it to remain unused for too long. Although the scheme is at an early stage, the BBNP officers have reacted positively to our ideas. They Stories have also helpfully confirmed a change of use request is unnecessary as museums and libraries occupy the same The founding of the antecedent regiments. planning category. Brecon as a military centre. The 41st in North America. A more sustainable future Waterloo and the 69th Regiment. Contact has also been made with The Carbon The Anglo-Sikh War. Trust, a charity dedicated to partnering with The Crimean War. businesses, organisations and governments around the The Anglo-Zulu War. world to help lead the way to a more sustainable future. The Boer War. We believe the library’s current heating and lighting World War One. systems are probably substantially unchanged since World War Two. the late 1960s; certainly, the building’s energy efficiency The modern regiment and its current activities. rating places it in the lowest possible category. Both systems will need to be upgraded in order to bring Themes them up to the standards rightly expected of modern Concepts of gallantry. buildings, and we feel our on-going discussions with The impact of technology on warfare. The Carbon Trust will be crucial as we consider the The contribution of women to the military. installation of green, low maintenance and low cost Welsh military traditions. technologies. Wales’ regiments in India. Attention has also been given to what the public will actually see when they visit the new museum. A Taken together, we feel these ideas, particularly series of chronological stories and cross-cutting themes if presented from the perspective of the personnel have been decided upon in principle, and although it is who saw action in these conflicts or who could shed inevitable these will be subject to revision over time, we additional light on these themes, will make for a series feel the following play to the strengths of the museum’s of fascinating displays that befits a modern museum wonderful collection. with a bright future.

www.armymuseums.org.uk 39 Research Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Decoding distinguishing marks of The Battle of the Somme by Elliot Metcalfe, Assistant Curator, HorsePower, the Museum of the King’s Royal Hussars

It is a huge privilege to have been asked to talk about my research as a military historian in AMOT’s Annual Review. I read military history at Aberystwyth University from 2009 to 2012, before starting work at HorsePower, the Museum of the King’s Royal Hussars as their Assistant Curator in 2016. Growing up hearing family stories of my great grandfather’s service with the Durham Light Infantry during the Great War has left me gripped by the period ever since. It was through this passion that I first started researching the distinguishing marks that were adopted by the British Army during the Great War. As 2020 draws to a close, I soon hope to have published my first book on this elusive subject. ‘Distinguishing Marks of The Great War – The Battle of The Somme 1916’ examines and illustrates the special markings, flags and other devices adopted by the British Army for the Somme Offensive.

As some readers may be aware, the British Army to identify any relevant records held, without the saw a widespread introduction of distinguishing laborious process of combing through physical records marks in the Great War, used for tactically marking held in the archives. As a military historian, I will get a units, vehicles, and locations. These include (but are much quicker turnaround, more information, and the certainly not limited to); cloth patches worn on tunics, opportunity to view the records from the comfort of helmet markings, divisional and unit signs, flags and so home without having to travel several hundred miles in much more. As these were usually adopted at unit or some cases. divisional level, little in the way of records now survive detailing these markings. The most comprehensive Fantastic source source is held by the Imperial War Museum, who had In addition, period photographs and postcards have the foresight to start gathering the information as early proven a fantastic source of illustration for the project, as 1917. Sadly, the records are far from complete, with and I’m keen to illustrate the book with as many as many units failing to provide the information. Over possible. To do this, I have been attending various several years, I have painstakingly compiled these fairs and events to try and source them, but again with markings from a host of sources, including archives, lockdown, all such events have been cancelled for 2020, privately held material and of course, museums. and who knows what will happen in 2021! Interest in the aforementioned markings has Light at the end of the tunnel certainly peaked in the last couple of years, with The project has taken a hit during lockdown, as I the centenary of the Great War, and some very good have been unable to visit or contact various archives material has been published on the subject. But being that I believe may contain relevant information. The such a large and complex area of research, these books same applies for museums which, although many are have only just scratched the surface. It was the Battle now re-open, I am reluctant to burden with a research of the Somme in 1916 when distinguishing marks request, as I am painfully aware that these cannot take were really used on a large scale for the first time, with priority at this present time. Despite these setbacks, many being adopted solely for the offensive and later there is most certainly a light at the end of the tunnel discarded. Despite the Somme being an area of history in terms of research capability. This is the AMOT that is extremely well researched and written about, digitalisation project of Great War period records held nothing has been researched in-depth or specifically within military museum collections. From a museum published regarding the well-prepared system of point of view, this will allow us to quickly be able distinguishing marks adopted by corps, divisions and

40 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Research Decoding distinguishing marks of The Battle of the Somme by Elliot Metcalfe, Assistant Curator, HorsePower, the Museum of the King’s Royal Hussars

battalions ready for offensive. re-creating digital versions The 8 Division are a good example of how markings of markings otherwise used on the Somme are often overlooked or forgotten. lost to history. I am In 1917 a comprehensive scheme of distinguishing currently anticipating the marks was adopted by all units throughout the book will be ready and division, and these are often referenced to. However, available by the end of less well known is during the Battle of the Somme in 2020 to early 2021. If all 1916, only the carrying parties of the Divisional Royal goes to plan, I will be Engineers wore a badge as designated by Divisional following this up with Headquarters. Further markings were designated a second publication within the division at brigade level, with 25 Brigade on distinguishing issuing armbands for observers and runners, whilst marks of the Great 70 Brigade adopted a series of flags for battalions and War, specifically on the dumps, and a red rosette for orderlies with Brigade Cavalry and Yeomanry regiments of the British Headquarters. Army. Whilst my main focus has been on my Somme Somewhat unusual research, the lockdown period has also allowed me to Many of the markings adopted for the Somme re-design and relaunch my website on Dorset during are somewhat unusual, like the huge 16-inch-long the Great War, mainly covering those commemorated yellow patches worn by the 19 and 34 Divisions, or on local war memorials, which can be visited at www. the coloured pieces of ribbon hanging from the rear of dorsetinthegreatwar.co.uk. Wanting to share my Great helmet covers in the 137 Brigade. Perhaps the strangest War research to a wider audience, I also created my were the pink haversacks of the 7 Division! own online blog as my platform to share my knowledge Although I have managed to find a great deal for and military history interests with those interested, most of the formations who took part in the Somme, particularly as the lockdown restrictions meant that I am always keen to find more. I would love to find talks and conferences couldn’t take place. Over the further personal references by men who served, rather lockdown period, I have currently written posts on than in official records. These would offer a fascinating subjects such as armoured cars at Ctesiphon, military insight into the wearing of distinguishing marks, museums and cavalry in 1914. The blog was launched especially as I suspect that many men were unhappy on 1 July, to coincide with the anniversary of the with the prospect of going over the top with a large, opening of the Battle of the Somme, linking it to the bright coloured patch attached to them. upcoming book.

Deliberation Intriguing After much deliberation and speaking with various As part of my research into this intriguing subject, publishers, I have taken the decision to self-publish. I I would be most grateful to hear from any sites feel this will allow full control of exactly how the book which may have information, photographs or objects looks, which is really important to me as I would like relating to any of these markings mention within it to be fully illustrated in colour (which wasn’t an their collections. Also, for those who would like more option through publishers). As such, much of my time information on my work or to visit my blog, please visit has been spent refreshing my graphic design skills and www.metcalfemilitaryhistory.co.uk

www.armymuseums.org.uk 41 Research Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Fusiliers in captivity: A 75th anniversary tribute by Sibylla Jane Flower

Japanese forces have surrendered unconditionally and the war is over… In August 1945, leaflets proclaiming the above headline were dropped, by planes, over allied prisoner of war camps in the Far East. For the prisoners and their families this long-awaited and welcome news came three months after victory in Europe had been celebrated.

