Page 65 - Mercian Eagle Year of 2023

As a museum we are actively seeking to record first-hand accounts, thoughts and memories of those who were there, for future generations.
Our current temporary display opened on 4th November entitled ‘The Cheshire Bantams in the First World War: An institutional and personal history.’ Curated by Sean Livesey as part of his BA (Hons) History degree at University of Central Lancashire. The exhibition charts the exploits of one young man’s adventures through the Great War and his life beyond.
It focuses on Fred Livesey, Sean’s grandad, a labourer from Preston, who travelled to Chester to enlist in ‘Bigland’s Bantams.’ These were newly formed battalions for those men wishing to join the Army but who did not meet the height requirement for enlistment, then 5’3”. Visitors can see the display until February 2024.
Flowers for Remembrance
We have been quite busy in the autumn term with our usual Key Stage 2 education session, Cheshire at War (WW2). An extra
project for remembrance this year has centred on the Flowers for Remembrance.
I have been ably assisted with this by Geoff W one of our volunteer team. The focus was on the different flowers used to remember those lost in war throughout Europe including the daisy, cornflower and forget- me-not and of course the poppy. We worked with two schools who made collages of the flowers, years 2 and 3 from the Rofft School, Marford and year 6 from Grosvenor Park Academy in Chester. Their work will go on display in the Education Room.
Staffordshire Regiment Museum
Well, we have had a busy time at the Museum over the Summer and Autumn with some truly excellent events and activities to enhance our already wonderful displays.
Obviously, the winter period is usually quieter for the Museum, but our Learning program team has been working hard over the past few months and supported many school visits from across Staffordshire and beyond. We have continued to welcome
a number of visitors to the Museum, who have been enjoying our Christmas themed temporary exhibition. Our Blitz event held at the end of August was a great success and very well attended and this was followed by a slightly damp Night in the Trenches, and Wartime Christmas events, but we still saw many visitors.
The Museum also was successful in securing a collection of items associated with Lt Col Eyre of the 38th Regiment of Foot (the 38th Regiment of the Foot is an antecedent regiment of the Mercian Regiment.) at auction. Lt Col Eyre had a fascinating career coming through the
ranks and really helps understand this period for the British Army. Lt Col Eyre was born in Ireland in 1832, he enlisted in the 38th Regt as a Private in March 1851 and was promoted Corporal in July 1852, and then to Sargeant in March 1854.He served in Turkey from April to Nov 1854,and was commissioned Ensign without purchase
in August 1854. He then served in Crimea with the regiment and was promoted to Lieutenant without purchase in February 1855 while in Crimea. He served in the Indian Mutiny campaign from November 1857 including the assault and capture of Meeangunge, siege and capture of Lucknow and affairs of Barree and Nugger.
He was promoted Captain in July 1862, and to Major April 1876, and then finally to Lt Col in July 1881. He served in the 1882 Egyptian campaign and commanded a group engaged in the reconnaissance in force from Alexandria on the 5th August for which he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the order of Osmanieh. He was killed at the Battle of Kirbekan, an operation during the Sudan Campaign, while leading
his men in 1885. The collection includes his medals, two watercolours and associated items. The items were purchased at auction with the assistance of a V&A Purchase Fund Grant. The items are now on display in the Museum.
2024 will see the Museum acknowledge through events and exhibitions several anniversaries from the Second World War, including 80th of Anzio Campaign, Battle
of Cean, Arnhem Campaign and of course D-Day. 2024 also sees the 110th anniversary of the First World War. We will hopefully see some of you at the Museum in 2024.
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THE MERCIAN EAGLE