The Royal Green Jackets Associa on
THE ROYAL GREEN JACKETS (RIFLES) MUSEUM
It was somewhat of a relief but not, I am glad to report, an anti-climax when the long-heralded ‘With the Rifles to Waterloo’ Bicentenary Exhibition was declared open by the Duke of Wellington on 25 March 2015. During the previous 18 months the Exhibition Project Steering Group had laboured hard to meet the deadline originally set when the Museum submitted its £100,000 grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund. There were moments when it looked as if the little green man, Murphy, would have the better of us and, if things could go wrong, they would, but in the end and, as it sometimes felt, against the odds, we were able to host 90 invited guests at the opening. The exhibition opening was remarkable not just because it marked the launch of our Waterloo exhibition, but because it was the day on which Colonel George Smythe, President of the London Branch of the Association, unveiled Jason Askew’s painting of ‘The Rout of the French Imperial Guard at Waterloo’ featuring the flanking attack of the 52nd Light Infantry, supported by the 2nd/95th Rifles. The Branch, under the inspirational leadership of its Chairman, Gary Driscoll, who was also present at the unveiling, raised the challenging sum of £10,000 to pay for the commissioning of the artist. I was always worried thereafter that the membership might not like it as new paintings are notorious for failing to please everyone. This one, however, seems to have been particularly well received by nearly all who have seen it
hanging in the Museum’s new Kincaid Gallery. (You have to see it ‘in the flesh’ to appreciate its size (6’ x 4’) and the detail.) Professional photography of the painting has just been completed and it is hoped to have prints available for sale in the Museum shop and on-line very soon.
The Duke of Wellington and General Wallace discuss the Museum’s Waterloo diorama.
Readers of previous E-zines will know that the Museum was heavily dependent upon an Appeal to raise the funds to part-fund the exhibition. The initial target of £100,000 was steadily raised, for one reason and another, to £200,000. As recorded in the most recent edition of the Association Journal Swift and Bold published at the beginning of March, the £200,000 target was successfully achieved thanks to the generosity of around 200 individuals, a dozen trusts and grant from regimental funds.
Colonel George Smythe, President of the London Branch of the Associa on, unveils Jason Askew’s pain ng of the rout of the French Imperial Guard. 20 | Volume 7 Issue 1
Since the exhibition opened, the Museum has been running a full events programme of talks, seminars and (To be con nued on next page) E-Zine 2015
