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King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum
2008-2009 Report
Trustees
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Warren
(Chairman)
Colonel John de Cordova OBE
Major Philip Oglethorpe TD
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Dew
Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Stopford
Major Danny Parsonage
Major James Welsh
Colonel Simon Strickland OBE (ex
officio - County Secretary, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment) to November 2008
Major Mike Brandwood TD (ex officio
- County Secretary, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment) from November 2008
Mr Paul Thompson (ex officio -
Lancaster Museums Service)
Staff
Peter Donnelly BA AMA - Curator
Overview
On the eve of the
museum’s 80th Anniversary this report records another twelve months of
busy activity in and around the King’s Own Museum. More than 44,000
visitors passed through the doors, a further 1,600 made use of our enquiry
service and more than 50,000 visited our website. A good record of
achievement.
Whilst we are always
aware of the ‘credit crunch’ which suddenly became a recession we are
pleased to report that trading income of the museum (both in the museum
shop and by postal sales) is up and donations remain at a good level. We
could always do with more, and one major area of charity giving, legacies,
is something we have a poor record with.
The museum is doing more
(with probably less) than it has ever done before, long may the interest
in the history of the regiment and the work of the museum continue!
Trustees
The annual meeting of
trustees was held in November and a report on the museum’s activities was
given by the Curator.
The Chairman gave a
report on the Army Museum’s Internal Audit of December 2007. The King’s
Own Museum was visited, as were the Tank Museum, The Royal Artillery
Museum and the Royal Engineers Museum.
Colonel Warren stated:
“I saw this invitation as a ‘feather in our cap’ and that the King’s Own
Museum had sufficiently high profile at Army Heritage Branch to be asked
and recognised. I also saw the opportunity to enhance that profile. As
an unfunded establishment we had nothing to lose.”
The outcome of the audit
include:
|
Recognition that the relationship between MOD Army and the Museum could
be further strengthened. |
|
Recognition that our museum provides an Army footprint on the ground
where there is little else. |
|
The need to get ‘unfunded’ Museum staff on MOD-run courses was also
recommended and a more corporate stance be taken. |
|
Ways are to be pursued to improve the link between Museums and other
parts of the Army. |
|
Trustees – the difficulties of succession planning were noted.
|
|
Proactive advice and strategy would be developed. |
|
Additionally the whole business of MOD support would be re-examined. As
a result it is now possible for a non-funded museum to receive, by gift,
an item of redundant kit or equipment. |
It was a worthwhile
exercise for the King’s Own Museum.
Collections
Management
The curator continues to
monitor and take care of the collections, whether they are held in store
or on display. A regular programme of inspection takes place to ensure
everything is well cared for.
New acquisitions are all
‘accessioned’ and documented before being stored or used in displays.
Part of this process involves checking dealers and auction catalogues, as
well as internet auctions sites, to ensure that the museum is aware of
anything of interest. In many ways we have been fortunate that nothing of
great cost has appeared in this year. Whilst the economic downturn is
reflected in certain parts of society it does not appear to have hit
militaria!
Research
Work continues on both
the museum’s own collection, and those held elsewhere, on improving
documentation of the photographic collection and where possible matching
dates, locations and even names to photographs. This takes considerable
time and has to compete with more pressing demands. A couple of
photograph albums have been targeted for action, which includes their full
documentation, digitisation of all the images and eventually uploading to
the website.
Digital copies of
various records held at the National Archives at Kew have been obtained,
through the free trial period of the ‘Ancestry’ Website. Many of these
records relate to soldiers who served prior to and during the First World
War. The King’s Own museum pays a small annual fee to the Army Museums
Ogilby Trust to access certain National Archive records over the internet
without further charge. This scheme works very well and has been of great
value to the museum.
No progress was made on
the project to digitise the Second World War diaries of the King’s Own at
the National Archives in this present year which has been a
disappointment. This is sadly due to limited resources, mainly time.
Finance
The museum is pleased to
record the support of grant giving bodies:
|
Grant Aid from the Army Museums Ogilby Trust – to assist with the
purchase of replica uniforms for First and Second World War soldiers for
‘re-enacted’ events. £900. |
|
Grant Aid from the Friends of Lancaster City Museum towards the
Rosenberg talk in November 2008. £100. |
Donations received in
response to enquiries and other fundraising
2008-09 £4873.50
Money received from
Inland Revenue under the ‘Gift Aid’ Scheme
2008-09 £742.82
Interest received on
accounts
2008-09 £309.91
A full statement of
accounts for the year will be presented at the Trustees Meeting, November
2009.
