Combined Military Services Museum facts for kids
| Established | July 5, 2004 |
|---|---|
| Location | Combined Military Services Museum Station Road Maldon Essex CM9 4LQ United Kingdom |
| Type | War museum |
The Combined Military Services Museum in Maldon, Essex, is a special place that opened its doors on July 5, 2004. It was started by Richard Wooldridge, who wanted a home for his amazing collection of military items. A charity was set up in 1996 to help find money for a museum building.
In 2001, a perfect spot was found in Maldon: an old warehouse. This building was changed a lot to become the museum you see today. As the museum was being created, more items were added through gifts and new purchases.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
How the Museum Began
The museum started with Richard Wooldridge's personal collection. He had gathered these items over many years. People worked hard to turn his dream into a real museum.
Expanding the Collection
In 2007, the museum received a grant from the National Lottery. This money helped them make the museum bigger. The expansion was finished in November 2008. It allowed the museum to house the important Donnington Historic Weapons Collection.
What You Can See at the Museum
Famous Military Items
The museum has many interesting things to see. One famous item is a Cockle Mark II canoe. This type of canoe was used by the "cockleshell heroes" in a brave raid called Operation Frankton. It's a real piece of history!
Secret Agent Gear
You can also find a large collection of equipment from the Special Operations Executive (SOE). The SOE was a secret organization during the Second World War. They used special tools and gadgets for their missions.
The Donnington Weapons Collection
The Donnington Historic Weapons Collection is another highlight. It includes a replica of the Victoria Cross metal. The Victoria Cross is the highest military award for bravery. All real Victoria Crosses are made from bronze from a captured cannon. The original metal is still kept safe at MoD Donnington.
Rare Historical Documents
Among the rarest items are the Riggal Papers. These are the training records of Captain P M Riggal. He was an instructor for the SOE. These papers were found 50 years after the Second World War ended. They give us a peek into how secret agents were trained.
Museum Exhibitions and Loans
"Secret Wars" in Paris
On September 7, 2016, almost 100 items from the museum went on a special trip. They traveled to the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, France. These items were part of an exhibition called "Guerres Secretes" (which means "Secret Wars"). The exhibition ran from October 12, 2016, to January 29, 2017. It was a great way to share the museum's unique collections with people in another country.