Four years earlier, on 30 October 1941, 9 Battalion of I met many of the Fusiliers of 9 Battalion at a the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (RNF) embarked reunion at Alnwick Castle in 1982, when the cheers on the Warwick Castle and set sail from Liverpool rang out at the mention of my father’s name; later, for service in the Middle East. News of Japan’s entry a prisoner of war reunion at Doxford Hall, Chathill, into the war, and their attacks on British, Dutch and Northumberland, in 1992 brought us together once American territories, meant that 9 Battalion, Royal more, and Fusilier Tommy Straker accompanied me Northumberland Fusiliers were diverted to Singapore. throughout the ceremonies in London on VJ Day My father, Lt Col HS Flower, was second-in- 1995. These meetings provided the inspiration for my command of 9 Battalion, the Royal Northumberland extensive research and writings on the experiences of Fusiliers, which arrived in Singapore on 5 February prisoners of war of the Japanese. 1942, 10 days before the surrender of the Allied Forces Lt Col HS Flower was appointed OBE ‘in recognition to the Japanese. He succeeded Lt Col LC Thomas as of gallant and distinguished services’ as a prisoner of commanding officer after Thomas, who had valuable war. battle experience, was ordered to escape. The Free French ship, the Felix Roussel, was It has been a privilege to meet many of the Fusiliers transporting 9 Battalion RNF on the final stage of their who endured the captivity with my father especially journey to Singapore, along the Banka Straits when it those who formed the mobile force which laid the and the rest of the convoy were attacked by 27 Japanese rails from Tarsao to Konkuita on the Thailand-Burma planes. The anti-aircraft guns onboard fired constantly Railway. at the enemy aircraft in an effort to prevent them from taking accurate aim, but the ship was hit by two bombs. One of the battalion machine guns took a direct hit and Fusiliers JH Ryan and G Errington were killed in the attack. “I was ordered to go down into the ship’s hold to form a chain of supply for ammunition for the machine guns, and we had to keep the flow of ammunition going very fast to keep the guns going … I didn’t like the idea of From the collection of Sibylla Jane Flower being down there in the

42 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Research Fusiliers in captivity: A 75th anniversary tribute

hold, because if the ship was hit and sunk or went on fire, to me it seemed as if it would be a death trap, and I would sooner take my chances up on deck where you can see what is happening …” Fusilier Jim Fram- Taylor 9 Bn RNF

In the prisoner of war camps food was in extremely short supply. “… One Fusilier had a particularly bad dose of dysentery. The rations of Far East Prisoners of War of the 9 Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers photographed at Chatton, Northumberland in 1995. The record for this photograph on the Museum’s collection database rice, vegetables and dried unfortunately does not provide the names of those pictured. If you can help identify any of them, please do fish were of no help. The contact The Northumberland Fusiliers Museum doctor expected him to Remembrance die unless suitable nourishment could be provided for him Of those who did not return home, 15 were killed but extra food was almost unobtainable and with rampant in action, seven died of wounds received in action, inflation, very expensive … Working pay for men was 25 129 died in captivity and 22 were lost at sea when cents a day. Men of the company contributed the money for the Rakuyo Maru, which was transporting British, the Fusilier to have a tin of milk a day for 10 days — and he Australian and American troops from the Thailand- survived.” Burma Railway to Japan, was torpedoed and sunk on Lt Owen Eva, 9 Battalion RNF 12 September 1944. By far, most lost their lives through dysentery and A captivity remembered cholera due to the unsanitary conditions in the camps, Treatment and punishments were brutal. In a letter many died of malnutrition and others from tropical to the brother of Sgt Ted Reay ,who was executed on 23 diseases such as beriberi and malaria. March 1943 along with three fellow prisoners for trying Those that returned were shadows of their former to escape, Capt Henry McCreath wrote: selves and did not return to the rapturous welcome that “He and his three colleagues were very brave men. I do the soldiers returning from other theatres of war had know that many of his friends, both officers and NCOs and received. Fusiliers tried to persuade them not to make a break — to no Many continued to suffer ill health throughout their avail. They never had a chance as there was really nowhere to lives. They rarely talked about their experiences, the go … I have often wondered if he would have listened to me – hardships, and the brutality that they suffered at the I wish I had been in a position to speak to him at the time.” hands of their Japanese captors.

www.armymuseums.org.uk 43 Learn more… Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Alabaré – supporting the vulnerable by Claire Sime Marketing & Individual Giving Manager

Regional charity Alabaré has 30 years’ experience in supporting vulnerable and marginalised people to escape the crisis of homelessness and build safe, fulfilling lives for themselves once more. For the last 10 years they have been able to provide additional specialist support for Armed Forces Veterans.

