Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire)

18/09/2026

A folded map of Antwerp with a hole in it may not seem like an exciting object of the week, but has its story to tell. The map resided in the service dress pocket of Captain J.P. Duke of the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment as he served in the first Battle of Ypres 1914. The hole was made by a flying piece of metal from an exploded shell. The museum holds and displays many objects that display the damage of war and each are a powerful testimony to the violence and danger that was faced by soldiers everyday. Captain Duke himself survived this and two other near misses to come back after the war. Many others were not so lucky.

17/09/2026

On the 26th February 1852, 140 km from Cape Town, South Africa, HM Troopship Birkenhead which was carrying an estimated 643 troops and their families, started to sink. What happened next was to inspire a poem by Rudyard Kipling, commissioned paintings and commemorative medallions. With inadequate lifeboats, the order was given for the first time in recorded history for the boats to take ‘women and children first’. As this evacuation happened, eye witnesses record how the soldiers, including of the Sixth of Foot, later Warwickshire Regiment, stood to attention on deck. Only 113 soldiers were to survive. This remarkable act of military discipline inspired a generation of Victorians. As part of heritageopendays, we have a free talk on the shipwreck at the museum tomorrow 18th September from 1:30pm - 2:30pm with the chance to see original objects linked to this famous shipwreck. We look forward to seeing you.
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15/09/2026

There is lots to see and do at the museum heritageopendays this week. A special exhibition on the Somme 1916, and a talk about the famous 1852 Birkenhead disaster. Linked to the new movie ‘Pressure’ about the critical period up until D-Day, we also have original items belonging to one of the personalities in the film, Bernard Montgomery or ‘ Monty’, including one of his famous berets. All this can be enjoyed for FREE, we look forward to seeing you.

12/09/2026

Major W.R.T. Whatmore was awarded the Military Cross twice in 1918. This week the museum was pleased to welcome members of his family, including Sue Stradling, who generously donated the MC & bar, along with his miniature medals. Thank you 🙂

11/09/2026

Today is the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and the crash of flight 93 where passengers fought back. The ‘war on terror’ in response to these terrible events saw British Armed Services support the USA in operations in Afghanistan. The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers served in Afghanistan in 2006, 2009 and 2013. Seven Fusiliers were killed during 2009 in Operation Herrick 10 in Helmand Province. To learn more about the Afghanistan operations and the soldiers who served in them, visit the museum for free today.

10/09/2026

Just a few tickets left for our next special talk on the soldiers of the Somme on Saturday 26th September 11am-3pm. The cost is only £15 and includes three great speakers - Taff Gillingham, a recognised authority on the lives of soldiers of the Great War, Peter Hart, formerly of the Imperial War Museum where he oversaw their war oral history collections and Barclay Lane on newly researched lives of Warwickshire soldiers at the Somme. With a feast of stories, images and original objects, this event is a must for history lovers. Light refreshments will be provided. To book go to: https://bit.ly/SommeStories1916

05/09/2026

05/09/2026

Beat the end of summer blues with a FREE museum visit. Jigsaws, quiz trails, dressing up and much more to do.

03/09/2026

On 3 September 1916 Birmingham Pals attacked Falfemont Farm, during the Battle of the Somme. They took heavy casualties there over the next few days. The museum honours their memory.

03/09/2026

On 3 September 1916 Birmingham Pals attacked Falfemont Farm, during the Battle of the Somme. They took heavy casualties there over the next few days. The museum honours their memory.