Page 12 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

AGC

Museum

By Ian Bailey - Curator

This has been another full administration assistant in 2008 and First World War
year for the museum with obviously enjoyed working here. Sabine
had been associated by marriage with the
increasing visitor figures (free former Royal Army Pay Corps and later the The Army, its museums and indeed
the nation, is still commemorating the
admission and poor weather SPS branch, enjoying tours in Hong Kong centenary of the First World War. Whilst
are always good inducements) and Germany along the way. A German this year saw the focus on the Battle of the
national, Sabine has also carried out
Somme and its aftermath, 2017 also marks
but it has also been good to translations for both units here and abroad a significant anniversary in that women
meet so many members of and also the museum. Away from the put on khaki uniforms and travelled to
serious stuff, Sabine has also made poppies
the Corps, whether as part with primary school children, managed France to join the British Expeditionary
Force in the war against Germany. The
of their induction training the museum shop and worked her way Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (the French
or as part of corps ethos through the collection audit, checking public called them ‘les Tommettes’) initially
and packing over 30,000 objects. Always
were employed as orderlies or Mess Staff,
development. happy to assist with the smooth running but once in theatre the Army realised that
of Regimental Headquarters, her final non they had the potential to do more and so
museum role was as Personal Assistant to many became clerks, motor mechanics,
Year of Change the Regimental Colonel during the Chief telephonists and for those who could speak
Clerk’s summer leave. Sabine had also met German, secondments to intelligence
many members of the Corps over the years
The year will also be remembered as one units to translate telephone intercepts.
of change; nationally perhaps more for and was always good at identifying people The museum will commemorate the
the Brexit vote and the Corps as Worthy in photographs. You too can assist the contribution they made with a temporary
Down develops under Project Wellesley. museum in identifying people, date and exhibition during the summer and other
The museum has been directly affected locations in the photographs published supporting events.
by Wellesley, moving the back office and here.
archives from behind the PRI shop to Gould From The Archives
House. The reserve collection will move Looking Forward
to an unspecified location at some point
during 2017 as the PRI building is prepared Looking forward to next year, it will be a Can you spot who are in the photos. Please
for demolition. busy period for the Corps and the museum. let the Curator know if you recognise
anyone.
The Corps will be twenty-five years old and
Departures the museum will be commemorating this
anniversary by developing those
The year has also seen the departure of areas of the museum that tell
Museum Assistant Sabine Coombs to a job the story of the Corps, branches
closer to her new home. Sabine initially and individual soldiers who have
started at the museum as a temporary served in it. Central to this will
be the construction of a display
dedicated to Operation Herrick
and the role of the ETS branch
there. Obviously, the museum
is constantly looking for your
memorabilia associated with the
Corps; please give the museum a
call if you believe that you have something
to contribute to the history of the Corps.

Sabine Coombs says farewell to the Museum

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