The Rifleman's Museum (formerly the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum) is situated at Peninsula Barracks in Winchester, England. The museum is one of several regimental museums that form part of Winchester's Military Museums.

History

The museum brings together the collections of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (which had been at Cowley Barracks); renamed 1st Green Jackets (43rd and 52nd) from 7 November 1958, the King's Royal Rifle Corps (which had been at Peninsula Barracks) and the Rifle Brigade (which had also been at Peninsula Barracks). These regiments went on to form the Green Jackets Brigade in 1958 and the Royal Green Jackets Regiment in 1966. It was opened by the Queen, the regiment's former Colonel in Chief, in December 1989. Other visitor attractions include the Early Years Section covering the raising in 1755 of The Royal American Regiment in North America, the Siege of Quebec and the Indian Mutiny. The Victoria Cross display “For Valour” describes the personal histories of each of the regiments’ 59 soldiers who were awarded the Victoria Cross.

The museum also has a display which covers the two world wars (including the Siege of Calais in May 1940, the defence of Outpost Snipe in October 1942 and the action at Pegasus Bridge in June 1944). The recent history display covers the Cold War, operations in Northern Ireland, United Nations operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Victoria Crosses held by the museum

The museum holds 31 of the Victoria Crosses awarded to the members of the antecedent regiments, including:

  • Private Henry Addison, 43rd Regiment (Indian Rebellion)
  • Company Sergeant Major Edward Brooks, 2/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (First World War)
  • Bugler Robert Hawthorne, 52nd Regiment (Indian Rebellion)
  • Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Stephen Dimmer, 2nd Battalion, KRRC (First World War)
  • Sergeant Henry Smith, 52nd Regiment (Indian Rebellion)

Exhibits

<gallery mode=packed>

File:PlainsOfAbraham2007.jpg|Siege of Quebec 1759

British Riflemen, 1812.jpg|Peninsular War <br />1807–14

File:Attack1857.jpg|Indian Mutiny 1857

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-383-0337-10, Frankreich, Calais, Denkmal vor Häuserruinen.jpg|Siege of Calais 1940

File:The British Army in North Africa 1942 E18802.jpg|Outpost Snipe 1942

File:Operation Deadstick canal bridge gliders.jpg|Pegasus Bridge 1944

File:DesertStormMap v2.svg|First Gulf War 1990–1991

</gallery>

Notes

References

  • The Rifleman's museum
  • The Museum on the Ogilby Trust's website
  • Duke of Wellington opens 'With the Rifles to Waterloo' Exhibition
  • Conservation of the Waterloo Diorama