King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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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:

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Recognition that the relationship between MOD Army and the Museum could be further strengthened. 

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Recognition that our museum provides an Army footprint on the ground where there is little else. 

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The need to get ‘unfunded’ Museum staff on MOD-run courses was also recommended and a more corporate stance be taken. 

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Ways are to be pursued to improve the link between Museums and other parts of the Army. 

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Trustees – the difficulties of succession planning were noted. 

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Proactive advice and strategy would be developed. 

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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:

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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.

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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:

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Isaac Rosenberg, The Making of a Great War Poet by Dr Jean Moorcroft Wilson

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Kitchener’s Men, the Service Battalions of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment by John Hutton MP

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Didcot’s Heroes Remembered by Richard Polley and Clare Wadley

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Osnabruck Garrison History 1945-2009 by Sarah Elsom

In addition to assisting with publications the museum provided advice and assistance with the following exhibitions:

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Remembrance Exhibition, Leighton Hairdressers in Sedbergh.

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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:

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Two on Private William Hodgson of the 2nd/5th King’s Own.

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The Centenary of the Territorial Army

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War Poets - Private Isaac Rosenberg and Ellis Williams

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Military and Regimental Cycling

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The 70th Anniversary of the Munich Crisis and impact on Lancaster.

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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.

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Regulations and Instructions for Encampments, May 1875

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Rules and Regulations for the Sword Exercises of Infantry, April 1842

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Rifle and Carbine Exercises and Musketry Instruction

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Elucidations of the Formation and Manoeuvre

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How Not To Do It

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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:

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100th Anniversary of the Territorial Army

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Regimental and Military Cycling

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‘Love and War’ Exhibition – souvenir items in the museum’s collection to mark St. Valentine’s Day.

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More First World War photographs

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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.

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Full listing of the Museum’s medal collection.

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Loyal and Friendly Society of the Blew and Orange

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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.

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Lunchtime talk: The World War One Diaries of Private William Hodgson, 2nd/5th King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.

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Lunchtime talk: Just a Scrap of Paper - Archives of the King’s Own Royal Regiment

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Lunchtime talk: First World War Photographs of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

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Armistice Anniversary talk on Isaac Rosenberg by his biographer, Dr. Jean Moorcroft Wilson, grant supported by the Friends of Lancaster City Museum.

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Furness College, Lancaster University - History of the King’s Own Royal Regiment

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Trimpell Works Welfare Fund Association – The King’s Own in World War One.

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Heysham Power Station Retired Employees Association – The King’s Own Royal Regiment in World War One.

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Morecambe Local History Research Group – The King’s Own Lancaster Regiment in World War One.

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Presentation at the Archives Specialist Subject Network Conference

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Military Heritage Walk around Lancaster

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Normandy Battlefield Tour (Jul 2008)

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Western Front Battlefield Tour (Oct 2008)

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World War Two soldier character days

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Bowerham Primary School – Remembrance Day Service

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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

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Army Museums Ogilby Trust

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RAF Habbaniya Association

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Western Front Association

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War Memorials Trust

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Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment

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BBC Radio Lancashire

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Lancaster Guardian

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Museum of the Wagoners Special Reserve

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North West Evening Mail, Barrow

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Lancaster Military Heritage Group

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Furness College, Lancaster University

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The Civic Trust / Heritage Open Days

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‘Lancaster Unlocked’

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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Imperial War Museum

The Curator is a personal member of the following organisations:

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Associate of the Museums Association

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North Western Federation of Museums and Art Galleries

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Friends of Lancaster City Museum

The Museum is a member of:

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The Western Front Association

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Military History Society

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Orders and Medals Research Society

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Army Historical Association

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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

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KO2721            Cemetery Register for Pernes British Cemetery, France.  Gift of Mrs Birrell, Carnforth, Lancashire.

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KO2722            Sports Medal, Inter Platoon Hockey to Private Parkinson, 1st King’s Own circa 1930s.  Gift of Mr M Albon, Scotforth, Lancaster.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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KO2730            Photographs relating to the service and Lieutenant Colonel Gawne, 2nd King’s Own circa 1890s.  Gift of Mr J F Gawne, Yeovil, Somerset.

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KO2731            Veteran’s Badge issued to Major Daniel Parsonage, formerly 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Border Regiment.  Gift of Major Parsonage, Lancaster.

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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.

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KO2733            Programme for Parade in Trieste, May 1946 and Christmas Card from the Royal Naval Base, Trieste, Christmas 1947.  Gift of Mrs Mosey, Lancaster.

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KO2734            Photograph of senior non-commissioned officers of the 1st/4th King’s Own, May 1918.  Gift of Mr Farrow, Belgium.

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KO2735            Paperwork relating to Private John Bates, of the 2nd/5th King’s Own.  Gift of Mrs Patrica Mee, Dundee.

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KO2736            Photograph of King’s Own Zulu War Memorial.  Gift of Colonel John de Cordova, Bath.

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KO2737            ‘Lancaster’ shoulder title, discovered by donor in Jan 2001 at Spion Kop in South Africa.  Gift of Mr Robinson, Salisbury.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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KO2746            Photographs of King’s Own Graves, World War One and World War Two, Western Front/Northern France.  Photographed by Peter Donnelly, Museum Curator.

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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.

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KO2748            Book: Remembering Osnabruck, The British Garrison 1945-2009 by Sarah Elsom. Gift of the Garrison Commander.

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KO2749            Photograph of silver drinking cup, Lieutenant M Dane, 4th King’s Own, April 1812.  Digital image supplied by Mr Milligan, New Zealand.

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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.

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KO2751            Digital copy of the Boer War diary of Greenwood Halliwell, of the King’s Own.  Gift of Mr A Jones, Colywn Bay.

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KO2752            King’s Own Graves in Gauhati War Cemetery, India.  Gift of Major E J Foxall, MBE, Trimingham, Norfolk.

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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.

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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.

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KO2755            Photographs relating to Private Peter Braithwaite, 1st King’s Own, 1953-56 including Korea.   Copied from originals lent by Mr Braithwaite, Whitehaven.

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KO2756            Various regimental photographs, circa 1910-1930 copied from borrowed album.

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KO2757            Photograph of 2nd Lieutenant Henson of the King’s Own.  Copied from original image held by family.

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KO2758            Didcot’s Heroes Remembered by Richard Polley and Clare Wadley.  Gift of the authors.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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KO2762            Photograph of Captain Harold Chapman, 2nd/5th King’s Own.  Gift of  Mr Chris Chapman, via email.

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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.

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KO2764            Material relating to Sergeant Westwood, King’s Own, World War One.  Gift of Mr Westwood.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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KO2770            Military Respirator dated 1941.  Gift of Mrs Edmondson, Lancaster.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

© 2009 Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum