Page 89 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

Staffordshire Regiment Museum
2022 has proved a busy time at the Museum with numerous events and activities attracting visitors to the Museum. Over the past couple of years, as you expect, the Museum has run a very limited events and activities program, however this year it returned with vigor, with Easter and bank holiday activities. The summer for the Museum kicked off early at the end of June with our Blitz Weekend, organised by our Museum Friends. The weekend proved a great success with attractions ranging from stalls, tours of our famous trench through to a free concert. Our Friends really did an excellent job of putting on a show, so to speak.
August saw the Museum awash with activities with four events within a relatively short period. First, on Saturday 6th, was ‘Women at War’. This was created in partnership with the ‘Women at War’ group, led by Helen Murdoch. A fantastic display was put on, supplemented with support from our own volunteers, of a much neglected side of warfare. Attractions included ‘Bofors’ anti-aircraft gun, an ambulance jeep, war correspondents, nurses and assorted auxiliary services.
Next up, on Sunday 14th, came the annual ’Knot Car Club’ show. Another very successful event, with our site being filled to the brim with a huge variety of cars and other vehicles.
Saturday 20th August saw our ‘Arnhem’ themed event. As some of you will know, Arnhem features very strongly in the Staffords’ history, when the members of the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment were part of ‘Operation Market Garden.’ This operation was an attempt to push the German lines back from the Belgian city of Neerpelt towards the Dutch city of Arnhem, freeing up for the Allies some of the major canals and rivers that held back the allied advance in 1944. It was also planned to
Blitz Weekend by Phil O’Dell
allow the Allies to bypass the German fortifications known as the Siegfriedline. Our volunteers, along with re-enactors
came in period related costume, to assist at the event, including an excellent display of personnel, equipment and vehicles, based around the Airborne Engineers. The highlight, however, must surely have been the presence of 96 years old veteran, Richard ‘Dickie’ Forrester. Indefatigable Dickie is entertaining, charming (still with a twinkle in his eye) and hugely knowledgeable. We only had the privilege of his company for a few hours, but what a wonderful few hours they were, and we thank Mr Paul Wright, who helped arrange the visit.
Bank Holiday Monday, saw us hosting the last of this year’s popular Discovery Days.
A steady flow of visitors were treated to the usual excellent Museum experience. Our thanks, once again, go to our dedicated team of volunteers who ran the refreshment wagon, hosted trench tours, performed ‘meet ‘n greet’ and put on a display. None
of these events and activities would have been possible without the help of our volunteers, supporters and the Regimental Association, and we really appreciate their support.
The early part of the summer saw our volunteer team greatly bolstered by our University Summer Intern, Nils Hagemann. Nils, who took a break from his studies at a German University, provided truly excellent support over the three months he was
with us. Nils’ knowledge and enthusiasm was welcomed by all who met him at the Museum, and we thank him greatly for his assistance.
The Museum’s ever-popular ‘Night in the Trenches’ event returned to full strength
at the end of October and the Museum finishes the year with a ‘Wartime Christmas’. The Museum wishes all the readers a very happy Christmas and we look forward to welcoming you if you are in the area for the events or a general visit in 2023.
Nils, volunteer from Germany
Private Derby at museum
Women at War Event
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