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King's Own Royal Regiment Museum Lancaster |
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REGIMENTAL HISTORY |
King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum 2006-2007 Report Trustees
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Warren (Chairman)
Staff Overview It is always good to stop and pause to review where we stand and what has been achieved. Looking back on the twelve months it is clear how busy the year has been and how much has been achieved. Bringing in thousands of pounds of external money to support our activities and acquisitions is excellent news, as is the success at auction of the Collin VC Memorial Plaque and the material relating to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes of the 1st Battalion. It has been a record year for the Museum’s website, with increased visitors being matched with increased and improved content, not least the inclusion of hundreds of photographs relating to the two world wars. It is with sadness that the curator never got to visit the 1st Battalion King’s Own Royal Border Regiment during their operational tour to Iraq. Sadly many of the links between the battalion and the museum were lost and there has been little contact with the newly created Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. This was probably to be expected, the King’s Own was the father regiment of the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment - it’s now in the position of being grandfather to the Duke of Lancaster’s and as the generation gap grows the contact, and relevance, is sure to lessen. With one busy year concluded there is much to look forward to in the future. The Heritage Lottery Fund confirmed the grant of around £13,500 for the acquisition of the archive of General Sir Archibald Hunter in March, so work on the collection will have to get underway over the summer. Trustees The trustees met in November 2006 and a busy agenda included the excellent news of Army Museums Ogilby Trust and MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund grants and the subsequent acquisition of the Collin VC Memorial Plaque. The trustees noted the successful ‘Accreditation’ of the museum under the scheme operated by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. A question was asked concerning the security of computer and digital data, the curator was able to explain that there was a process for backing up data and producing duplicate copies of digital files covering both data and images. The trustees supported the creation of the Museum Co-ordinating Committee of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. The Trustees expressed their gratitude to both Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council for their continued support of the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum. Collections Management Management of the museum’s collection in a clean and tidy manner which allows easy access to items and information continues to be a time consuming process but vital part of the job of caring for over 300 years of history. Much effort has been given to improving the documentation of items held in the collection. For example, the contents of some photograph albums have been individually recorded, this on-going project will improve the knowledge of the scope of the collection. All acquisitions need to be documented on receipt prior to their safe and careful storage or display. The growth in ‘digital images’ being received on both cd-rom and by email has resulted in a set process to preserve them. This is expanded to include original images lent to be copied. The digital data is itself preserved as an accessioned item, and a photographic print is made with the same accession number and they are added to the collection. The process requires back-up copies to be made. Research and Digitisation The curator attended a Museums Association Seminar on the subject of research, which prompted the consideration as to how much research the museum did. Quite a lot of research does take place but usually in answer to family history and other enquiries. However, the work on the Silver War Badge roll is a form of research which has led to a greater understanding of those who served in the First World War and were discharged, sick or wounded, before the end of the war. One particular area, that of troopships, required some research, and this is probably typical of research which is frequently carried out without having been pre-planned. A number of photographs of troopships were received in a donation of material, and this led to research on vessels used by the regiment the result of which is that this material now appears in the museum’s catalogues and also on the website. The answer to the question as to how much research the museum does - is probably more than most of us think! Research & Digitisation work:
Finance Fund-raising is always at the forefront of everything we do, for without the funds that the museum raises our activities would be severely limited. We have had a successful year with fund raising, bringing in a number of grants and having a very successful acquisition appeal. Donations, in response to enquiries etc, are sadly in real terms declining, and enquiries answered by email are less likely to receive a donation than those answered by post. The museum is pleased to record the support of grant giving bodies:
A full statement of accounts for the year will be presented at the Trustees Meeting, November 2007. The museum received confirmation that the Heritage Lottery Fund would support the acquisition of the archive of General Sir Archibald Hunter. The grant and acquisition of the material will be made in the next financial year, but the grant support is in the region of £13,500. Sales in the museum shop and by post remain vital to fund-raising and a number of new items have been added, including model soldiers by W. Britain. The ‘pocket money’ items are complimented by a range of books and presentation items, as well as the traditional ties, buttons and badges. Publications Books Published
Information Sheets published:
At the end of the year work is underway on the digitisation of the First World War war diaries. It is planned to produce an individual cd-rom containing each war diary for sale to researchers. This will have the two fold effect of making the information easily available but also preserving the original diaries. War Diaries digitised & published on cd-rom:
Website The website is becoming more and more successful - with a steady increase in visitors. The grant from AMOT to assist with promotion is clearly one reason for great use, but the increased content is also key. The more information the website contains the more it will be used, and more it will be highlighted by search engines. Priority has been given to the addition of images from both the World Wars and this is pretty much complete. The photo gallery is kept as simple as possible for both the ease of production and ease of use by the visitor. The resolution of images is kept low so as to reduce download times, however the quality of image remains good. An application for funding, as part of a national project, to digitise Korean War photographs and archives was sadly unsuccessful. The potential remains! The website was used to promote the 2nd Lieutenant Collin VC Memorial Plaque Appeal and was linked to by a number of media organisations which boosted visitors. Information about the Hunter Archive has also appeared on the website, and in the fullness of time the material will be included. Helpful and constructive advice on the design and content of the website has been received freely from Mr Martin Evans, a consultant, and his recommendations have now been introduced. The promotion of the website has been supported by a grant from the Army Museums Ogilby Trust, matched by our own funds. The promotion has included the distribution of clothing, clocks, calendars etc branded with the web address, as well as advertising in various family history magazines, and the publications of English Heritage and The National Trust. It is very difficult to undertake research to establish which has been the most successful, other than to say that visitors to the website have increased, as shown by the figures below. Web Statistics: www.kingsownmuseum.plus.com Month Visits Pages April 2006 904 3097 May 2006 858 2888 June 2006 950 2717 July 2006 1215 4185 August 2006 1371 5117 September 2006 1343 4200 October 2006 1687 5760 November 2006 1784 5006 December 2006 1602 4164 January 2007 2109 5433 February 2007 1982 5563 March 2007 2246 5921 Totals 18051 54051 Enquiries 1165 Enquiries have been answered, and whilst this is a decline from the previous years total of 1541, the statistics tell only part of the story. By far the majority of enquiries are answered in only a few minutes, partly because of the curator’s knowledge, partly because of the indexes and catalogues which speed the interrogation of the collection and archive. The system is efficient and more enquiries can be answered in less time than a decade ago. There is no backlog of enquiries and most are answered within a few days of receipt. There is a clear public demand for this service with by far the majority of enquiries being received by email and telephone. Telephone conversations of 20 to 40 minutes are not unusual to discuss particular details of a soldier’s service. Enquiries also raise income through both donations and sales. The reprinted First World War histories of the 1st/4th and 1st/5th Battalion are both popular. Work has just started on the digitisation of the Battalion’s War Diaries and it is hoped that people will obtain a cd-rom of the war diary which will protect the originals from damage due to photocopying. Talks & Activities
Work with outside bodies
Exhibitions The re-decoration of the stairs in the museum’s gallery allowed for a re-organisation of the items on display on the walls. A number of new items were added, and a few pictures which had not been on display for many years were brought out of store. Three cases of regimental silver were cleaned and re-arranged, and it is expected that this display will be expanded with the arrival of more silver from County Headquarters in Carlisle. The Curator is a personal member of the following organisations:
The Museum is a member of:
Acquisitions Mention is made elsewhere in this report, and the item is illustrated on the front cover, of the successful acquisition, at auction, of the First World War Memorial Plaque of 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin VC. It is only right and fitting that the plaque is now on display with Collin’s Victoria Cross. Received shortly after the Collin acquisition was a German snare drum acquired by the 1st/4th Battalion at Givenchy in April 1918 - the same action for which Collin won his VC. December saw the auction of material relating to the South African War (1899-1902) from the Bill Griffiths collection. Hidden amongst a wealth of material was a single album of photographs and a collection of letters relating to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes DSO who had served with the King’s Own in the Boer War and was killed in action on 26th August 1914 whilst in command of the 1st Battalion at Le Cateau in France. The success at auction, for such a modest price, at the lower end of the estimate, was really good. The full value of the material was quickly realised, for it included Dykes’s last letter home to his wife written on board the S.S. Saturina just as the battalion embarked for action. The museum only discovered the item was for sale through Fergus Read at the Imperial War Museum, to whom we are most grateful. The full list of acquisitions is published below, a great thank you is extended to all who have thought of the museum when coming to dispose of regimental and other military items. KO2615 Instructions for the Waterproof of Churchill Tanks, dated February 1943. Gift of Mr B Hadwin, Blackburn. KO2616 Photographs of 107th and 147th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps including Trooper Fred Baker of the 107th Regiment RAC (The King’s own). Gift of Mr Fred Baker, Warminster, Wiltshire. KO2617 Khaki bush jacket, issued drawers, locally purchased ‘skirts’, ‘Gilbanks’ water filtration bag, East African Railway tickets, archives and photographs relating to the service of Corporal John Graves of the 1st Battalion King’s Own in Aden in 1958 and Kenya in 1959. Gift of Mr John Graves, Torrisholme, Lancaster. KO2618 Photographs of eight soldiers, including Private Thomas Edward Fisher of the 12th Battalion, King’s Own and group of possibly the 12th Battalion, First World War. Gift of Mr Peter Manley, Stamford, Lincolnshire. KO2619 Photographs, circa 1900-1908 of Sergeant William Beddows and family, number 4824, 2nd Battalion King’s Own. Gift of Mr M N A Macready, Jersey. KO2620 Commemorative certificate of service to 3701740 Private W T Broadley of the 5th Battalion, King’s Own. Gift of Mrs I Lewis, from the collection of the late Dr Marcus Merriman. KO2621 Photographs relating to the 1st King’s Own in India circa 1939-41 and the service of Arnold E Hayes. Gift of Captain VE Hayes (son), Kingston, Ontario, Canada. KO2622 Various ‘sealed pattern’ items of clothing and equipment, including 1940 and 1944 Pattern Webbing, and smocks from the 1960s. From The National Army Museum, London. KO2623 Photographs of Lance Corporal Thomas George Harper who served in the King’s Own circa 1898 to First World War. Digital images supplied by email. KO2624 First World War commemorative memorial plaque to Private Joseph Arthur Murray, number 4054 of the 8th Battalion, King’s Own. Gift of Mrs Julie Lister, Burnley. KO2625 Soldier’s Housewife belonging to Private Sterricker of the 1st King’s Own, circa 1954. Gift of Miss Janet Sterricker, Warton. KO2626 First World War Christmas Cards featuring the King’s Own Badge and Badge of the 55th West Lancashire Division sent home by Number 4173 Private Robert Bell of the 1st/5th Battalion King’s Own. Gift of Mr C Fairclough, Blacon, Cheshire. KO2627 Photographs relating to the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment circa 1970s & 1980s. Including parades and public duties at Buckingham Palace. Gift of Robert Stirzaker from the collection of the late Bob Howson, Lancaster. KO2628 Book: ‘Lions and Dragons An Illustrated History of the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment, 1959-2006’ by Stuart Eastwood. Gift of the Author KO2629 Photograph of the Grave of Private Jack Stapleton of the 1st Battalion King’s Own, at Forli War Cemetery, Killed in action 16 Dec 1944. Gift of Mr Jack Stapleton, nephew, Yorkshire. KO2630 Photographs relating to the 107th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps, and letter relating to the death of Sergeant Thomas Norman Atkinson on 8th August 1944 with the 107th Regiment. Originals lent to be copied by Mr David Robinson, Walton-le-Dale, Preston. KO2631 Photographs relating to Lancaster’s Home Guard in the Second World War. Originals lent to be copied by Mr Weir, Lancaster. KO2632 Book: ‘Two Military Men, The Letters of Father and Son 1794-1815’ Edited by E W F Radford. (James Radford served with the 1st Royal Lancashire Militia). Gift of the Author. KO2633 Photograph of Private Hugh Ward of the 1st King’s Own circa 1955. Gift of Mrs Mary Dodd, Lancaster. KO2634 Photographs of the 1st Battalion in Trieste circa 1947. Gift of Mr John Rickwood, Somerton, Somerset. KO2635 Photographs of King’s Own Graves at the War Cemetery at Habbaniya, Iraq. From digital images supplied by Sergeant John Kohne of the United States Army. KO2636 Photographs of Private Harold Victor Hudson, number 3622/201087 of the 1st/4th Battalion, King’s Own. Original images lent for copying by Mrs Bowe, Lancaster. KO2637 German Map of Lancashire, 1:250 000, picked up in Germany in April 1945. Gift of Mrs P Heron, Lancaster. KO2638 Photograph of the Field Telephone Section of the 1st/4th Battalion, King’s Own and the award of the Victoria Cross to Lance Corporal James Hewitson, of the 1st/4th Battalion, King’s Own. From digital images supplied by Mrs Edith Smithies, Vancouver. KO2639 Photographs of RSM R W Knight and others, circa 1940s. Donor unknown, left in museum in September 2000 and not previously registered. KO2640 Photographs of the 1st Battalion, King’s Own in India, circa 1930s. Gift of Mr John E Davies (former 3710556, 1st and 2nd Battalion) sent via Captain Cedric Rostron and RHQ, July 1983 and not previously registered. KO2641 Books: ‘Ballads of the Boer War, 1902’ Marked as the property of the 2nd Battalion King’s Own, and a Soldier’s New Testament, South Africa, 1900. Gift of Mr R L Farr, Reading. KO2642 British War and Allied Victory Medals and Divisional Badge to Number 28556 Private James Edward Middleton, 11th Battalion King’s Own and later Labour Corps. Gift of Mr P J S Ritchie, Goring by Sea, West Sussex, via Queen’s Lancashire Regiment Museum (January 2001). KO2643 Sports medal to Boy R H Harrison, postcards, Guide to Civil Employment, circa 1930s, photographs, Certificate of Service to Private D Bray, 5th Battalion King’s Own, documents of 2332 Private A Lawton, circa 1889-1900, and First World War ‘flak’ jacket named to number 48835 Private Ingham of the King’s Own. Transferred from the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment Museum, Preston. KO2644 Digital Video Disc of the opening of Carnforth War Memorial, 1924. Gift of the family of William J Weeks, Carnforth. KO2645 Military Medal, War and Victory Medal, Sports Medal, and documents relating to Number 240595 Private Reginald Sydney Dennison of the 2nd/5th Battalion, King’s Own. Gift of Alex and Mia Nicholson and Joshua Aldren via Mrs J Grayston, Heysham. Hand-written script, ‘Gallant Action Under Fire’ 24 Mar 1917 relating to the act of gallantry by Private Dennison. “I wish to bring to your notice the following incident which occurred on Saturday morning last 24 Mar 1917 when a party of 1 NCO and 6 men of the 170 Light