Back to Archive Journals

9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2007 - Page 0103

Image details

Regiment 9th/12th Lancers
Year 2007
Transcription REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 101
Regimental Museum
Soldier’s Story Update
his edition of the report on the Regimental Museum will
concentrate on the new gallery at Derby due to be opened
September 2008. As you know this will be called Soldier’s Story
and has been made possible with a £600k grant from the
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), along with support from the
three regiments which will make up the displays: 9th/l2th
Royal Lancers, The Derbyshire Yeomanry and the Sherwood
Foresters. It will be different from the old gallery in that it fol-
lows all three regiments collectively rather than individually as
before and will concentrate on the social aspect ofwhat it is like
to be a soldier throughout the history of the regiment. It will
start at the raising of the regiments and end with modern
deployment, covering the Boer War, World War One and Two,
Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan along the way.
The last 12 months have seen dramatic changes to the old mili-
tary gallery and a massive amount of planning for the new has
occurred.
The old military gallery was closed to the public on the lst June
2007 and all objects and exhibits were packed away, over three
months, with help from volunteers. All objects were assessed
and cleaned with aid from the Project Conservators. The Royal
Armouries of Leeds. Some objects have gone to Leeds for spe-
cialist attention as
20-30 years on display had taken a heavy toll. Many of the uni-
forms had been infected with various forms of insects and need-
ed to be frozen to kill them and to prevent infection of our
reserve collection in our stores. Many new items that have never
been displayed before have been selected for Soldier’s Story,
along with ‘star’ objects from the previous exhibits, which after
cleaning and repair will now look their best. Some items need 80
I
Part of the Designer’s overview for the new F’eg/‘menta/ Museum.
hours or more of specialist cleaning and repairs to prepare them
for the new displays.
The old interiors have now been striped out, leaving an empty
shell. Work is continuing preparing the space for the new
exhibits, including alterations to the floor (to hide power and
data cables), electrics and new heating.
In May 2007 Project Designers, Haley Sharpe Design from
Leicester were appointed to design the new exhibits and display
spaces, including graphics and case interiors. A concept diagram of
how the new gallery might look like is shown here. There will be
23 display cases in total, covering everything from mechanisation,
sport and training, daily life, health/first 7 aid, Reconnaissance,
Navigation, Prisoners of War and all major campaigns.
There will be a rider and horse in full World War One gear and
a fully interactive Sherman Tank turret (with sound effects) for
visitors to play in, along with a map/medal table, large scale film
projection, dressing up stations and an interactive IT station,
showing additional films and containing searchable databases.
There will be seating for the first time and better access for those
with visual and physical difficulties. In addition there will be
dedicated Education packages for schools and a high 7 tech audio
guide which will be a PDA type with pictures as well as audio.
I believe it will be a great improvement on the old gallery and I
hope you will join me.
Soldier’s Story is on target to open at the end of September
2008.
MG
Title