Coordinates: 51°29′10″N 0°9′36″W / 51.48611°N 0.16°W
| National Army Museum | |
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| Established | 1960 |
| Location | Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 |
| Visitor figures | 215,721 (2008, up 7.3%) [1] |
| Director | Dr Alan Guy |
| Public transit access | Sloane Square   Victoria File:File:25 railtransportation.svg  |
| Website | Official website |
The National Army Museum is the British Army's central museum. It is located in the Chelsea district of central London, England adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the "Chelsea Pensioners". The National Army Museum is open to the public every day of the year from 10.00am to 5.30pm, except on 24 - 26 December, 1 January, Good Friday, and the early May bank holiday. Admission is free. The museum is a non-departmental public body.
There are many museums in the United Kingdom which cover aspects of British Army history, in particular, Regimental museums can be found all over the country. Two well-known army related museums in London are the Imperial War Museum, which focuses on 20th century warfare, including World War I and World War II, and Firepower – The Royal Artillery Museum. However the National Army Museum is designed to tell the overall story of the Army as a whole, explore the lives of those who served with the British Army from both Britain and elsewhere, and explain the impact the British Army has had on shaping the history of Great Britain, Europe and the rest of the world. It also examines the history of the British Army through the ages, from the time of the Norman Conquest to the early 21st century, and the conflicts of today.
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History
The National Army Museum was first conceived in the late 1950s, and owes its existence to the persistent hard work of Field Marshal Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer, for whom the museum's new study centre is named. The National Army Museum was established by Royal Charter in 1960, with the intention of preserving and exhibiting items related to the history of the forces of British Army, and Commonwealth nations prior to their independence.
The National Army Museum achieved devolved status as a non-departmental public body in 1983 under terms of the National Heritage Act. The annual Grant-in-Aid from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), is administered by the Director of the Museum on behalf of the governing body, the board of trustees of the National Army Museum.
Originally the museum was housed in the old riding school of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, but since 1971 the museum has been housed in a purpose built site on Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea. The site that was chosen was previously part of the old infirmary of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and prior to that, had been the location of Walpole House, the residence of Robert Walpole, widely regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The site had been badly damaged during the war, and had remained unoccupied prior to being selected as the new location for the National Army Museum. The building, designed in brutalist style by William Holford & Partners, was started in 1961 and completed ten years later, when it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on November 11, 1971. Most of the fund-raising to pay for its construction was done personally by Templer.
In 1992, the Museum of the Middlesex Regiment (the Buffs) was forced to close, and the trustees of the board decided to donate the entire collection to the National Army Museum. A similar fate befell the Museum of Army Transport in 2005, and its collection was also transferred to the National Army Museum. The NAM also owns the collection of the regimental museum of the East Kent Buffs, displaying it in Canterbury rather than Chelsea (apart from 2008 to 2011, when the Canterbury gallery at the Canterbury Royal Museum and Art Gallery is being refurbished)[2].
Former director, Ian Robertson initiated a programme to try and develop a 'National Army Museum North' at Catterick, however funding and planning issues have meant the plans have been shelved for the time being. The National Army Museum underwent a major redevelopment of its displays in 2006-07, and further redevelopment is continuing.
Directors
- Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Bernard Appleby 1971-1975
- John Paris 1975-?
- William Reid ?-1988
- Ian Robertson 1988-2003
- Dr Alan Guy 2003-
[incomplete]
Permanent galleries
The National Army Museum contains four permanent galleries, which are arranged chronologically, as well as a permanent Art Gallery: The permanent galleries are:
- Making of Britain 1066-1783 (lower ground floor and stair ramp to ground floor)
- Changing The World 1784-1904 (1st floor)
- World Wars 1905-1947 (2nd floor)
- Fighting For Peace 1947-present (3rd floor)
- Art Gallery (3rd floor)
Making of Britain 1066-1783
This gallery is designed to explain the story of the making of Britain, and explores foreign invasions, internal conflicts and rebellions, early conflicts with European powers, the first standing Army, the relationship between England, Ireland and Scotland, and the creation of Great Britain as a political entity, as well as the development of the British Army. This gallery also explores Britains first colonial enterprises, and the role the British Army played in them.