No legacies have been
received in this financial year.
Publications
The museum did not
publish any books or booklets this year. Work on editing the diaries and
letters of Private William Hodgson of the 2nd/5th Battalion, King’s Own in
the First World War is on-going and hopefully will be published when time
permits.
Working with G H Smith &
Sons of Easingwold, seven of the museum’s First World War trench maps have
been digitally copied to be reproduced at 7/10th scale. This project is
on-going as the year draws to a close and is something which is eagerly
awaited.
The answering of one
research enquiry may in fact result in that knowledge subsequently being
spread to thousands of other interested parties. That is the case with
the following publications that the museum has assisted with during the
year:
|
Isaac Rosenberg, The Making of a Great War Poet by Dr Jean Moorcroft
Wilson |
|
Kitchener’s Men, the Service Battalions of the King’s Own Royal
Lancaster Regiment by John Hutton MP |
|
Didcot’s Heroes Remembered by Richard Polley and Clare Wadley |
|
Osnabruck Garrison History 1945-2009 by Sarah Elsom |
In addition to assisting
with publications the museum provided advice and assistance with the
following exhibitions:
|
Remembrance Exhibition, Leighton Hairdressers in Sedbergh. |
|
2nd Lieutenant J H Collin VC, at South Shields Library. |
The Regimental Curator
frequently contributes articles for inclusion in the Nostalgia pages of
the Lancaster Guardian. This year these included:
|
Two on Private William Hodgson of the 2nd/5th King’s Own. |
|
The Centenary of the Territorial Army |
|
War Poets - Private Isaac Rosenberg and Ellis Williams |
|
Military and Regimental Cycling |
|
The 70th Anniversary of the Munich Crisis and impact on Lancaster. |
|
A Soldiers Christmas |
The range of information
sheets made available on the history of the King’s Own, within the
gallery, has been supplemented with a number of publications supplied by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The full-colour booklets and
information sheets cover the work of the Commission as well as the history
of the major campaigns of two World Wars.
Digitisation Project
A number of instruction
manuals, as listed below, have been digitally copied and are available
from the museum on cd-rom. These have proved less popular than the War
Diaries and have generally been copied in response to a specific request
but are then made available for others.
|
Regulations and Instructions for Encampments, May 1875 |
|
Rules and Regulations for the Sword Exercises of Infantry, April 1842 |
|
Rifle and Carbine Exercises and Musketry Instruction |
|
Elucidations of the Formation and Manoeuvre |
|
How Not To Do It |
|
Instructions for the Training of Platoons for Offensive Action, 1917. |
War Diaries –
Digitisation Project
Had it been realised
earlier just how popular the war diaries on cd-rom would prove to be the
museum would have digitised them years ago! 103 have been sold in
2008/09, the full breakdown, by battalion is shown in the table. Each
cd-rom sells for £12 and the majority are sold by post, from our website
or as a follow-up to an answered enquiry.
CD-Rom |
Sold 2008/09 |
Sold 2007/08 |
1st
Battalion |
17 |
15 |
2nd
Battalion Vol 1 |
13 |
6 |
2nd
Battalion Vol 2 |
5 |
3 |
1st/4th Battalion |
14 |
12 |
1st/5th Battalion |
17 |
17 |
2nd/5th Battalion |
4 |
12 |
6th
Battalion |
9 |
7 |
7th
Battalion Vol 1 |
2 |
5 |
7th
Battalion Vol 2 |
1 |
4 |
8th
Battalion |
13 |
10 |
9th
Battalion |
6 |
4 |
11th
Battalion |
2 |
4 |
Total |
103 |
99 |
Overall total sold 202
copies.
Exhibitions
To mark the 90th
Anniversary of the Armistice a special exhibition of portraits of First
World War King’s Own soldiers was created on the mezzanine floor. The
portraits, many from postcard sized originals, were displayed alongside
various exhibits or archives relating to the soldiers featured. This
marked the first public exhibition of some of the images, most of which
are to named soldiers, but one or two are sadly unknown.
Coinciding with the talk
on the diary and letters of Private William Hodgson of the 2nd/5th King’s
Own a number of his letters and diaries was put on display. Items
included the pencil sketch of his photographic portrait which he mentions
doing in his diary. Hodgson, who served with the 2nd/5th Battalion, was
killed in action on 24th May 1917 only a couple of months after arriving
on the Western Front. His diaries and letters are very informative about
an ordinary soldier’s training and active service.
Website
The museum’s website
remains an important part of ‘what we do’ and more people visit the
website than visit the museum in person. The website continues to grow
and there are frequent additions to it’s content including:
|
100th Anniversary of the Territorial Army |
|
Regimental and Military Cycling |
|
‘Love and War’ Exhibition – souvenir items in the museum’s collection to
mark St. Valentine’s Day. |
|
More First World War photographs |
|
Photographs relating to the 8th and 1st King’s Own in Malta, Palestine
and Italy in the Second World War from the Ted Rathbone album purchased
on the ‘Ebay’ internet auction website. |
|
Full listing of the Museum’s medal collection. |
|
Loyal and Friendly Society of the Blew and Orange |
|
2nd King’s Own in Jersey 1908-1911 |
As time and resources
permit the website will continue to be expanded.
From it’s launch in
August 2005 to the end of March 2009 there have been 115,551 visitors to
the site.
Web Statistics:
www.kingsownmuseum.plus.com
Month |
Visits |
07/08 |
Hits |
07/08 |
April
2008 |
5283 |
|
46478 |
|
May
2008 |
6107 |
|
43153 |
|
June
2008 |
4395 |
|
40975 |
|
July
2008 |
3738 |
|
36496 |
|
August 2008 |
3307 |
|
28563 |
|
September 2008 |
2830 |
|
38135 |
|
October 2008 |
3876 |
|
43774 |
|
November 2008 |
4670 |
|
70476 |
|
December 2008 |
3518 |
|
42353 |
|
January 2009 |
4008 |
|
49959 |
|
February 2009 |
4196 |
|
48313 |
|
March
2009 |
4872 |
|
56015 |
|
Totals |
50,800 |
42,562 |
544,690 |
359,282 |
Enquiries
With 1630 recorded in
the twelve months covered by this report this has been the busiest year
ever for enquiries. The 90th Anniversary of the Armistice was marked by a
sudden peak in enquiries in November and as a result more were answered in
that month than during a six months period in 1997! How times change!
The public are certainly more demanding than ever, their interest having
been encouraged by television family history programmes such as ‘Who Do
You Think You Are?
A spin-off from the TV
programme was the ‘Who Do You Think You Are? Live’ at the National History
Show – held at Olympia in February 2009. The King’s Own Museum was
represented at the ‘Military Memorabilia Checkpoint’ organised by the Army
Museums Ogilby Trust which requested volunteers to assist with the
identification of objects, archives and photographs as well as providing
information on family and military history. More than thirty museums were
represented at various times on the ten enquiry desks and more than one
thousand enquiries were received over the three days from the 12000 people
who visited the Show. The Curator attended all three days and made a
significant contribution to dealing with those enquires. AMOT plan to
organise a stand for the 2010 show from 26th to 28th February, again at
Olympia. Involvement in this allows for the promotion of all Regimental
Museums and hopefully encourages some visitors!
Talks & Activities
The curator has
undertaken a number of general and subject-specific talks relating to the
history of the King’s Own, the titles of which are listed below. New
talks are always being developed and it is hoped that these can be
presented more than once, to different audiences, as putting a new talk
together is often a time consuming project.
|
Lunchtime talk: The World War One Diaries of Private William Hodgson,
2nd/5th King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. |
|
Lunchtime talk: Just a Scrap of Paper - Archives of the King’s Own Royal
Regiment |
|
Lunchtime talk: First World War Photographs of the King’s Own Royal
Lancaster Regiment |
|
Armistice Anniversary talk on Isaac Rosenberg by his biographer, Dr.
Jean Moorcroft Wilson, grant supported by the Friends of Lancaster City
Museum. |
|
Furness College, Lancaster University - History of the King’s Own Royal
Regiment |
|
Trimpell Works Welfare Fund Association – The King’s Own in World War
One. |
|
Heysham Power Station Retired Employees Association – The King’s Own
Royal Regiment in World War One. |
|
Morecambe Local History Research Group – The King’s Own Lancaster
Regiment in World War One. |
|
Presentation at the Archives Specialist Subject Network Conference |
|
Military Heritage Walk around Lancaster |
|
Normandy Battlefield Tour (Jul 2008) |
|
Western Front Battlefield Tour (Oct 2008) |
|
World War Two soldier character days |
|
Bowerham Primary School – Remembrance Day Service |
|
Presentation to University of Cumbria History/Heritage Students |
The museum also
supports, by provision of the venue, the monthly meeting/talks programme
of the North Lancashire Branch of the Western Front Association.