Trench Mortar Battery came under shell fire at a point on the - - road Number 241307 Private Hodgson of the 2/5th KORLR States - “On Saturday morning (24 Mar 1917) I was proceeding with six others about 200 yards in advance of a second party along the - - road when the road at a point where the second party was on was shelled by the enemy looking back it was seen that several of the party were wounded. Number 242526 Corporal Jones was seen lying on the ground wounded Number 240595 Private Dennison, now Lance Corporal, picked up the corporal and got him on his shoulder. Another shell came over which blew Private Dennison with the corporal across the road into a ditch. Private Dennison although wounded himself by the second shell got out of the ditch and at Corporal Jones request then assisted in carrying down more seriously wounded to the dressing station were Private Dennison was retained by the Medical Officer. KO2646 General Service Medal, with clasp ‘Palestine’ to Private Walter Barlow, number 3712249, of the 2nd Battalion King’s Own, who died in Palestine on 13th May 1939. Letter and notification of death in hospital. Gift of Mrs Rita Wilcock, Bury. KO2647 First World War Memorial Plaque to 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Collin, VC. Purchased at auction, with the assistance of the MLA/V&A Museum Purchase Grant Fund and Regimental Museum Appeal. KO2648 Embroidered Regimental Fire Screen circa 1870. Gift of Mrs P Starling, Longridge, Warminster. KO2649 German snare drum marked ‘Captured by the 1st/4th Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment at Givenchy, 9 April 1918. 55th West Lancashire Division” Transferred from the Fusiliers Museum, Bury, with no further information of origin. KO2650 Photograph and letter relating to 2nd Lieutenants W J C Booth, Webb, Oliver and Captain Hoyle of the King’s Own. Gift of Major Tony Booth, Lanchester. KO2651 Photographs of soldiers, including Sergeant Henry Richard Harriott, number 242661 of the 1st/5th King’s Own. Gift of Mr D E Lester, Eastbourne. KO2652 Documents relating to the service of Major W E Corless with the King’s Own circa 1939 to 1960s. Gift of Mr John Ferguson, Lancaster. KO2653 Queen’s and King’s South Africa Medals, 1914-15 Star, War and Victory Medal of Number 464 Corporal H Tennant of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Gift of Mr and Mrs A Ghalmi via Mike Anderson, Oxford. KO2654 Letters, photographs and archive 1885-1914 relating to Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Dykes, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Purchased at auction, from the former Bill Griffiths Collection of Boer War items. KO2655 Letters from Captain John Challenor of the 3rd Battalion, King’s Own to his brother, Edward, relative to his finances etc. Purchased. KO2656 Group photograph of recruits at Bowerham Barracks, circa 1938 or 1939, including Private Christopher Travis. Gift of Mr S Travis (Brother), Isle of Man. KO2657 German and Maltese currency, and photographs relating to 8th Battalion Malta etc. Relating to the service of Private Robert Huddleston, number 3717631 of the 8th and 1st Battalions. Gift of (photographs lent for copying) Mr Paul Harley, Bolton-le-Sands, Lancaster. KO2658 Photograph of Private Ted Walton and Private James Walton of Caldervale, James was killed on the railway line near Didcot whilst with the 1st/5th Battalion. Gift of Mr Richard Polley, Didcot from original image supplied by Sally Walton of Caldervale. KO2659 Photographs, letters, documents and shaving mirror of Private Alfred Hodgson, number 22131 relating to his service with the 6th Battalion, King’s Own. Gift of Mr Jeff Hodgson, Spain. KO2660 Photographs of Private Arthur Curwen and his wife, Number 265564, King’s Own. Originals lent to be copied by Mr Curwen (son), Heysham. KO2661 Postcard ‘Greetings from Rhineland Dear Girl from Billy, May 1919’ sent by Number 26931 Private William Thomas Turner of the 1st/5th King’s Own. Gift of Mr Fergus Read, Cambridge. KO2662 Photographs of Private George Marsden, 1st/5th Battalion. Digital images sent by Dr Andrew Woodward, via email. KO2663 Photographs of the King’s Own between 1890s and 1918 including Malta and Singapore. Digital images copied from an original album lent by Major Patrick Roberts, Devon. KO2664 Photographs relating to the service of Private J E Eaton with the 1st Battalion in the 1930s. Digital images copied from an original album lent by Mr Eaton (son), Warrington. KO2665 Albums of photographs and photographs relating to