Alabaré’s Homes for Veterans currently provides a home and security for up to 115 veterans every night who would otherwise be forced to live on our streets. Their 23 homes stretch across the south and south west of England and over north and south Wales. Each year Alabaré must raise nearly £800k in donations to run their Homes for Veterans and accompanying support services. As part of their fundraising activities the charity run a number of exciting and innovative events, giving ticket holders and participants the opportunity to try new experiences, are forced onto our streets. Previous locations have whilst knowing they are making a huge difference to included Stonehenge, Gloucester Prison, Weymouth’s the lives of vulnerable Veterans. Nothe Fort and the charity’s annual event at Salisbury Alabaré’s flag ship series of events see participants Cathedral. bed down under the stars or in unlikely places to Despite being postponed due to the current raise funds and awareness of the plight of those who event restrictions, Alabaré is planning Big Sleeps at

Flags of thanks

44 www.armymuseums.org.uk Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Learn more… Alabaré – supporting the vulnerable by Claire Sime Woodchester Mansion (an unfinished gothic mansion Marketing & Individual Giving Manager in Gloucestershire), at the top of Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower (with optional abseiling also available!) and at Wiltshire County Hall in the coming year. They are also looking for a number of museums and castles around the country, particularly in the regions around their homes and services, who would The Big Sleep like to host an Alabaré Big Sleep. from its maker giving an emotional insight into the experiences and thanks they so want to express to our Visually striking Armed Forces. The exhibition was co-created by the As part of the 2019 National Armed Forces Weekend BBCs Sewing Soldier, Lt Col Neil Stace. Alabaré paired up with English Heritage and the Royal Artillery Band to present a unique Beating Retreat Memorable at Old Sarum Castle, overlooking the historic city Alabaré is currently putting together an exciting of Salisbury. The event was led by Alabaré’s Patron two-year events programme to raise funds and General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC and honoured awareness of their Homes for Veterans initiative. They the service of all those in our Armed Forces, past and are looking for unusual and interesting venues to present, and their families. Also on show that weekend pair up with and together create some enticing and was a visually striking and moving exhibition of over memorable events and would love to hear from any 1000 flags, each stitched and sent in by individuals from venues who are looking for partners to work with. around the country. With a huge array of subjects and For more information about Alabaré go to www. motifs, each flag was accompanied by a short passage alabare.co.uk or email [email protected]

www.armymuseums.org.uk 45 Learn more… Army Museums Ogilby Trust Annual Review 2020 Waterloo: Living History by Mike Greenwood, Director of Public Engagement for Waterloo Uncovered

Mike Greenwood of Waterloo Uncovered, describes how the work of the charity helps people find peace from war. In a sun-baked field in Belgium, a group of men and women dressed in an assortment of shorts, T-shirts and high-vis vests are on hands and knees paying close attention to the parched clay soil. The heavy afternoon air is pierced by the scraping of trowels and the urgent beeping of electronic sensors. Nearby, under the close scrutiny of a professional eye, a man is crumbling the soil from a lump he’s teased out from a spot pinpointed by the loop of a metal detector. He raises a heavily tattooed arm (a clue perhaps, to his own military origins) and grins. Between his fingers he holds a rounded lump of lead: definitely a musket ball; probably British; possibly fired by brothers in arms from his own regiment, 200 years earlier. A minor archaeological discovery perhaps, but in that moment, he’s made an important connection with history and, in some small way, found a way to put the troubling experiences of his own past into a more positive perspective. This is Waterloo Uncovered, at work on the battlefield of Waterloo.