Work with outside
bodies
|
Army Museums Ogilby Trust |
|
RAF Habbaniya Association |
|
Western Front Association |
|
War Memorials Trust |
|
Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment |
|
BBC Radio Lancashire |
|
Lancaster Guardian |
|
Museum of the Wagoners Special Reserve |
|
North West Evening Mail, Barrow |
|
Lancaster Military Heritage Group |
|
Furness College, Lancaster University |
|
The Civic Trust / Heritage Open Days |
|
‘Lancaster Unlocked’ |
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission |
|
Imperial War Museum |
The Curator is a personal member of the following organisations:
|
Associate of the Museums Association |
|
North Western Federation of Museums and Art Galleries |
|
Friends of Lancaster City Museum |
The Museum is a member of:
|
The Western Front Association |
|
Military History Society |
|
Orders and Medals Research Society |
|
Army Historical Association |
|
Salonika Campaign Society |
Acquisitions
It has been another year
with many good quality acquisitions to the museum's collection. The full
list is reproduced below:
Acquisitions
|
KO2721
Cemetery Register for Pernes British Cemetery, France. Gift of Mrs
Birrell, Carnforth, Lancashire. |
|
KO2722
Sports Medal, Inter Platoon Hockey to Private Parkinson, 1st King’s Own
circa 1930s. Gift of Mr M Albon, Scotforth, Lancaster. |
|
KO2723
Books, ‘Isaac Rosenberg, the Making of a Great War Poet, A New Life’ by
Dr. Jean Moorcroft Wilson and ‘Whitechapel at War, Isaac Rosenberg and his
circle’. Purchased. |
|
KO2724
First World War memorial certificates to Private William Chorley, 1st/5th
King’s Own, and his brother Corporal Thomas Postlethwaite. Gift of Mr
Bacchus, Ambleside, Cumbria. |
|
KO2725
Photograph of King’s Own group at Saltash, August 1914 and prisoners of
war including Private Valentine Waite. Gift or Mr George, Newport, Gwent.
|
|
KO2726
Silver Fusee Hunter Pocket Watch, London, 1874 Inscribed “Presented to
Sergeant Drummer J C Smith, by his brother Sergeants of the King’s Own
Regiment as a mark of their esteem on his quitting the service 30th June
1882.” Purchased. |
|
KO2727
Small hunting horn used by Roger Horsfield when serving with C Company 4/5
King’s Own at Ulverston in the 1960s. Gift of Mr Roger Horsfield,
Cheshire. |
|
KO2728
Postcard sent home from France by Private James Long, 1st King’s Own, Aug
1914. Gift of Mr and Mrs Ian Muchall, Louth, Lincolnshire. |
|
KO2729
Photograph of miniature portrait of Captain James Oliver of the 4th King’s
Own circa 1813. Sent by email by Mr Richard Bull, London. |
|
KO2730
Photographs relating to the service and Lieutenant Colonel Gawne, 2nd
King’s Own circa 1890s. Gift of Mr J F Gawne, Yeovil, Somerset.
|
|
KO2731
Veteran’s Badge issued to Major Daniel Parsonage, formerly 1st Battalion,
King’s Own Royal Border Regiment. Gift of Major Parsonage, Lancaster.
|
|
KO2732
Photograph of the grave of Private George Ernest Frost, number 40878, 8th
King’s Own, died of wounds on 2 Oct 1918, buried in St. Marie Cemetery, Le
Havre Cemetery, France. Gift of Mr Physick, Lancaster. |
|
KO2733
Programme for Parade in Trieste, May 1946 and Christmas Card from the
Royal Naval Base, Trieste, Christmas 1947. Gift of Mrs Mosey, Lancaster.
|
|
KO2734
Photograph of senior non-commissioned officers of the 1st/4th King’s Own,
May 1918. Gift of Mr Farrow, Belgium. |
|
KO2735
Paperwork relating to Private John Bates, of the 2nd/5th King’s Own. Gift
of Mrs Patrica Mee, Dundee. |
|
KO2736
Photograph of King’s Own Zulu War Memorial. Gift of Colonel John de
Cordova, Bath. |
|
KO2737
‘Lancaster’ shoulder title, discovered by donor in Jan 2001 at Spion Kop
in South Africa. Gift of Mr Robinson, Salisbury. |
|
KO2738
The King’s Own Ibalur Parish Magazine Volume One, Jun 1946. 7th King’s Own
in India, personal documents and Battalion Orders from the period. Gift
of Mr James Parkinson, Garstang. |
|
KO2739
Battle dress blouse and trousers worn by Sergeant John Annett, 1st King’s
Own in 1945/6, photographs, letters, personnel documents etc. Gift of
Colonel John Annett, London (son). |
|
KO2740
Sports Medal, Tug of War 225 Infantry Brigade Sports, 3 Oct 1941, 10th
Battalion King’s Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster. Gift of Mr Tony Dixon,
Carnforth. |
|
KO2741
Series of photographs relating to the service of Private Ted Rathbone with
the 8th and 1st King’s Own in Malta, Palestine and Italy 1942-45.
