94 http://www.britainatwar.com
Visitor information
The museum is open seven days a
week, all year round, 10am – 4pm,
including bank holidays, with seasonal
closures in the Christmas/New Year
period. During special events, the
opening hours may be extended or
varied. There are also occasional
closures as circumstances dictate, such
as when maintenance issues arise or
when the museum is being used for
filming – as much notice as possible
is given via social media. Prospective
visitors, particularly those contemplating
long journeys, are welcome to call the
office to confirm opening. Admission
charged. Address: The Staffordshire
Regiment Museum, DMS Whittington,
Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9PY.
Telephone: 01543 434394
http://www.staffordshireregimentmuseum.comCOLLECTIONS|STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT MUSEUM
collection of regimental memorabilia.
Rare items, such as an officer’s mitre cap
from the 1700s, a pair of Napoleonic-
era Regimental Colours, a bloodstained
tunic from the Battle of Ulundi in
1879, the giant key to the Lower Gate
of the Citadel at Cairo, taken during
the surrender in 1882 and the original
Denison smock worn by Major Cain
VC at the Battle of Arnhem in 1944
are displayed alongside a myriad of
weapons, uniforms and regimental
mementoes. The Victoria Cross
cabinet contains the medal groups of
the regiment’s 14 recipients, awarded
for their part in actions ranging from
the Indian Mutiny, the Zulu Wars, the
Great War and the Second World War.
Perhaps the most poignant display
is that of a modern conflict. The
‘Operation Herrick’ cabinet contains
an exact reproduction of the living
quarters of soldiers serving with the
3rd Battalion (Staffords) the Mercian
Regiment in Afghanistan. A case
contains the personal possessions of
Private Gareth Bellingham, who was
killed in action in Afghanistan on June
18, 2011, aged just 22 years. Gareth’s
personal kit and belongings were
very kindly donated to the museum
by his parents and, with an audio-
visual presentation put together by his
regimental colleagues, forms a moving
tribute to this young man.
The museum has a very supportive
group of volunteers that fill roles
such as front of house, education,
maintenance and research. On
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays,
members of the education team step
into their period-specific uniforms
and host curriculum-based guided tours
for schools.Regular theme days
There is a programme of events
throughout the year and on certainLEFT
Private H Rose,
who served with the
South Staffordshire
Regiment during the
Great War, visiting
the museum
in 1993.BELOW
Part of the
‘Coltman Trench’
display.occasions the site is populated with an
assortment of personnel – see the website
for details of what’s coming up. The
highlight of the season is the ‘Night in the
Trenches’ event each November, which
includes a candlelit guided tour, vignettes
of trench life and a spectacular night-time
battle, with gunfire, simulated explosions
and troops going ‘over the top’.
This year sees the 75th anniversary
of the regiment’s involvement in some
of the major campaigns of the Second
World War, including Normandy, Sicily
and Arnhem. To commemorate this, the
museum is hosting a 1940’s Airborne
Weekend in August. This will include
a first for the site, an outdoor cinema
showing of the 1977 film, A Bridge too
Far. There has never been a better time
to visit this interesting and thought-
provoking museum.