the 2nd Battalion King’s Own in the 1920s and 1930s in Sudan, Egypt, Palestine and India etc. relating to the service of Private George Smith. Gift of Mr G Smith, Bolton. KO2666 Photographs relating to the service of Corporal Arthur Savage of the 2nd Battalion King’s Own in 1914 and as a prisoner of war in Germany. Photos from digital images supplied by Mrs Anita Isaacs, Southend-on-Sea. KO2667 Photographs of soldiers of the 4th Battalion King’s Own, pre First World War. Photos from digital images supplied by Mr Ian Lewis of Ulverston. KO2668 Photographs relating to the service of Corporal Thomas Lowe with the 1st Battalion in Germany and Korea, 1953-55. Photos copied from originals lent by Mr Thomas Lowe, Urmston, Manchester. KO2669 Photograph of seven soldiers of the 6th Battalion King’s Own in Mesopotamia, circa 1916-1918 including Private Charles Hayhurst. Photo copied from original lent by a relative of Private Hayhurst. KO2670 Photograph of Lieutenant H N Morgan, MC, of the King’s Own. Photo from a digital image sent by email by Mr Morgan. KO2671 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence and War Medals of WO2 George Fitzpatrick of the King’s Own who served 1929 to 1957. Photograph and Certificate of service. 1939-45 War Medal and Imperial Service Medal to Charles Sidney Fitzpatrick (brother). Gift of Mr Barry Fitzpatrick, Freckleton, Preston. KO2672 British War and Allied Victory Medals to 2nd Lieutenant C H Newbold of the 1st/4th Battalion. Purchased. KO2673 Letter, photographs and diary pages relating to Private J W Betteridge of the 1st Battalion, King’s Own in the First World War. Taken prisoner of war on 18th April 1918. Gift of Mrs J Simpson, Swadlincote, Derbyshire. KO2674 Cloth uniform labels for ‘HQ Coy The King’s Own Regiment’ and photographs relating to the service of Corporal R H E Young of the 1st Battalion who served from June 1935 to April 1946. Gift of Mrs Gillian Cass, Flookburgh, Grange over Sands. KO2675 1914-15 Star, War and Victory Medals, photographs, bibles and newspaper cuttings relating to 1191 Private Albert Bamber of the 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own. Gift of Mr A R Beighton of Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire. KO2676 Book, “No Place for Ladies - The Untold Story of Women in the Crimean War” by Helen Rappaport, Gift of the Publishers. (Book Includes Mrs Elizabeth Evans of the King’s Own.) KO2677 1914 Star and Victory Medal, Temperance Medal, framed tapestry and photographs relating to Number 8922 Private Fred Ormrod of the 1st Battalion King’s Own. Gift of Mrs E Worsley, Burnley and Mr J Yates, Accrington (Grandchildren). KO2678 Soldiers Guide to Sicily, 1943. Family history folder and digital photographs relating to 2nd Lieutenant John Barton of the 5th Battalion, King’s Own, First World War. Gift of Mr Philip Barton, Burnley. Acknowledgements The trustees and curator would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have helped and supported the museum. There are hundreds, for everyone who has purchased items from the shop or who has donated money or objects for inclusion in the collection have all made a valuable contribution. The demise of the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Border Regiment and the creation and subsequent demise of the 3rd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, can not pass without special mention of the help and support received from many individuals. At the risk of inadvertently overlooking someone, the following list of names marks those who have supported the museum: 3rd Battalion: Major Mark Graham, Quartermaster, WO2 (RQMS) Andrew McKenny, WO2 (RQMS) Jon Wilson, Colour Sergeant ‘Tommy’ Turner, Sergeant Mark ‘Bully’ Shaw, Corporals Paul Martin and Craig Townson. Others within the regimental family who have supported the museum include Captains Max Davison, Simon Walton and Phil McNeil, Warrant Officer 2 Frank Rogers, Colour Sergeants Darren Szymanski and Neil Barnett, and Sergeant Steve Bowman, to whom we also send best wishes for a speedy recovery. Away from the serving regiment the curator would like to make special note of the assistance from Colonel Christopher Warren, Major Daniel Parsonage, Major Syd Byrne, Brigadier Colin Sibun, of the Army Museums Ogilby Trust, Fergus Read, of the Imperial War Museum, William Spencer and Joe Kelly of The National Archives, Kew and Martin Evans for advice on the museum’s website and Jackie Britton for assistance with the digitisation work at The National Archives at Kew. |