Purchased. |
|
KO2742
Photographs of King’s Own graves in Normandy, France; Cyprus; Western
Front etc. Taken by Peter Donnelly, Curator, King’s Own Royal Regiment
Museum. |
|
KO2743
Digital copies of original glass negatives of Kings’ Own subjects from the
Essenhigh-Corke Collection of negatives, Sevenoaks. Gift of The Centre
for Kentish Studies, Maidstone, Kent. |
|
KO2744
Material relating to Major Robert Hall Welch, King’s Own and his father
Captain Alfred Bassett Welch. Copied from material lent by Colonel Andrew
Whitton, Lancaster. |
|
KO2745
Photographs of King’s Own soldiers and Corporal Fred Pedder, and Private
Harold Pedder of the 1st/5th King’s Own, World War One. Gift of Mr and
Mrs Keith Jenkinson, Ormskirk, Lancashire. |
|
KO2746
Photographs of King’s Own Graves, World War One and World War Two, Western
Front/Northern France. Photographed by Peter Donnelly, Museum Curator.
|
|
KO2747
Scrap book compiled by Brigadier General Faunce, one of his daughters
married Major (later Brigadier General) G L Hibbert CMG, DSO of the King’s
Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Gift of Mr Joe Hodgson, Preston.
|
|
KO2748
Book: Remembering Osnabruck, The British Garrison 1945-2009 by Sarah Elsom.
Gift of the Garrison Commander. |
|
KO2749
Photograph of silver drinking cup, Lieutenant M Dane, 4th King’s Own,
April 1812. Digital image supplied by Mr Milligan, New Zealand.
|
|
KO2750
Manuscript copies of Letters from the Trenches 1915-1919 Rev Pat Leonard
DSO. Padre to the 8th King’s Own. Gift of Mr John Leonard, Winchester.
|
|
KO2751
Digital copy of the Boer War diary of Greenwood Halliwell, of the King’s
Own. Gift of Mr A Jones, Colywn Bay. |
|
KO2752
King’s Own Graves in Gauhati War Cemetery, India. Gift of Major E J
Foxall, MBE, Trimingham, Norfolk. |
|
KO2753
Transcript of the Court Martial of Captain James Symington Shortt, 4th
King’s Own Regiment of Foot., January 1847. Gift of Mr Mike Hedges,
Waterlooville, Hampshire. |
|
KO2754
Transcribed letters of Captain Arthur H Morris of the 55th West Lancashire
Division (Royal Army Medical Corps) 1918-1920. Gift of Mr John Morris,
Den Haag, The Netherlands. |
|
KO2755
Photographs relating to Private Peter Braithwaite, 1st King’s Own, 1953-56
including Korea. Copied from originals lent by Mr Braithwaite,
Whitehaven. |
|
KO2756
Various regimental photographs, circa 1910-1930 copied from borrowed
album. |
|
KO2757
Photograph of 2nd Lieutenant Henson of the King’s Own. Copied from
original image held by family. |
|
KO2758
Didcot’s Heroes Remembered by Richard Polley and Clare Wadley. Gift of
the authors. |
|
KO2759
Letter and list of names from the Colonel Commanding Bowerham Barracks
(Colonel A F Kidston), Lancaster, dated 10 Jan 1895 to the Borough
Surveyor, Lancaster regarding employment for men who have left the army or
on the Army Reserve. Gift of Mr Brian Abrahams, Highway Manager,
Lancashire County Council, Caton, Lancaster. |
|
KO2760
Silver cigarette case with ‘RPP’ inscribed on the cover, 2nd Lieutenant
Reginald Percy Poole of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Copies
of the Balkan News. 2nd Lieutenant Poole trained with the Gloucestershire
Regiment and was commissioned into the 10th Battalion of the King’s Own
and served with the regiment in Salonika. Gift of Mr Michael Poole
(deceased) Bristol, via Mrs J Hart, Bristol. |
|
KO2761
Copies of material relating to Private George Mason, of 2nd/5th King’s
Own, First World War. From Originals lent to be copied by Mrs Churchill,
Lancaster. |
|
KO2762
Photograph of Captain Harold Chapman, 2nd/5th King’s Own. Gift of Mr
Chris Chapman, via email. |
|
KO2763
Watercolour drawings of an officer of the 4th King’s Own circa 1746 and
Officer of the Royal Lancashire Militia by R T T Evans. Purchased.
