THE LATEST NEWS FROM SOLDIERS OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE MUSEUM
SUMMER 2024
Directors' Report
There has been plenty going on at the museum as of late with a very successful Tall Ships Festival and Armed Forces Day under our belts. Attention now turns to summer and the tourist season. Museums are very reminiscent of squirrels! We must make the most of the summer feast in preparation for the winter famine. As such, we have plenty of events and activities going on for families, which you can see elsewhere in this newsletter.
Personal thanks to John Penley, the previous Chair, who steps back to the Vice-Chair position after a short but important tenure. John really came to the fore when he was needed most, the sign of a great leader. He steadied the ship during a tumultuous period for our organisation and put us on a secure footing.
The Chair of the museum has now been assumed by Guy Woodcock. Alongside being a veteran of the Gloucestershire Regiment, Guy brings a wealth of experience through his role as a Director of the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham and his running of a successful business in public relations, content creation and brand communication.
A huge debt of gratitude is owed to our volunteers and a group of local residents who donated time, effort and money to help create the amazing garden that can now be found to the right of the museum. This area has always been an eyesore but has been gradually cleared over the last six months. Over a period of three days, the team transformed this area into a peaceful area of remembrance in respect of our veterans. Thank you to all involved.
Every year the online research website FindMyPast launches one big video project. This year they decided to concentrate on the ancestors of one of our WWI Gloucestershire Regiment veterans. It was a very interesting project to be involved in and thanks must go to our very own Len Evans who you’ll see appear in the video.
The video can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtRO-N8zGs8
Full details of the research project can be found here:
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/discoveries/finding-eli
As always, if you have any questions, thoughts complaints or praise please do not hesitate to contact me at: Matthew.holden@sogm.co.uk
Highlight Object
This fascinating collection of items is from a WWI German first aid kit. This particular item was captured by Captain Lavender MC of 1st Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment whilst fighting on the Somme in 1916.
Although this collection contains items which we are all familiar with today, there are a few interesting additions. For example, valerian was issued to treat fatigue and stomach cramps but in todays society it is known to also cause these exact symptoms. Opium has some excellent medical properties but is now of course a controlled substance in the UK due to its addictive nature. Finally, turpentine was used to treat a variety of ailments yet today you may be more familiar with it to clean your paint brushes!
Back row:
Salmiakgeist- ammonia solution. Used as a general purpose cleaner.
Opiumtinktur- Opium. Used as an analgesic and sedative
Salicyl Talg- A tallow used to treat rashes. Particularly heat rash.
Dopp. Kohlens. Natron- Various tablets.
Weinsaure- Tartaric acid. A type of disinfectant.
Front Row:
Seife- Soap.
Pflaster- Plasters.
Atherische- Valerian. Used to treat fatigue, migraine, insomnia and stomach cramps.
Terpentinoel- Turpentine. Used for muscle, tooth and joint aches plus cramps.
Summer Events
Tank Buster
Friday 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd August (11:00 – 15:00)
Free with paid museum entry
Hide out in the bunker and look through your binoculars to find enemy tanks! Several of our veterans are highly trained in the identification and destruction of enemy vehicles. They’ll help you through the processes that they would have experienced.
A History of Weapons
Tuesday 13th & 20th August (11:00 – 15:00)
Free with paid museum entry
A great experience for kids who spend all their time playing war related computer games! We will be opening up our armoury to display an array weaponry that was historically used by the British Army and its soldiers.
Meet the Experts
Sunday 4th, 11th & 18th August
Time slots: 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 & 15:00
Do you have an ancestor or interesting artefact that you have always wanted to find out more about? Book an appointment to see what we can find out for you. The enquirer must pay for museum entry to access this service. Please email the address below for more info or to book an appointment: Matthew.holden@sogm.co.uk
Children's Trails
Monday 22nd June – Monday 1st September
Free of charge with museum entry
We have three new children’s trails that will enhance your family’s enjoyment of your visit. These interactive trails will keep the kids more entertained and educate them at the same time (without them knowing!)
D-Day Exhibition
Eighty years ago over 150,000 troops landed in Normandy to free Europe from Nazi domination. Amongst them were many men from Gloucestershire, including 2nd Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment.
The exhibition will tell the wider story of the operations from planning to the airborne invasion and beyond. We also highlight the personal stories of those from our county who took part in D-Day including:
- Sergeant Gilbert Brain who was awarded a Military Medal for his actions at Le Havre.
- Major Robin Dunn whose actions in holding back a Panzer Regiment north of Caen saw him awarded the Military Cross.
- Major Peter Clifford who operated one of the infamous ‘flail tanks’ clearing the beaches of mines so that the infantry could be safely landed.
The exhibition has been designed so that it can evolve to cover many of the major anniversaries coming up on the next year including Arnhem, Burma and VE Day.
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