King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Annual Report 1994-1995

Trustees

Chairman Colonel John de Cordova OBE
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Dew
Major Philip Oglethorpe TD
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hardy
Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Stopford
Major Tony Booth

Ex officio

Brigadier James Howard CBE (Regimental Secretary) to 31/12/1994
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Flanagan MC (Regimental Secretary) from 1/1/1995.
Dr Andrew White MA PhD FMA FSA (Curator) 

Staff

Assistant Keeper Peter Donnelly BA AMA 

Introduction

Again it has been a very busy year for the King’s Own Museum.  Most activity has been directed towards the redisplay of the museum: fundraising; meeting with architects; planning content; and searching through the collections for suitable exhibits and illustrations to use.  Work on reconstructing the gallery should have begun in January 1995 but certain technical issues such as floor-loading delayed the start until March.

Collection Management

Because of the delayed start in the construction work the additional time was used to start an audit of the collections.  Those items found were all added onto a computer database – this should make the job of locating suitable exhibits far easier.  There remains a significant amount of work to be done in updating the museum catalogues and indexes but I am now pleased to report than the accession records are very nearly up to date.

With grant assistance from the North West Museums Service work has continued on the improved storage of the photographic collections, and as this nears completion work has now begun on the uniform collection.  Some items have been cleaned – surface dust being removed by a vacuum cleaner.  Most items have been photographed – this assists identification, and planning for the redisplay.

All the museums computer records have been updated this year, and new files established.  New files cover: exhibit donors; King’s Own men killed in World War Two; King’s Own and King’s Own Royal Border men killed since 1945 and the Zulu War Medal Roll.

Exhibition Work

A small exhibition mainly of photographs was created in June 1994 looking at the 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps in France and Germany in 1944, and the campaigns in Burma and Italy.

In order to maintain a King’s Own presence in the City Museum when the room upstairs was closed a new temporary exhibition has been established in one of the downstairs rooms.  Featuring many exhibits not previously displayed the display includes uniforms, a desert scene, World War 1 and World War 2.  The temporary display has been surprisingly popular considering that it was created in a short time with minimum finance.  We hope that the new permanent display will be much better and more popular.  The additional space will allow us to do so much more.

Fundraising

Fundraising remains an important activity – even more so this year with the Refurbishment Appeal.  By the end of March an encouraging £10,648.50 had been raised.  The thanks of the Trustees and the Curator is extended to all the donors.  Money from the King’s Own donation box has fallen by £70 on the previous year to £276.67.  All of this money, together, with sales income and grant assistance, is used for the development of the museum and its collection.

It would be highly desirable to obtain a permanent source of funding for the continued development of the museum in the future, since the ‘rainy day’ for which savings had long been accumulated has now arrived in the shape of the chance to carry out major improvements.  It is important that Trustees recognise that in the future there will be no savings to fall back on, or interest to spend on revenue costs.

Acquisitions

KO2039          Book, Wellington’s Peninsular Victories, by Michael Glover.  Gift of Mrs M Dodd, Lancaster.

KO2040          Photos of the graves of Private H Brook, killed 6th February 1944 and Private T Cain, killed 1st March 1919.  Gift of Major Andrew Whitton, Lancaster.

KO2041          Documents relating to Private Charles Williams, served with the King’s Own 1894 onwards.  Gift of Mr R Williams, son.

KO2042          Books: The British Soldier by H. De Watteville; The British Soldier A Social History from 1661 to the Present Day by J M Brereton; For Queen and Country: A Social History of the Victorian and Edwardian Army by B Farwell.  Purchased.

KO2043          Books: Badges of the British Army by F. Wilkinson; Scottish Regimental Badges 1793-1971 by W H and K D Bloomer; The People’s History of the Second World War, September 1939 to December 1940.  Gift of Mr John Lawrence, Lancaster.

KO2044          Collection of Regimental Badges, King’s Own decorative wooden shelf.  Gift of Mrs Pym, Ingleton.

KO2045          Shooting Competition Prize spoon to Sergeant R Norris, 1937.  Purchased.

KO2046          Medals, paperwork, photographs, postcards, documents and various items belonging to Private H Rawes, who served with the King’s Own in World War One.  Gift of Miss Mary Rawes, Clitheroe.

KO2047          Watercolour Cartoon Illustration, ‘The Front Line’ by B. Holliman, Gift of the artist, Lancaster.

KO2048          Razor, used by Private Thomas Haslam, 6th King’s Own in Mesopotamia.  Gift of Mrs Haslam, Lancaster.

KO2049          Bandsman’s scarlet tunic, circa 1914.  Purchased.

KO2050          Book: The Fateful Battle Line by Captain Henry Ogle, by Michael Glover.  Purchased.

KO2051          Military Medal Group, issued to Private D Brown, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster in Burma, with Korean War Medals and General Service Medal, Palestine.  Escape map and Pay Book.  Gift of his family.

KO2052          Sports Medals to E H Cowper, Trieste, 1949/50 and BAOR 1951/52  Gift of Mr E H Cowper.

KO2053          Cased stone and Dunkirk beach sand, with metal plaque “This is a part of the memorial erected on the 6th June 1977 to commemorate the evacuation of the British and Allied forces from the Beachs of De Panne, May – June 1940.  Gift Of Mr John Lawrence, Lancaster.

KO2054          Book: Exercise of Light Infantry with some instructions for their conduct in the field, intended for the use of the Ulverston Volunteer Infantry, Published in Ulverston, 1804.  Purchased with grant aid from the Army Museums Ogilby Trust.

KO2055          Army Schools Certificate to George Hawkins, 1909-1912.  Gift of Mr Hawkins, Keighley, West Yorkshire.

KO2056          King’s Own sweetheart handkerchief of type bought from the NAAFI at Bowerham Barracks circa 1950s.  Purchased.

KO2057          Book: Officers’ Waist Belt Clasps, 1855-1902, by Lelia B Ryan, Military Historical Society.

KO2058          Book: Tank Twins, East End Brothers in Arms, 1943-45 by Stephen Dyson.  Purchased.

KO2059          Book: Churchill Infantry Tank, 1941-1951.  Purchased.

KO2060          World War One medals to Private H Metcalfe.  Gift of Mrs Metcalfe, Harrogate.

KO2061          World War One medals, miniature medals, shoulder titles, paperwork and exhibits relating to Private W A Morris, and nose cone of German shell which wounded him in the hip in May 1915.  Gift of Mr Morris.

KO2062          Side Cap, King’s Own.  Commission Certificate and print of the battle of Culloden.  Gift of Major Hayes.

KO2063          Diary of Captain Cumberland (RAMC) who served with the 9th Battalion in the First World War in Macedonia.

KO2064          Photos of the grave of Private R Gill, killed 16th May 1918, Gift of Mr M Milburn, Brunstock, Carlisle.

KO2065          Various books held in the museum collection and not previously registered.

KO2066          Lecture Notebooks: Ammunition, small arms ammunition etc.  Gift of Mr Lethbridge, Carnforth.

KO2067          Notes relating to the 56th and 66th Anti-Tank Regiments RA (The King’s Own) TA during World War 2.  Commission Certificate, 1932 to L I Cowper, News cuttings in album.  Gift of Colonel Julia Cowper.   

KO2068          Territorial Efficiency Medal pre 1947.  To 5620517 Trooper R J Cornish.  Gift of Mr G Jackson, Manchester.

KO2069          Photo: King’s Own officer.  Gift of Mr J Howarth, Preston.

KO2070          King’s Own Christmas Card and postcard The Queen’s Hospital Frognal, Sidcup, Christmas 1917, ward view.  Gift of Mr Muckalt, Morecambe.

KO2071          Biographical accounts and notes on the memorials in the Regimental Chapel, Lancaster.  Gift of RHQ, Carlisle.

KO2072          Book: British Battle dress, 1937-1961.  Purchased.

KO2073          Letter by the Commander in Chief on Non-Fraternisation with the Germans in 1945, and Certificate of Service to B. Vickers.  Gift of Mr Thomas, Lancaster.

KO2074          World War One medals and documents awarded to Private F W Lane.  Gift of Mr D W Lane, Barrow.

KO2075          World War Two medals, Soldier’s Pay Books to Private E R Perryman.  Gift of Mrs Perryman, London.

KO2076          Books, Purchased.

KO2077          Books: British Sieges of the Peninsular War by Frederick Myatt; Wellington’s Regiments by Ian Fletcher.  Gift of the Publisher.

KO2078          Christmas Card, 1931 from L Gallagher, King’s Own Palestine.  Gift of Mr G Grady, Warrington.

KO2079          World War One Camp Bed and identity bracelet belonging to 2nd Lieutenant Ingmire.  Gift of Mrs Davidson, Chichester.

KO2080          World War One medal group to Lance Corporal John Brockbank (Rifle Brigade) believed to have served with the King’s Own.  Lived Woodville Terrace, Lancaster.  Prisoner of War snake, given to John Brockbank by a friend in World War One, from Turkey/Eastern Europe.  Gift of Mr Morris, Morecambe.

KO2081          Silk handkerchief, King’s Own, and table centre piece sent home by donors uncle, Lance Sergeant H Toole who was a prisoner of war in the Western Desert, 1941.  Gift of Mrs H Shaw, Manchester

KO2082          Pen knife and jungle blanket used by Tommy Hunt.  Gift of Mr T Hunt, Lancaster.

KO2083          West Lancashire County  Cadet Committee Certificate to Paul Thompson, 5th (King’s Own) Cadet Battalion, 26th July 1969.  Gift of Mr Thompson, Morecambe.

KO2084          Wooden sign ‘The King’s Own 3rd Battalion, Home Guard, A Coy’ via Lieutenant Colonel Peter Dew, Halton.

KO2085          Book: The Aegean Mission, Allied Operations in the Dodecanese, 1943 by Jeffrey Holland.  Redcoats and Rebels, The War for America, 1770-1781 by Christopher Hibbert.  Purchased.

KO2086          Certificate in Lieu of FTT Identity to 21057208 Private Mythen, M, 1st King’s Own, August 1948.  Gift of Mr Mythen, Liverpool.

Seminars and Training Courses Attended

North West Museums Federation Meetings
North West Museums Service Photography Seminar
Museum Documentation Association Spectrum Seminar
Workstation Assessments
Manual Handling
Fire Safety

Publications:

The Assistant Keeper was involved in the production of the magazine ‘Regiment’ issue Number 8, which featured the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment, 1680-1995.  Copies are on sale in the Museum Shop.

The museum was also able to work with Spellmount Publishing, and assist with a cover illustration for ‘British Sieges of the Peninsular War’.  Spellmount kindly made a donation to the museum appeal, and donated a copy of the publication to the museum.

Lectures

Permanent Way Institution
Lancaster Family History Group
Lancaster and Morecambe Institute of Engineers

External Links

Links have been maintained with Regimental Headquarters in Carlisle and the Curator of the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment Museum, Mr Stuart Eastwood.  Lack of time prevents any major joint projects between the two museums.  Regimental Headquarters have been of great assistance prior to the mail out of the Regimental Museum appeal in giving suggestions as to who should be approached.

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 two battalions at both formal and informal events.

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

Volunteers

Much of what is achieved in the museum is done through the volunteer support of Norman Rowlinson who again has continued to be of great help.  Much work this year has centred upon the reorganisation of ‘personnel files’ but has also included research into the actions of the 107th Regiment RAC King’s Own in 1944 and 1945.  It should be acknowledged that Norman’s presence in the museum is equal to that of a part time member of staff.

Enquiries