|
|
KO2764
Material relating to Sergeant Westwood, King’s Own, World War One. Gift
of Mr Westwood. |
|
KO2765
Menu for the farewell dinner of the 4th County of Lancaster Battalion Home
Guard. Two shoulder flashes of the 4th Anti-Aircraft Division. Gift of
Mr Bill Bury. |
|
KO2766
Photograph of Private Frederick Baker, number 1840, later 200171 of the
1st/4th King’s Own, circa 1914. Gift of Mr Andrew Brooks, Cowan Bridge,
Carnforth. |
|
KO2767
Photograph of Number 8 Platoon of the 11th Battalion, King’s Own Royal
Lancaster Regiment circa 1915/16. Gift of Mr Andrew Milne, Lytham.
|
|
KO2768
Collection of photographs of German soldiers, First World War. Gift of Mr
Carne, Farleton, near Lancaster. Photos relate to donor’s wife’s father
who served as an officer in the German army in the First World War.
|
|
KO2769
Programme and photograph of the ceremonial hand over of the RAF Stations
in Iraq, including Habbaniya, Shaibah, and Basrah, May 1955. Gift of Mrs
G H Singleton, Knott End on Sea, Lancashire. |
|
KO2770
Military Respirator dated 1941. Gift of Mrs Edmondson, Lancaster.
|
|
KO2771
Queen’s South Africa Medal, 1914 Star, War and Victory medals to Private
John Corless, number 6693, 1st King’s Own, letters and photographs. Also
items relating to William Corless, and various newspaper cuttings. Gift
of Mrs Jean Haywood, Glasson Dock, Lancashire. |
|
KO2772
Shooting spoons won by Sergeant J Lintin, 1st King’s Own and programme of
sports, April 1916. Gift of Mr W Batty, Nether Kellet, Lancashire.
|
|
KO2773
‘Hewitson VC Memorial Shield’ of the North Lancashire Group of the Royal
British Legion. Awarded to the branch most successful with fundraising
and other activities. Gift of the North Lancashire Group of the Royal
British Legion. |
|
KO2774
British War and Allied Victory medal to Private Herbert Edward Adkins, 8th
and 1st/5th King’s Own, Memorial Plaque and original wooden cross from
grave in Belgrade Cemetery, near Namur, Belgium. Gift of Mrs Allum,
daughter, Woodford Green, Essex. |
Acknowledgements
The trustees and curator
would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have
helped and supported the museum. There are many hundreds, for everyone
who has donated financial, purchased something in the shop or donated
objects for the collection have all made a valuable contribution.
Special mention must be
made of volunteers Howard Martin, Gaynor Greenwood, Elspeth Griffiths
and Pat and David Shakleton who are working on various projects in support
of the museum. Valued advice was received from Charlotte Walton on the
museum’s “Facebook” page, a social networking internet site and Mr Rodney
Ward, inspector of the museum’s accounts.
The assistance from
Sergeant Steve Bowman and Major Phil McNeil, Quartermaster, 3rd Battalion,
The Yorkshire Regiment, in the transportation of a military bicycle for
exhibition is very much appreciated. As indeed is the help of Colin
Gardner and Pete Read of The Bike Store, Lancaster, who got the bicycle
‘up and running’ for the display!
Financial donations are
always vital to the continued operation of the museum but ‘help in kind’
is just as vital. The kind assistance, with the provision of
accommodation to the curator on his London visits, is acknowledged from
Martin Evans and Jackie Britton. Many an expensive hotel bill has been
avoided through their kindness, indeed the curator would have been unable
to assist with the manning of the AMOT ‘Military Memorabilia Checkpoint’
without their help.
The support of Army
Heritage Branch is much appreciated with the supply of a laptop computer,
printer and laser projector.
Thanks is also extended
to Fergus Read, Steve McQueen, WO2 Neil Barnett, WO2 Darren Szymanski,
Captain Simon Walton and Captain Max Davison for their assistance and
support through the year.
|