Staffordshire Regiment Museum facts for kids
Staffordshire Regiment Museum
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1969 |
|---|---|
| Location | Whittington Barracks, Whittington, Staffordshire |
The Staffordshire Regiment Museum is a special place in Staffordshire, England. It's a military museum that keeps alive the amazing history of the Staffordshire Regiment. This includes its older regiments and the newer Mercian Regiment. The museum covers a long period, from 1705 right up to today.
The Staffordshire Regiment was a group of Infantry (foot soldiers) in the British Army. It was formed in 1959 when two other regiments, the South Staffordshire Regiment and the North Staffordshire Regiment, joined together.
The museum is right next to Whittington Barracks. This was the main home for the Staffordshire Regiment's older groups since 1881. Today, it's where the Mercian Regiment has its main office. The museum is in Whittington, Staffordshire, on the A51 road. It's about 3 miles from Lichfield and 4 miles from Tamworth.
Contents
Museum History
The museum opened in its current buildings in 1969. Before that, there were separate museums for the North Staffordshire Regiment and the South Staffordshire Regiment. Both of these older museums started in the 1930s.
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The museum has many interesting things to see. You can explore exhibits from several old regiments like the 38th Regiment of Foot and the 64th Regiment of Foot. It also shows items from their later groups, the North Staffordshire and South Staffordshire Regiments. Of course, there's a lot about The Staffordshire Regiment and the current Mercian Regiment. You can also learn about local volunteer groups and the Territorial Army.
Indoor Displays: A Journey Through Time
The main indoor part of the museum takes you on a journey through history. It shows uniforms, weapons, and other items from different wars and campaigns. These include places like India, Burma, the Crimea, and South Africa. You'll also see things from the First and Second World Wars.
More recent displays cover the Regiment's work in places like Northern Ireland, Cyprus, and Afghanistan. The oldest item you can see is a special cap from around 1760. The museum also has a display of medals. This includes medals from eight of the fourteen soldiers who won the Victoria Cross (a very brave award) while serving with the Regiment. In total, the museum has about 11,000 items!
Outdoor Adventures: Trenches and Shelters
One of the most exciting parts is an outdoor copy of a World War I British Army trench system. It's called the Coltman Trench. This trench is named after Lance Corporal William Harold Coltman. He won a Victoria Cross for being a brave stretcher-bearer (someone who helps injured soldiers) in the North Staffordshire Regiment.
The trench is 100 meters long and 2 meters wide. It has dug-outs and other features, just like a real trench. These parts are named after other soldiers from the Regiment who won the Victoria Cross in World War I.
The museum also has outdoor exhibits from the Second World War. One of these is the Smart Street Shelter, which opened in 2017. This is a recreation of an air raid shelter from the 1940s. Inside, you can hear sounds that make you feel like you're experiencing "The Blitz" (air raids during the war).
Other outdoor exhibits include real weapons and armoured vehicles. These vehicles were used or captured by the Regiment. You can see vehicles like the FV432 Mk1 and the Ferret armoured car.
Remembrance Garden and Play Area
The museum grounds also have a special remembrance garden. It holds the original memorial for the Staffordshire Regiment. This memorial used to be at the National Memorial Arboretum. When a new memorial was built there, the original one was moved to the museum. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, officially opened the garden in 2016.
In 2019, the museum opened a military-style adventure playground called Camp Fisher. The main part of the playground is a life-size Warrior tracked armoured vehicle. It's set up like a mock-Forward Operating Base, similar to those used in the recent Afghanistan war. This playground is dedicated to WO2 Ian Fisher. He was a soldier who sadly died while serving in Afghanistan in 2013.
The Staffordshire Regiment Museum is run by a group called the Staffordshire Regiment Museum Trust. This group is a registered charity in England and Wales.
Gallery
-
Display of weapons by a Second World War reenactor during an open day
-
The Smart Street Shelter, a replica Second World War air-raid shelter
-
Public tour of the Coltman Trench
-
Camp Fisher, a Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle styled playground
-
A First World War schools lesson
-
Armoured vehicle display
Other Activities and Learning
The museum often hosts fun events, including historical re-enactment displays. Popular events include "World War I Night in the Trenches" and "Carols in the Trenches."
The museum also has an active Educational Programme. This program offers visits for schools that fit the National Curriculum for different age groups (Key Stage 1, 2, and 3). They use resources from World War I, World War II, and the Victorian era. There's also an Outreach Programme where museum staff give talks about the Regiment's history at other locations.
The museum has a large collection of archives. These include many books and documents about the Regiment, plus a huge collection of photos. Most of the museum's staff who work with exhibits and education are volunteers. The museum also gets support from a group called the Friends of The Staffordshire Regiment. In 2013, the museum won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service for its great work with schools and youth groups.
Images for kids
-
The Staffordshire Regiment's cap-badge
-
Staffordshire Regiment Museum - Exterior