Few events can be as decisive as that which played veterans and serving military personnel (VSMP), many out in the quiet countryside south of Brussels one of them suffering from the physical and mental impacts Sunday in June, 1815. Over the course of the day, three of their service. The project had its origins in the shared armies collided on the rain-sodden ridge of Mont-Saint- experience of two men, Mark Evans and Charlie Jean; in a space of less than three square miles, nearly Foinette. Both had studied archaeology together and 200,000 men from Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, both subsequently served as officers in the Coldstream Belgium and France fought a cataclysmic battle Guards - a regimental connection that was to prove that brought an end to a quarter-century of warfare key in opening up this closely protected battlefield to among the European powers. By the close of the day, archaeological exploration. perhaps 10,000 men lay dead on the field, with tens of thousands more wounded and maimed, and Napoleon Mental legacy Bonaparte’s vision of a European Empire ended forever. On leaving the army, Mark was encouraged to The Battle of Waterloo is situated on the edge of revisit archaeology as a means of working through the modern history: few other battles were recorded in such mental legacy of his own experiences in Afghanistan. detail by those eyewitnesses who survived, in letters, Meanwhile Charlie, still serving with the battalion, journals, memoirs and monologues; few battles have took his men on a tour of Hougoumont Farm on freighted bookshelves with such a cargo of subsequent the battlefield of Waterloo. Hougoumont is “sacred histories and reinterpretations, which continue to be ground” to the regiment: the walled compound of farm produced to this day. What new things remain to be buildings, gardens and orchards served as a fortress said, therefore? What discoveries are still to be made? out in front of the allied line and became the scene The charity Waterloo Uncovered has been of a dramatic “battle-within-a-battle”. It’s one of the addressing that challenge since 2015 with a project Coldstream Guards’ proudest battle honours (although, in which archaeology, history and the experiences of as the archaeological evidence was to show, one that contemporary servicemen and women converge to they share with other regiments!). forge compelling new insights into this most iconic of Mark and Charlie made two important realisations: battlefields. firstly, that little archaeological work had taken place on Waterloo Uncovered combines world-leading the battlefield; and secondly, that being part of a team archaeology with the recovery and wellbeing of working through the processes of an archaeological dig

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Archaeologist Sam Wilson identifies a find with a group of British, Dutch and American veterans. Photo by Chris van Houts

has the potential to help people with their recovery and potential of the enterprise to be developed: they run rehabilitation. Building on the regimental connection, two summer schools in conjunction with the dig, and and with the cooperation of Project Hougoumont who students work alongside archaeologists and veterans. maintain the site, the first group of archaeologists, And then there are the volunteers. They come from VSMP, and experts in an assortment of specialisms a range of backgrounds and disciplines: professional began their explorations in the year of the battle’s archaeologists supervise the teams working on different bi-centenary, 2015. Since then, participants have made aspects of the dig (one face familiar from TV is that of important new discoveries about the battle — and Phil Harding, archaeologist and veteran of Time Team); about themselves. experienced metal detectorists train veterans to work Committed from the start to achieving the alongside the archaeologists; other volunteers provide highest standards in both archaeology and welfare, support with logistics, transport, or communications. partnerships have always been at the heart of Waterloo Artists, poets and photographers lend their expertise Uncovered. World-leading archaeological expertise is to help create complementary activities to keep provided by The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology participants engaged and able to try new experiences. at the University of Glasgow, led by Professor Tony Pollard, and by L-P: Archaeology practice. Wellbeing and support Local expertise has been key: the Belgian regional The wellbeing and support programme is central archaeological service, Agence Wallonne du Patrimoine to Waterloo Uncovered’s mission. Each year, working (AWAP) has been involved from the start, facilitating with related welfare charities and often with regiments access and adding their own knowledge of the site, themselves, a diverse group of new participants from as has the University of Ghent, whose expertise in a mix of service backgrounds is carefully selected to techniques of scanning and visualising the landscape embark on a 12-month programme focusing on five have become increasingly important as the dig extends key areas: recovery, wellbeing, transition to civilian to new areas of the battlefield. The University of life, education and employment. A team of professional Utrecht, in the Netherlands, allows the educational support staff, with many decades of experience between

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A team led by archaeologist Alistair Douglas investigate the small garden area in the middle of the courtyard at Mont-Saint-Jean farm. Photo by Chris van Houts them, work with all of the participants to identify Once there, the experience of being reintroduced personal goals to be achieved, monitor progress, give to a familiar service background, the chance to learn support and rigorously evaluate outcomes. new skills in a very hands-on manner, the methodical, The programme begins with visits and tours run almost meditative nature of detailed archaeological with supportive organisations such as the National work and the personalised support on offer can be life- Army Museum and the British Museum who provide changing for many participants, helping them to come an opportunity for people to meet each other, to handle to terms with difficult episodes from their past. So far, finds and to get an overview of the historical context. over 100 serving and veteran participants have been The momentum then gathers pace until the dig each supported. July - the highlight of the programme. “Waterloo Uncovered has given me a handrail to life — it has helped me keep focused whilst dealing with the day-to-day stress.” Waterloo Uncovered participant

