Jewish Military Museum facts for kids
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| Location | Hendon, Barnet, North London |
|---|---|
| Type | Military history |
The Jewish Military Museum was a special place in Hendon, North London. It showed amazing stories and items from Jewish people who served in the British armed forces. These stories covered a long time, from the 1700s all the way to today. The museum closed in 2015, and its collection moved to the Jewish Museum London in Camden.
Contents
The Museum's Story
How the Museum Began
The museum started in 1996. It was created by a group called the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (Ajex). Before becoming a museum, it was a special memorial room at Ajex's main office.
Henry Morris had the idea for the museum. He wanted to remember Jewish people who bravely served and died. He also wanted to show that Jewish people have always been part of the armed forces, correcting any wrong ideas.
Growing and Moving
Henry Morris and Martin Sugarman, who kept Ajex's records, worked together. They made the collection much bigger. Because of this, the museum needed a larger home. It moved to Harmony Way in Barnet in 2004.
In 2010, the museum received special recognition. This came from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
Joining Another Museum
In January 2015, the Jewish Military Museum joined with the Jewish Museum in Camden. This meant that fewer items from the military collection were on display. However, people who wanted to study the collection could still see it. They could make an appointment to visit the archives at the Jewish Museum's Military Section.
What the Museum Collected
Items and Stories
The museum held many different items. These included uniforms, medals, photographs, and letters. There were also official documents. All these items told the stories of Jewish people in the British armed forces.
The collections covered many important conflicts. These included the Battle of Trafalgar, Battle of Waterloo, and the Boer War. There were also items from the First World War and Second World War. More recent conflicts like the Falklands War and the modern conflict in Afghanistan were also featured. The two World Wars were a special focus.
Digital Records
The museum made digital copies of service records. These were for all British Jews who served in the Second World War. You could look through these records using an interactive "Record of Honour" database.
Traveling Exhibitions
From November 2010 to January 2011, some museum items went on loan. They were part of an exhibition at Cardiff Castle. This was the first time the museum's items traveled for a show. It was a test to see if a nationwide tour would be possible.
