9 minute read
RGJ Management Plan
from Swift & Bold 2020
The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum
When the Museum last updated the Association this time last year, few of us would have believed that 2020 would be such a challenging year. The Museum was closed to the public due to the pandemic for a number of months and is unlikely to open again until May 2021. Whilst the loss of income has been concerning we have managed to cut back on administrative costs, on line shop sales have held up and our Zoom talks have proved increasingly popular generating valuable income.
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At the beginning of last year we welcomed two groups of children to the Museum as part of the Arts Award Scheme. In January St Bedes School discovered different artforms on display during their visit, found out about the work of the artist Terrence Cuneo and then created paintings inspired by music and designed medals. Their work was displayed at the Museum in The Kincaid Gallery for all visitors to see. In February White Bee Learning Home Educators joined us to repeat the experience. We hope that later in 2021 we will be hosting more groups of budding young artists, pandemic permitting. Charles Cior. Dugald Little Gilmour joined the Regiment as a major in 1805; he saw service in the Peninsula for which he was awarded the Gold Cross. He commanded both the 2nd and 3rd Battalions during his lifetime. The reverse of the portrait has been decorated with locks of his hair formed into his initials. The miniature was purchased by the Museum Trustees with the aid of Grants from the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Art-Collections Fund in 1981 for which we are most grateful.
Currently on display in The Kincaid Gallery is a collection of miniature portraits from the Museum’s reserve collection. The artworks date from the early 1800’s and feature Riflemen and Light Infantrymen from each of the antecedent regiments. One of the items on display is a miniature of LieutenantColonel D L Gilmour of the 95th which was painted between 1815 and 1842 by the French artist Pierre
Thoughout the lockdown Eslpeth, our Assistant Curator, has been busy working from home keeping our online followers interested on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with fascinating facts about the Lieutenant-Colonel D L Gilmour, 95th by Pierre Charles Cior Regiment, Museum artefacts and new items available from the online shop. The number of online followers has increased steadily during this period and the online shop sales have held up throughout the year. One new addition to our collection is Riflebear Ned, a special first edition collectible bear. He is exclusive to The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum and is seen dressed in the uniform of the 95th Rifles. He has a swing tag telling the story of Sgt Edward (Ned) Costello – a well known Riflemen from the Peninsula War. Please visit the online shop to order. In September last year we restarted our programme of talks at the museum using Zoom. This had the benefit of reaching out to Friends, Riflemen and members of the public that might not normally have made the trip to the museum. Our first online talk was given by Rupert Wielock who served with 2 RGJ in the early 80s. Peter Johnson from the National Army Museum presented on BAOR in November, and our own Brigadier Hugh Willing gave a fascinating and well attended talk on War in the Green Mountains of Oman – Jebel Akdar 1958-59 in January. Future talks in the programme include:
• 18 March: WW1 in Africa (Christopher Mellor-Hill)
• 20 May: In the Footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia (Charles Blackmore)
• 22 July: Iraq and Afghanistan – Lessons Learnt (Brig Ben Barry)
The talks are free to join, but we are most grateful for any donations received for arranging the presentation. Full details are on the Museum website and if you wish to join a talk then please email the curator for the link: curator@rgjmuseum.co.uk
During closure this year the staff have continued with the refurbishment of the displays on the first floor. Three more cases have now been refreshed, labelling updated and a new graphics board installed. Further refurbishment of the ground floor is planned in 2021 where we hope to improve the museum entrance with a display that champions the Rifleman and also to celebrate Field Marshal Lord Bramall’s immense contribution to the Regiment.
Finally, we were very sorry to hear that Dick Tennant had died. Dick was a Trustee of the Museum for many years retiring at the end of 2019. During that time he made a significant contribution to the financial aspects of the museum and we are all very grateful for his service and support.
