Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh facts for kids
Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1935 |
|---|---|
| Location | Brecon, Powys, Wales |
| Type | Military museum |
The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh is a special place in Brecon, Wales. It used to be called the South Wales Borderers Museum. This museum shows off amazing items collected from all over the world. These items tell the story of a famous army group, called a regiment, and its 300-year history.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Past
The museum first opened its doors to visitors in 1935. Back then, it was known as the South Wales Borderers Museum. In 1967, special gates were put up to remember Colonel Courtney Trower. He led a group of soldiers during the First World War. Later, in 1973, the Prince of Wales came to visit the museum. In 2006, a new army group called the Royal Welsh was formed. Because of this, the museum changed its name to what it is today: the Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum is located at The Barracks, Brecon, in South Wales. It is proud to have one of the best collections of weapons in any army museum in the United Kingdom. You can see how soldiers' weapons changed over time. This includes guns from the 1700s all the way to modern times.
Medals and Brave Stories
The museum has a special Medal Room with about 3,000 medals! In the main hall, there is a display of Victoria Cross medals. These are not the real ones, but copies. The real Victoria Crosses are too valuable to be shown all the time. They are the highest award for bravery in the British army.
The Famous Zulu War Room
One of the most exciting parts of the museum is its Zulu War Room. This room tells the incredible story of the 24th Regiment of Foot. They were involved in the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. This war became very famous because of the 1964 movie Zulu. During this war, soldiers from the Regiment earned 11 Victoria Crosses for their bravery. Queen Victoria herself called the soldiers of the 24th Foot "The Noble 24th."
Exploring the Archives
The museum also has a huge collection of old documents and records. These are especially interesting for learning about the Zulu War of 1879. If you are a serious researcher, you can make an appointment to look at these records. The museum also has many pictures, paintings, small models called dioramas, drums, spears called assegais, ammunition, buttons, badges, and old uniforms.
Victoria Cross Heroes of the Regiment
The museum keeps the Victoria Crosses (or copies of them) that were given to these brave soldiers from the regiment:
- Sergeant William Wilson Allen, 24th Regiment (for bravery at Rorke's Drift)
- Private David Bell, 24th Regiment (for action during the Andaman Islands expedition)
- Major Gonville Bromhead, 24th Regiment (for bravery at Rorke's Drift)
- Brigadier General Edward Stevenson Browne, 24th Regiment (for bravery at Hlobane)
- General Sir Alexander Cobbe, Indian Army; attached to the King's African Rifles (for bravery during the Second Boer War)
- Lieutenant Neville Josiah Coghill, 24th Regiment (for bravery at Isandhlwana)
- Private William Griffiths, 24th Regiment (for action during the Andaman Islands expedition)
- Private Frederick Hitch 24th Regiment (for bravery at Rorke's Drift)
- Sergeant Alfred Henry Hook, 24th Regiment (for bravery at Rorke's Drift)
- Major General Dudley Graham Johnson, South Wales Borderers attached to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (for bravery during the First World War)
- Private William Jones, 24th Regiment (for bravery at Rorke's Drift)
- Lieutenant Teignmouth Melvill, 24th Regiment (for bravery at Isandhlwana)
- Company Sergeant Major Ivor Rees, 11th Battalion, South Wales Borderers (for bravery during the First World War)
- Sergeant John Williams, 24th Regiment (for bravery at Rorke's Drift)
- Warrant Officer II John Henry Williams, 10th Battalion, South Wales Borderers (for bravery during the First World War)
