King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Lancaster

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King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum

Annual Report 1993-1994

Trustees

Chairman Colonel J G de Cordova OBE
Lieutenant Colonel P E Dew
Major P E M Oglethorpe TD
Lieutenant Colonel J M Hardy
Lieutenant Colonel D Stopford
Major A C Booth

Ex officio

Brigadier James Howard CBE (Regimental Secretary)
Dr A J White MA PhD FMA FSA (Curator)

Staff

Assistant Keeper Peter Donnelly BA AMA

Introduction

The past year has seen a focus upon collection management, and computerisation of King’s Own records. All of this work is seen as an important step in getting the collection ready for the redisplay which is due to start in 1995. Even now research and care of the collection is taking account what material will need to be ready for display in 1995. The planning for the redisplay was started in August 1993, and will continue through 1994.

Photographs

The scheme, grant assisted by the North West Museums Service, to purchase special protective envelopes has been continued. Almost all of the museum’s photographs are now in a protective envelope, which are then stored in acid free cardboard boxes. It is now easier to view the collection without the actual photos being handled.

The programme to create negatives of the photographic collection has also continued with grant assistance from the Area Museum Service. Priorities are always difficult to set as there are so many good photographs to select from.

Computer

The upgrading of the King’s Own Museum computer took place in April. During the year a massive amount of information has been added to the computer. This includes: an index of the officers and men on whom the museum holds information; part of the accession register and exhibit information; and medal rolls from Waterloo to the present day. Much data is still to be added to the system, but already benefits are seen with the more rapid response given to enquiries concerning both personnel and the collections.

Fundraising

Money from the King’s Own donation box has totalled £349.72 in the past year. Along with other donations, sales income and grant assistance this money has been ploughed back into the development of the museum and its collections.

Seminars and Training Courses Attended

Peter Donnelly sat his Museum Association Diploma practical examination, and passed, and in September was awarded the Associateship of the Museums Association at the MA’s Annual Conference.

	Attended the Conference of Military Curators
	North West Federation Meetings
	North West Museums Service Charity Seminar

Publications produced by the Regimental Museum:

	Short History of the King’s Own
	Ballads of the King’s Own
	Letters of Captain Jasper Hall

A total of 42 information sheets have also been produced over the year. Twenty one focus on medals, detailing information about the medal, when and where they were awarded, with particular reference to the King’s Own. A further twenty look at the King’s Own in the First World War, the winners of the Victoria Cross and the Militia Battalions. They provide a sound introduction to the particular area which they cover and are very useful when answering enquiries.

Lectures

	Saint Chads Men’s Fellowship Group
	Lancaster and Morecambe Model Engineering Society
	Morecambe Continuing Education Students
	Morecambe Militaria Society

External Links

The new Assistant Keeper has maintained close links with both the Regimental Headquarters in Carlisle, and the Curator at the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment Museum at Carlisle, Mr Stuart Eastwood. There are many areas where the two museums overlap, and for the future there are plans to take part in joint fundraising exercises. A common standard for archives and records is being considered for the two museums.

Peter has regularly attended the meetings of the King’s Own Royal Border Association, Lancaster Branch, as well as other Regimental Functions. He has also met with the staff of the 4th Battalion on a number of occasions.

Peter Donnelly is a member of the Social History Curators Group, the Museum Association, the Science and Industry Curators Group and Museum Professionals Group.

Volunteers

Norman Rowlinson has continued to be of great help, undertaking research and compiling indexes of the collection. Much of his research has then been added to the computer increasing the access to that information. All of the Medal Information Sheets mentioned above were researched and written by Norman. His work is a very valuable contribution to the running of the Regimental Museum.

Enquiries

Over 300 have been dealt with in the period of 1st April 1993 to 31st March 1994 ranging from family history, assistance with school and university projects to provision of uniform details for model makers.