Working in an international environment is an important aspect of the project — in 2019, for example, the group of veterans, volunteers, students and support staff was drawn from 11 different countries. In addition, each year the dig welcomes a group of service people from the Netherlands, and there are plans to extend A close up of the Coldstream Guards button found at Hougoumont the collaboration to include veterans and service farm. Photo by Chris van Houts. personnel from all the modern nations whose peoples

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The team investigate the newly opened trenches in the east side of the Mont-Saint-Jean farm orchard, overlooking the reverse slope. Photo by Chris van Houts fought in the battle 200 years ago, so that each nation audio interviews, articles and lectures has proven very is represented in an exploration of a shared history. popular with audiences, attracting over half a million Waterloo Uncovered is keen to work with organisations views since March. that can help build an understanding of the context of And what of the archaeology? Has it been possible the battle, and of the people who fought in it, and help in practice, to find new things to say and to uncover reach out to new audiences. new revelations on this much-studied battlefield? Some of the 6000+ finds speak volumes: “Having to put your hand up and say “I need help” A huge amount of musket balls and grape — that was the biggest shock. Waterloo Uncovered, for shot attesting to the series of vicious assaults on me, is really important. Studying the history of warfare Hougoumont, with evidence of French incursions through time, and the impact it has had on people, helps you realise that the only thing that changes is the technology, not the human”. Waterloo Uncovered participant

This year, Waterloo Uncovered was unable to excavate due to Covid-19. Instead, it turned its efforts to running a virtual programme of activities and information for participants and to communicating about its work to a wider audience via their website (http://www.waterloouncovered.com) and their The finds team led by Hillery Harrison review over 58 musketballs YouTube channel (https://m.youtube.com/c/ found in the cornfield near Mont-Saint-Jean in only half a day. WaterlooUncovered). A mix of short film features, Photo by Chris van Houts

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history and the contemporary experiences and perspectives of participants will lie at the heart of the work of Waterloo Uncovered. Professor Tony Pollard, director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow, and a director of the excavation offers this final insight into what makes the project so special for him: “There’s the extra dimension of working with veterans as part of Waterloo Uncovered. It’s brilliant to share a laugh and see the benefit people in the team are getting. But for me as an archaeologist Time Team’s Phil Harding introduces a group of veteran participants to the site of there’s more. Some of our team on Hougoumont farm. Photo by Chris van Houts Waterloo Uncovered have had first- through the defences; hand experience of close-quarter fighting in walled The remains of buildings destroyed in the battle, compounds in Iraq or Afghanistan - very like the layout allowing archaeologists and historians to revise their of Hougoumont, for example. You can be kneeling next understanding of the layout of Hougoumont - and why to them in a trench and they’ll notice something that the French failed to succeed there; you haven’t, and you’ll think: “Yes, you’re right!” That’s Personal items including — most tellingly — a uniquely valuable perspective for an archaeologist to uniform buttons from both Coldstream and Scots have”. Guards, showing the mix of units involved in the The Waterloo Uncovered team are always happy to desperate defence of the North Gate; answer questions and discuss collaboration. For more Moving the focus to the farm of Mont-Saint-Jean - information about Waterloo Uncovered, either: used as Wellington’s main field hospital — evidence email [email protected], was found of a fire fight around the hospital, well in the visit the website www.waterloouncovered.com rear of the allied main position and probably relating to (where you can find links to social media), a breakthrough by French cavalry; or sign for the newsletter. French artillery rounds from the point in the The 2019 Impact Report can be found and battle where they came closest to victory, and a large, downloaded here, and provides an excellent summary unexploded howitzer shell from their bombardment of of recent work and achievements. the ridge sheltering the Allied infantry line; Most poignant of all, grim evidence of the work of battlefield surgeons to save lives, in the form of the amputated limbs of badly wounded men, some showing catastrophic injuries and carrying embedded bullets; The rediscovery of the remains of the “lost” chateau of Frichermont over on the left of Wellington’s line. Held by the Dutch during the battle, its site had been lost to view for decades. Much has been found and much more remains to be discovered. Future plans include a dedicated PhD project to make the first geophysical survey of Dutch army engineer Moos Raaijmakers gives veteran Shaun the battlefield, and further excavation in a number Stocker a lesson in metal detecting skills at Mont-Saint-Jean. of locations. And, as ever, the fusion of archaeology, Photo by Chris van Houts

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