Page 89 - MERCIAN Eagle 2017

MUSEUM OF THE MERCIAN REGIMENT (WFR COLLECTION) Miss Jennifer Brookman, Curator
2017 was another busy year for us here at the Museum; our exhibition on Passchendaele (3rd Battle of Ypres) opened in July and looked at the role which the Sherwood Foresters played during the battle of which 13 Battalions were present for the duration which took place 31st July 1917-23rd November 1917. Over the course of the Battle, two Victoria Crosses were awarded to Corporal (later Sergeant) Ernest Egerton of the 16th Battalion (The Chatsworth Rifles) on 20th September 1917 and Corporal (later Sergeant) Fred Greaves of the 9th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters on 4th October 1917. The museum is fortunate to have both of the Victoria Crosses in its collection and was able to take these along to the Victoria Cross Paving Stone ceremonies which took place in the home towns of Sergeant Egerton (Blythe Bridge in September) and Sergeant Greaves (Killiamarsh in October).
In September the museum launched its new display titled ‘Mercian 10’ to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Regiment; the display reflected on moments from the Regiments 10 year history. On display were three gallantry groups; the medals of Colour Sergeant Marc Giles CGC of 2 MERCIAN, Sergeant Craig Brelsford MC of 2 MERCIAN and on loan from the National Army Museum the medals of Corporal Mark Ward MC of 1 MERCIAN.
Our final exhibition of the year focused on our most recent Acquisitions that had been donated
to us in 2016/2017. Some highlights include the medals of a survivor of RMS Lancastria who went on to see action with the 2nd Battalion in the Second World War (the Lancastria was a Second World
War liner that was attacked by the Germans and
the worst maritime disaster of the war), a Mess tin from a POW from the 1/5th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters and two different sets of WWI medals which came from Canada and Australia for which both of the families personally came to Nottingham Castle to donate the medals to the museum.
Over the year we have received a number of new acquisitions including:
• Mess kit and other items relating to the service of Colour Sergeant Thomas Collins of 1 WFR & later 3 WFR
Victoria Cross Paving Stone ceremony in Blythe Bridge Staffordshire for Corporal Ernest Egerton of 16th (Chatsworth Rifles) Battalion The Sherwood Foresters
• 1923 Programme of the Crich Pilgrimage
• ‘Derna Doings’ by Ralph Holden Collection
of memories and recollections from Sherwood Foresters who served in Derna, Libya in the 1950s
• Memoirs of Sergeant Arthur Varney M.M of 11th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters
The Museum would like to thank all those who have loaned and donated items to us in the past year and we would also like to thank everyone for their support. As always we would welcome donations regarding the following areas:
• The Mercian Regiment (2007-2017) • The Worcestershire and Sherwood
Foresters Regiment (1970-2007)
• The Sherwood Foresters (1950s-60s) -
particularly relayed to Malaya as we would like to mark 60 years since the campaign with an exhibition.
Should you wish to donate anything to the museum, please get in touch with the Curator on 0115 9465415 ext 5219 or email curator@stand- firm-strike-hard.org.uk
2018 shall be yet another busy year as our gallery within Nottingham Castle shall close, as Nottingham Castle is undergoing a huge redevelopment and shall be closed until 2020. As a result the Museum shall be going mobile and taking an exhibition on the end of the First World War on tour. The first exhibition shall open in Mansfield Museum on 9th June 2018 with others following in Chesterfield and Ilkeston.
Victoria Cross Paving Stone for Corporal Fred Greaves 9th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters of Killamarsh
Mercian 10 display in Nottingham Castle
New Acquisitions display showcasing what items donated in 2016/2017
MUSEUMS