It begins with a small display on the history of British land-forces from the Battle of Hastings to just prior to the English Civil War (including the Hundred Years' War and War of the Roses). The main display in this gallery, however, traces the history of the British Army's rise in the English Civil Wars, the Glorious Revolution and the other European wars of the 17th and 18th century. These conflicts include the War of the Austrian Succession, the Jacobite Rebellion and the Seven Years' War. It also includes early British involvement in India, such as the Black Hole of Calcutta, and ends with a treatment of conditions of service and a major display on the American Revolutionary War. It contains an oil painting by JSC Schaak of General James Wolfe, whose export the Museum managed to prevent in April 2008 through the Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest.
Changing the World 1784-1913
The Changing the World gallery is focused on Britain's role in shaping modern history in the Imperial Age. It tells the story of the rivalry with other European Imperial powers, the expansion and defence of British trade and political interests, and the creation of the British Empire. The gallery is focused upon the legacy of the Empire upon the world today. Highlights include features on the Napoleonic Wars and the Boer War. It contains the Siborne model of the Battle of Waterloo.
 Bronze-painted statue to Walter Richard Pocock Hamilton, VC |
World Wars 1914-1947
The British Army played a crucial and decisive role in both World Wars. This gallery shows the horrors of both conflicts, and gives a taste of what life in the British Army was like during these global conflicts. It is also designed to highlight the great contribution made to the cause by Britain's colonial forces and allies.
The central area of this gallery previously covered the inter-war era from 1918 to 1939, but has more recently hosted temporary exhibitions on First and Second World War themes, such as Faces of War (late 2007, telling the story of pioneering surgical procedures to repair the horrific facial injuries suffered by men in the First World War) and Empire at War (2008)
 WWI machine gunners |
 WWII anti-tank gun. |
Fighting for Peace 1947-2007
Fighting for Peace shows the changing emphasis of the British Army in the second half of the twentieth century from guardians of Empire to peace-keepers. Fighting For Peace tells the story of National Service, and the story of the many localised conflicts that occurred with the decline of Europe's colonial possessions, and the role of the Army played throughout those years. This includes Britain's involvement in the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, and the Suez Crisis. It also touches on many more recent conflicts such as in Kosovo the Bosnian War, and the Gulf War. This gallery It also explains the British Army's role in the Cold War, the threat of nuclear war, and the current conflicts Britain is engaged in.
Art Gallery
The National Army museum's Art Gallery houses many original works of exceptional standard on themes related to British Army history. It contains outstanding examples of dramatic battle scenes and also displays portraiture of many of the men who shaped the Army, and some who are considered national heroes for their contributions to British history. The Art Gallery contains many works of international importance, including the works of early masters such as Jan Wyck, John Wootton, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and Benjamin West. There are also works by nineteenth century military artists such as Sir Henry Raeburn, Francis Cotes, George Jones, Lady Butler and Richard Caton Woodville, and more recently, Rex Whistler and John Keane.
Stairwell areas
The corridors along the staircases between floors host permanent exhibitions of the Museum's fine and decorative arts collections. That between the Lower Ground and Ground floors contains a permanent exhibition on the American Revolutionary War as a continuation of the Making of Britain gallery, and that between the 3rd and 4th floors temporary exhibitions on post-1945 themes such as Task Force Falklands (2007-present).
Temporary exhibitions
The museum also regularly stages temporary exhibitions on more specific subjects. Along with those on the 2nd and 3rd floors, the Museum's main temporary exhibitions area is on the ground floor. Its current exhibition in that area is "HELMAND: The Soldiers' Story", which was built by, written by and contributed to by soldiers of 16 Air Assault Brigade in 2007, to tell the story of their experiences fighting in Afghanistan’s troubled Helmand Province.
Other facilities
Templer Study Centre
The National Army Museum also provides research facilities through its Templer study centre on the Lower Ground Floor. Researchers can utilise the facilities and collections of the National Army Museum for private research on campaigns, regiments, personalities and social history of the British Army.
Kids' Zone
The National Army Museum provides an innovative Kids' Zone on the ground floor to provide a break for children whilst exploring the museum. It is an interactive learning area with a variety of activities and the opportunity to dress up in uniforms.
External links
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