Reflecting on a historic year of change Annual Review 2016–17 Annual Review 2016–17 1 The National Army Museum is a The leading authority on the British Army Chairman’s and its impact on society, past and Statement present. We examine the Army’s General Sir Richard Shirreff KCB CBE role as protector, fighting force and Chairman of the Council General Sir Richard Shirreff 2017 marks a truly historic year A valuable resource KCB CBE was until 2014 in the Museum’s development – At the same time, the Museum peacekeeper from the British Civil NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied the most momentous, perhaps, Commander Europe and since continues to play an important part then has forged a career since its foundation and move as a crucial resource for academic Wars to the modern day. Through as an author and in business. to Chelsea in 1971 under the researchers and military historians, auspices of Field Marshal via the Templer Study Centre and In a varied Army career, General other research facilities. our collections we preserve and Sir Richard has commanded on Sir Gerald Templer. operations at every level from The reopening of the Museum Throughout this period of transition, platoon to division, including in March this year marked the we have had access to the constant combat in the Gulf War as a support and encouragement of the share stories of ordinary people tank squadron leader and culmination of six years’ planning, National Army Museum Council, counter-insurgency operations involving five years of fundraising in Northern Ireland, as well and of course, three years creating and of our donors and supporters with extraordinary responsibilities. as active service in Bosnia, the new building itself. who have played a major part in Kosovo and Iraq. He then went the re-creation of the Museum on to command the Allied Rapid As a result, the National Army as it is today. Reaction Corps before his final Museum, more than ever before, tour of duty as Deputy Supreme acts as a communication channel A royal presence Allied Commander Europe. between the Army, in its past and present form, and the wider public. We were privileged by the presence General Sir Richard is now Its new immersive, interactive of Her Majesty The Queen at the a partner in Strategia Worldwide, approach brings to life, uniquely Royal Preview in March; a proud a consultancy advising on the day for all who had experienced management of strategic risk. and compellingly, the experiences – as well as the weapons and equipment at close hand the transformation The National Army Museum – of the serving soldier through the of the Museum. This was a fitting is most fortunate to have ages up to the present day. celebration of the achievements General Sir Richard’s personal of the past six years – a celebration involvement and support as Our close connection with the which is continued daily, by the it moves into the next exciting British Army has given us unique presence of so many of the general phase of its development. access, not only to objects associated public who are now able to connect with its history, but to the personal with the history and experiences reminiscences of those who served – of the British Army and its and continue to serve – in its ranks. personnel as never before. 2 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 3 Director General’s Statement On a A year to remember – personal The National Army Museum note… My tenure as Director General is now coming to an end after seven Janice Murray extraordinary years in Director General the life of the Museum. During that time we have seen it develop into a resource A re-envisioned Museum in an academic resource, but to use them to that will reach out as never before to a wider public, and a new building with a new provide a unique experience to the wider public. Importantly too, their display tell the untold stories behind purpose, designed for the the histories: the experiences needs of the 21st century. would strengthen our bond with the British Army and its serving personnel, of the men and women who as they saw their own experiences made up – and continue to A new vision mirrored in those of earlier times. make up – the British Army. By 2011 we knew that the old building, Our work in Chelsea was only part My thoughts, thanks and best while appropriate for the 1970s, had of the story. We took the opportunity, wishes are with the Museum, outlived its usefulness both in terms during closure, to ‘turn ourselves and everyone who contributed of capacity and public resource. inside-out’ – to access a wider audience to making it what it is today, In particular, we saw that with the 100th than we had previously enjoyed by but particularly the staff anniversary of the outbreak of the First extending our Outreach Programme who have worked so hard World War in 2014, our visitor numbers across the UK. This enabled us to to make it happen. would overwhelm the building as it was. develop new ways of connecting I also want to thank those The vision went beyond a simple with the public and reach new many friends of the Museum matter of capacity, we also saw it as an audiences throughout the UK. in so many walks of life who opportunity to engage new audiences have offered their support, as well as enhancing the experience The building as an asset friendship and advice and of our existing friends, whether The new building defines the wider who I know will continue Army, military historians or academic role of the National Army Museum. to help make the Museum researchers. We felt that there was a A vastly improved exterior is matched an even better resource to story to tell beyond the history of the by an interior carefully designed as explain and connect the Army as an institution, by bringing an open, airy space where people can Army with the wider world to the public mind the experiences meet, mingle and choose which of the of serving and non-serving soldiers: “ in the years to come. exhibition areas to browse. It symbolises It is for our visitors what they went through, how they lived our philosophy that it is for our visitors and sometimes died, and the record of to define their to define their experiences, rather extraordinary service to their country. than our role to define it for them. experiences, rather It was also an opportunity to build Additionally, the elegant spaces have on what was already an unrivalled been designed for use as private and than our role to collection of artefacts, written resources corporate functions, not only to raise define it for them” Janice Murray and personal accounts. This would enable awareness among opinion-formers, Director General us not just to reinforce our role as but to help grow our revenue. 4 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 5 A history of With so much happening Countdown virtually every day in such achievement, a hectic and demanding year, it would be impossible to cover the achievement to launch all those activities in this Review. The following photographs capture of history Highlights some of the key events, season by season, that led up to the The story of the National Army Museum, reopening of the Museum. from its beginnings to the present day, has been a history of evolution, modernisation and development. Since its move to Chelsea in 1971, it has grown continually, both physically and in its collections, over the past 45 years. It has long been an essential resource for military historians, academics and all those fascinated by the story of the British Army from its earliest times. However, time doesn’t stand still. Changes in society, and public expectations of what a museum should offer, required a holistic look at what the National Army Museum should represent in the 21st century. The need to close and reconstruct the building gave the Council and staff a unique opportunity to re-think the purpose of the Museum – literally – from the ground up. They saw the need and the opportunity to widen the message of the Museum to the general public. Always a popular venue for the public and researchers alike, the Museum could now tell the story of the Army in ways that would create further appeal to a wider audience, while remaining an essential resource for professional historians and academics. With Army involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and with the advent of social media, the general public became aware as never before of the day-to-day lives of the men and women who had to deal with difficult combat situations. In this environment of a new public understanding of British soldiers’ lives, a vision emerged of creating a museum which could engage new, wider audiences with the story – not just of the Army but of individual serving soldiers on a profoundly human level. The period covered by this Annual Review is itself a record of achievement. In April 2016 the new building was still in the process of completion. Just one year later, the fully-functioning, revitalised National Army Museum was visited by Her Majesty The Queen before we opened ABOVE to the public. What follows is a season-by-season summary The new building taking of what was a complex, demanding but exciting process. shape during 2014–15 6 National Army Museum Annual Review 2016–17 7 As the building work progressed, With the structure of the new our outward-facing activities continued building nearing completion, unabated.