Green Howards Regimental Museum
| The Green Howards Regimental Museum | |
|---|---|
|
The museum in December 2009 | |
| Established | 1938 |
| Location | Trinity Church Square, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4QN |
| Type | Military |
| Visitors | Under 50,000 |
| Website | http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/ |
Coordinates: 54°24′11″N 1°44′13″W / 54.403°N 1.737°W The Green Howards Regimental Museum is the museum of the Green Howards infantry regiment of the British Army. It is located in the old Trinity Church in the centre of the market place of Richmond in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. The Green Howards were amalgamated with The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, all Yorkshire-based regiments in the King's Division, to form The Yorkshire Regiment on 6 June 2006.
Founded in 1938, The museum houses artefacts and displays showing three centuries of the history of the regiment.
The museum is currently closed whilst a £1.7 million renovation takes place (part funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund). It will reopen in late summer 2014.
Medal display
Within the museums collection are 3,750 medals and decorations presented to members of the regiment including 16 Victoria Crosses (VC) and three George Crosses.
The Victoria Cross for Lt Col Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson VC DSO Commanding the 2nd/5th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at the time of his award of the VC is also held by the museum. He was Commissioned into the Green Howards in 1897 and promoted to Lieutenant in 1898 and posted to their 2nd battalion in India. He served in the Tirah Expedition 1897-8 on the North West Frontier where he was severely wounded and the Boxer Rebellion 1900. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1898 and after being invalided from India in 1903 he retired to the reserve of regular officers in 1904. In 1909 he joined the 1st County of London Yeomanry (Middlesex, Duke of Cambridge's Hussars). He was promoted Lieutenant in 1911, Captain in 1913. He served in Gallipoli in April 1915 and was promoted to major in July 1915, before returning to the UK. Attached to 2/5th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in 1916, he went to France as second-in-command in 1917. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the DSO in May 1917. He was wounded at Bullecourt on 3 May 1917. He was awarded the VC for gallantry, on 28 March 1918 at Rossignol Wood, France. Organising bombing parties and leading attacks under intense fire, he was killed covering the withdrawal of his men.[1]
The medal bar of Pte Henry Tandey VC DCM MM, who transferred from the Green Howards 12th Battalion on 26 July 1918 to the 5th Battalion The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), is also held by the regiment. Tandey's VC was awarded for gallantry during a counter-attack following the capture of Marcoing, France, on 28 September 1918 and the citation for it was printed in the London Gazette on 14 December 1918.[2] Tandey's DCM (Canal du Nord, during the 2nd Battle of Cambrai on 28 August 1918)[3] and MM (Havrincourt on 12 September 1918)[4] were also awarded for acts of gallantry whilst serving with the 5th battalion of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.