Acquisitions

	KO1970 Military Medal group to 3856797 Private H Edwards and paperwork.
	KO1971 Scrap album of newspaper cuttings, 1915-1916.
	KO1972 Collection of 97 photographs King’s Own, 1930s. Mr P Marshall, Morecambe.
	KO1973 Book: The British Army 1914-18. Purchased
	KO1974 Book: British Infantry Equipment, 1908 to 1980. Purchased.
	KO1975 Silk handkerchief with King’s Own markings. Mr J Midgley, Gillingham.
	KO1976 Photo: HMS Hero
	KO1977 Book: Tried and Valiant, The Story of the Border Regiment. Regimental Museum, Carlisle.
	KO1978 Medal group to Private C Brodie. Purchased.
	KO1979 Series of Wartime OS Maps, United Kingdom. Mr J Lawrence, Lancaster.
	KO1980 Slides 4/5 King’s Own Parade, Lancaster, April 1967 and Major K Clarkson, Officer Commanding B Coy 4/5 King’s Own, with Lieutenant J Preston, circa 1965. Mr J Preston, Lowestoft
	KO1981 Books: Sutherlands War by Douglas Sutherland; The Life and Times of Captain William Lonsdale, by Nieuwe Dieper; The War Graves of the British Empire, Doiran Military Cemetery, Greece. Colonel J Petty, via Regimental Headquarters, Carlisle.
	KO1982 Papers, letters and badges Lance corporal Albert Longhurst. Mr Chester.
	KO1983 Photo: 2/5th King’s Own Football Team, 1915-1918, with Private Dennison top right. Mrs Dennison, Lancaster.
	KO1984 Photo: Paul Thompson, Morecambe King’s Own Cadets B Company, Trip to London, Summer approx. 1968.
	KO1985 Photo: Memorial plot plaque, Priory Church, Lancaster; War Memorial Grange over Sands. Mr Peter Donnelly, Assistant Keeper.
	KO1986 Medals: World War One trio issued to Private J Bodley. Mr and Mrs Roberts, Thornton Cleveleys.
	KO1987 Medal: May League Winners D R Bartle, 1924, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own. Mr Clifton, Halton, Lancaster.
	KO1988 Medal group: including Victoria Cross to Private 241475 Private Albert Halton, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, and photograph. Gift of the family of Albert Halton.
	KO1989 Calendars, Royal West African Frontier Force, 1936-8. Grace Holt, Lancaster.
	KO1990 1944 Christmas Cards and other paperwork. Mr Shaw, Oldham.
	KO1991 Book: British Battles and Medals. Purchased.
	KO1992 Photo: King’s Own at Fulwood and Appleby and Memorial Scroll to Private A Smith. Gift of Mr Wilson, Blackburn.
	KO1993 Book: Volunteer! The Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, 1859-1885, by Stephen Bull. The publishers.
	KO1994 Photos: Grave of Private James Lewis, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own, died 28 Feb 1862, and grave of Sarah Jeffs, wife of Sergeant Major J Jeffs, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own, 19 Feb 1862. Gift of Dr. Whitton, Lancaster.
	KO1995 Photos various King’s Own, unidentified. Mr A T Peters, Morecambe.
	KO1996 Photos of King’s Own graves in Lancaster Cemetery and at Corfu. Mr N Rowlinson, Lancaster.
	KO1997 Book: Navy, Blue and Khaki, by Waltham Shute, Purchased.
	KO1998 Paperwork relating to Private N Young, driver with 6th Battalion, King’s Own in World War Two. Mr P. N. Young, Manchester
	KO1999 Pennant for use on staff car of Lieutenant General Sir Neil Ritchie during visit to Battalion in 1951 or 1952. Lieutenant Colonel D Ford, MC MBE, Zimbabwe
	KO2000 King’s Own sweet heart badge with lion on white background. Mrs B Lynam, Gillingham.
	KO2001 to KO2024 Medals formally accessioned into the collection, although actually held for some time without full recording.
	KO2025 Nine First World War silk postcards. Mrs Ainsworth, Cheltenham.
	KO2026 Sports medal: Platoon sports, 1923, winners 30 Platoon, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own, not engraved and collection of photographs. Mr G Bone, Ayr.
	KO2027 Photocopy of Diary and Notes of Mr J Bryan, 1 King’s Own 1952-54. Mr Bryan, Kirkbridge.
	KO2028 Photo of regimental badge on hillside, Gebeit, Kassala Province, Sudan. Mr John Brooks, Lancaster.
	KO2029 Medals: WW1 Trio of Private John Edward Richards with photo and dog tag. Mrs Margaret Fray and Miss Kathleen Richards, Lytham St. Annes.
	KO2030 Medals: WW1 Trio to Private A E Turner and postcards, Mrs Jenkins, Gillingham, Kent.
	KO2031 Britains Limited Edition soldier set: The King’s Own Royal Border Regiment. Purchased.
	KO2032 Collection of Blazer Buttons, Major Corless, Lancaster.
	KO2033 Books: The Anglo-Boer Wars 1815-1902 by Michael Barthop; An Illustrated History of Guns & Small Arms by J Rosa & R May; World War II Small Arms by J Weeks. Purchased.
	KO2034 German-Nazi Flag acquired whilst King’s Own advanced through Germany in 1944/45. Major J R Paton, Wadebridge, Cornwall.
	KO2035 Photocopies of War Diaries of 107th Regiment RAC and 151st Regiment RAC. Purchased.
	KO2036 Photo: Grave of 36493, Private R Gill, KORLR, Mr M Milbourne, Brunstock, Carlisle.
	KO2037 World War Two First Field Dressing Bandage. Mrs J Smart, Lancaster.
	KO2038 Books: Wellington’s Generals by M Barthop; The British Army on Campaign Vol 1 1816-1853; The British Army on Campaign, Vol 2 The Crimea, 1854-56. British Infantry Equipment 1808-1908; The British Army in North America 1775-1783. Purchased.