The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh, formerly the South Wales Borderers Museum is located at
Brecon
Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the coun ...
in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
. The museum's collection is made up of artefacts collected from a variety of sources from around the world and which display the regiment's 300-year history.
History
The collection was opened to the public as the South Wales Borderers Museum in 1935. Memorial gates were unveiled at the museum in memory of Colonel Courtney Trower, who commanded the 5th (Service) Battalion during the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, in September 1967 and the
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...
visited the museum in October 1973. Following the formation of the
Royal Welsh
The Royal Welsh (R WELSH) ( cy, Y Cymry Brenhinol) is an armoured infantry regiment of the British Army. It was established in 2006 from the Royal Welch Fusiliers (23rd Foot) and the Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot).
History
The ...
in 2006, the museum changed its name to the Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh.
The collection
The museum is based at
The Barracks, Brecon
The Barracks, Watton is a military installation in Brecon in Wales.
History
The original barracks, which were constructed of red brick, were built at the Watton in 1805 and then extended in 1813.Tones, p. 126
In 1873, as part of the Cardwell R ...
,
South Wales, and claims to have the finest collection of weapons to be found in any regimental museum in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. Its collection of guns shows the development of soldiers' weapons from the 18th century to the present.
The museum's Medal Room contains about 3,000 medals. The
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
case in the main hall contains sixteen replica VCs which represent the originals which are owned by the regiment but which cannot be displayed because they are too valuable. The museum's greatest attraction is its
Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Following the passing of the British North America Act of 1867 forming a federation in Canada, Lord Carnarvon thought that a similar political effort, coup ...
Room, which displays the exploits of the
24th Regiment of Foot
Fourth or the fourth may refer to:
* the ordinal form of the number 4
* ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971
* Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision
* Fourth (music), a musical interval
* ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...
during the 1879
Anglo-Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. Following the passing of the British North America Act of 1867 forming a federation in Canada, Lord Carnarvon thought that a similar political effort, cou ...
made famous by the 1964 film ''
Zulu'', for action during the campaign the Regiment was awarded 11 VCs.
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
called the soldiers of the 24th Foot "The Noble 24th".
[
The museum has an extensive archive which in particular relates to the Zulu War of 1879. Access to the archive collection is available to bona fide researchers by appointment. The museum also has an excellent collection of pictures, paintings, dioramas, drums, assegais, ammunition, buttons, badges and uniforms.][
]
Victoria Crosses held by the museum
The museum holds the Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
es awarded to the following members of the regiment:
*Sergeant William Wilson Allen
William Wilson Allen, VC ( – 12 March 1890) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift in January 1879, the highest and most prestigious award for valour in the face of the enemy that can ...
, 24th Regiment (Rorke's Drift)
*Private David Bell, 24th Regiment (Andaman Islands expedition
The Andaman Islands expedition was a British expedition to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, India. For actions during the expedition, five soldiers of the 24th Regiment of Foot were awarded Victoria Crosses. David Bell, James Cooper, Ca ...
)
*Major Gonville Bromhead
Major Gonville Bromhead VC (29 August 1845 – 9 February 1891) was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of the British armed forces. ...
, 24th Regiment (Rorke's Drift)
*Brigadier General Edward Stevenson Browne, 24th Regiment (Hlobane
Hlobane is a town in Zululand District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
Coal-mining centre 27 km east of Vryheid and 31 km south-west of Louwsburg. The locality was known as such in the 19th century and the na ...
)
*General Sir Alexander Cobbe
General Sir Alexander Stanhope Cobbe (6 June 1870 – 29 June 1931) was a senior British Indian Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Com ...
, Indian Army; attached to the King's African Rifles (Second Boer War
The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the South ...
)
*Lieutenant Neville Josiah Coghill, 24th Regiment (Isandhlwana)
*Private William Griffiths, 24th Regiment (Andaman Islands expedition)
*Private Frederick Hitch 24th Regiment (Rorke's Drift)
*Sergeant Alfred Henry Hook
Alfred Henry "Harry" Hook VC (6 August 1850 – 12 March 1905) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, for ...
, 24th Regiment (Rorke's Drift)
*Major General Dudley Graham Johnson, South Wales Borderers attached to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment (First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
)
*Private William Jones, 24th Regiment (Rorke's Drift)
*Lieutenant Teignmouth Melvill
Teignmouth Melvill VC (8 September 1842 – 22 January 1879) was an officer in the British Army and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British ...
, 24th Regiment (Isandhlwana)
*Company Sergeant Major Ivor Rees, 11th Battalion, South Wales Borderers (First World War)
*Sergeant John Williams, 24th Regiment (Rorke's Drift)
*Warrant Officer II John Henry Williams, 10th Battalion, South Wales Borderers (First World War)
References
External links
Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh on About Britain
Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh at Ogilby Trust
{{DEFAULTSORT:South Wales Borderers Museum
Military and war museums in Wales
Museums in Powys
Regimental museums in Wales
Brecon