This is your museum celebrating the extraordinary contribution that Royal Green Jackets and Former Regiments have made to the Nation and preserving it for future generations. We want it to remain one of the best regimental museums in the country and welcome contributions and help particularly from former Green Jackets. So do get in touch if you are interested in helping with research, our displays or front of house and have some time to spare. You can also help in other ways: • Sign up on line as a Friend by using the Museum website – on the Home Page scroll down to ‘Information’ and ‘Supporting the Museum’; then scroll down to ‘Becoming a Friend’. • Join one of the Talks. • Buy from the online shop. • Consider leaving a small sum to the Museum
Trust Fund in your will.
Finally, once we are through the lockdown, do call in at the Museum if you are in Winchester. You will always get a warm welcome. We look forward to seeing you. Brigadier (Retd) James Plastow CBE Chair RGJ (Rifles) Museum Trustees Curator: Mrs Christine Pullen curator@rgjmuseum.co.uk | 01962 828549
For sale from the RGJ Museum £80.00
The Royal Green Jackets cap badge statue made in bronze effect resin. Size: approx 9 inches including base Please note: This item is sent directly from our supplier, so please allow up to 28 days for delivery.
Central England Branch Report
The last time we were together collectively was for our Annual Christmas function in 2019 so The Central England Branch timing was impeccable in that we gathered in a small number to enjoy an ‘outside event day’ before the second lockdown was upon us. Nine members descended onto an outdoor pursuit centre in the Midlands to conduct Quad Biking, Axe Throwing and a 0.22 ‘Peaky Blinder’ style weapon range. A strange occasion and whilst social distancing we spent the next three hours getting wet and muddy but it was great to break up the monotonous but essential sitting at home on a Saturday scenario we are all encountering. The normal cleaning of hands, wearing of masks and being briefed on the event ensued. Split into groups for social distancing we went about our events. Group 1 attempted the Axe Throwing – although a slow start by 2 RGJ Veterans and much to the dismay of our 3 RGJ veterans overall it was acknowledged that the 2 RGJ veterans were of better aim with an axe, throwing knifes and large Sioux axes than the other Battalions. This was not well received by our ‘Cowboy friends’ but you can’t change the past can you – until next time!
Group 2 went about their Quad biking and on their return, you could tell it was a tad muddy to say the least! However, in Green Jacket style there was laughter and banter, embarrassing photos and in one individuals’ case couldn’t see the track in front of him as his glasses were steamed up so it was like driving ‘Miss Daisy’! I can’t say that 2 RGJ shone on this event due to the glasses scenario but there was always the shoot to go. We all came together to conduct a ‘Peaky Blinders’ shoot. The civvie instructor was briefing us on the weapon systems and at the same time was shaking his head knowing there was some competitiveness that he had to try and quash! With four firers at a time hand guns and tommy guns were issued and as we progressed it was obvious that we were not going to hit a ‘barn door with a shotgun’ so decided to get a bit adventurous on the shooting! With kneeling positions, Leaning on beer barrels for support, a bit of fire and manoeuvre and the screams of ‘GUN EMPTY’ ensued and eventually emerged that although the 3 RGJ Veterans individually were of good eyesight and score the 2 RGJ Veterans were the overall winners of this event (certain members will obviously dispute that fact!).
A great day and although we were missing our 1 RGJ/KRRC/Rifles Veterans and the remainder of the branch it was a very successful event in the circumstances. No Beer was drunk due to the obvious and we went away for a well-earned ‘old mans’ afternoon nap’! Look Forward to 2021 (fingers crossed. We look ahead as a branch in 2021 to a few events pencilled in – Go Kart Racing, a summer social, Greenstock, The Reunion and our famous Christmas knees up. As well as Greenstock the Branch are also the Association’s annual ‘lead’ on the Northern Ireland Veterans Parade held at the National Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire on Saturday 11 September 2021. All Branch Secretaries should have a copy of the flier and an invite to all with refreshments afterwards all being well. We all look forward to not only getting back to normal but to meeting up with old friends and spinning the tales. Until then stay safe and we all see you on the flip side! In Memorandum to Branch Member:
