Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum facts for kids
Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
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| Established | 1926 |
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| Location | Gloucester Docks |
| Type | Military |
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum is a super interesting place located in the historic Gloucester Docks in the city of Gloucester. It tells the amazing stories of two important parts of the British Army. These are the Gloucestershire Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars.
These groups recruited many brave soldiers from Gloucestershire and Bristol. The museum shows what life was like for them. It also covers their adventures and challenges throughout history.
Contents
Discover the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum!
A Journey Through Time: The Museum's History
The museum started collecting items way back in 1926. At first, it was in Bristol. Then, in 1980, it moved to the old Custom House in Gloucester Docks. This new museum was officially opened by The Duke of Gloucester.
The museum got a big makeover in the late 1980s, reopening in 1990. It was updated again in the 2010s with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It reopened its doors in April 2014, ready to share more stories.
What You'll See: Amazing Exhibits and Stories
The museum has collected items for over 300 years! You can see life-size displays that look real. There are also cool sound effects and old films. Many displays show different military campaigns.
These include famous wars like the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War. You can also learn about the Second World War and the Korean War. The museum also covers peacekeeping missions in places like Cyprus and Bosnia. Even recent events in Iraq and Afghanistan are shown.
Brave Heroes: Victoria Crosses and Special Items
The museum proudly displays four Victoria Crosses. This is the highest award for bravery in the British military. These medals belonged to heroes like Herbert Taylor Reade and Daniel Burges.
The museum is always getting new and exciting items. One special item is a service revolver. It was found at Gloster Hill, where the Glosters fought bravely in 1951. This was during the Battle of the Imjin River.
Exploring the Museum's Rooms
The museum is set up like a timeline. You walk through different rooms to see history unfold.
- The Early Years: Here you'll find tiny paintings of officers from long ago. There are also interesting pictures of the Gloucestershire Militias.
- The Napoleonic Room: See old equipment, uniforms, and medals from the Peninsular War and Waterloo.
- The 19th Century Room: Discover unique early uniforms. Learn about the 28th Regiment's time in Australia and the Crimean War.
- World War I Room (1): This room features weapons, drawings, and items from the First World War.
- World War II Room (2): Don't miss the audio-visual display here. It tells the dramatic story of the Gloucesters at Dunkirk in 1940.
- Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Rooms: See beautiful silverware, uniforms, and paintings. These cover their history from the 1790s to after the Second World War.
- Korean War Room: Listen to soldiers tell their own stories. An audio-visual display brings the Battle of the Imjin River to life.
- National Service Room: Many items show what it was like to serve in the British Army. This covers the period from the late 1940s to the early 1960s.
- World War I and World War II Rooms (2): See realistic scenes of a trench from 1916. There's also a display about fighting in Burma in 1944.
- Medal Cabinets: Explore 24 drawers filled with amazing medal collections. These belonged to soldiers from both regiments.
The Museum's Home: A Historic Building
The building where the museum is located is called the Custom House. It's an old Victorian building, finished in 1845. It was designed by an architect named Sydney Smirke. He also designed the building for the Imperial War Museum!
From Customs to Culture: The Building's Journey
In the 1840s, the old Custom House in Gloucester was too small. So, a new building was planned next to the docks. Construction started in 1844. Even though they decided to use special Painswick stone, the building was finished quickly. The total cost was about £5,780, which was a lot of money back then!
What Was a Custom House?
From 1845, the building was used by customs officers. Their main job was to record goods coming into Gloucester from other countries. They also collected taxes, called customs duty, on these goods. Sometimes, they even registered local ships and kept records of their crews.
One of the customs officers used to live in part of the building. Over time, most foreign trade moved to Sharpness. So, the Custom House became less busy. It continued as an office until the late 1970s.
A New Purpose: Becoming a Museum
After the customs staff left, the building got a new life. It became the headquarters for the Gloucestershire Regiment. The museum first opened here in 1980.
Later, the docks area was redeveloped for fun activities. So, the museum was reorganized and reopened in 1990. Its entrance now faces the docks, making it easy for everyone to visit!
