Page 63 - Bugle Issue 20 Autumn 2022

SOUTH
The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum
The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum in Salisbury is housed
in an historic building known as The Wardrobe, close to Salisbury Cathedral. We hold artefacts, memorabilia and records from the Royal Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiments, as well as the four Regiments of Foot (49th, 62nd, 66th and 99th) from which they were formed in 1881. The two County Regiments amalgamated in 1959 to become the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment, later becoming RGBW, and we joined the RIFLES family on formation of the Regiment in 2007.
This year we are proud to have an exhibition celebrating the role of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh as our Colonel in Chief. Prince Philip held that position for the Wiltshire Regiment from 1953, then after amalgamation, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment, The Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and finally The Rifles until 22 July 2020. The exhibition focusses on the unique personal links he enjoyed, with all ranks of those regiments, during his 67-year tenure.
We are especially proud to have the uniform last worn by HRH when on parade with the RGBW; it is on loan from the Royal Collection, with whom we are in dialogue to retain it beyond the end of the formal loan period. It will be a major asset to our collection.
Serving military are welcomed to the museum free of charge so we look forward to seeing you soon.
The Royal Green Jackets (RIFLES) Museum
The Royal Green Jackets (RIFLES) Museum holds over 15,000 artefacts, more than 7,000 medals including 31 Victoria Crosses, and an outstanding animated diorama of the famous Battle of Waterloo. Dating back to the late 18th Century it tells the story
of the Rifleman, and the advent of new skirmishing tactics with soldiers wearing green jackets, equipped with more accurate rifled weapons, and operating outside the British Army’s famous ‘red square’ where considerable initiative was required, minimal orders given and there was no place for Colours which were carried on the cap badge.
All of this is of course now part of The Rifles DNA and the site also hosts The Rifles Museum, which started in 2007 when the Regiment was formed. The Museum, therefore, extends a particular welcome to serving Riflemen who can visit free. If you are coming as a group then let us know so that we can arrange for one of our volunteers to show you around.
Some recent developments include the acquisition of the Royal Victorian Medal and South Africa Medal (six clasps) of Sergeant Major Wise the loyal soldier servant of HRH Prince Christian Victor whose medals are also held by the museum; and an ongoing
temporary exhibition
on the experience of
officer’s wives in the
Victorian period. We also
intend to resume our talks programme in the Autumn, both at the Museum and over Zoom.
We are located just up the hill from Winchester town centre, close to the station, and next door to the RHQ building which also hosts the Gurkha Museum. The Museum is open from 1000 to 1600 from Monday to Saturday. Why not visit our website at www. rgjmuseum.co.uk or follow us on Instagram at @thergjmuseum
Christine Pullen, Curator
...a particular welcome to serving Riflemen who can visit free
RIFLES The Bugle 63