REME Museum of Technology
| REME Museum of Technology | |
|---|---|
|
A BAE Systems Phoenix outside the museum shop. | |
  Location within Berkshire | |
| Established | 1956 |
| Location | Arborfield Garrison, Berkshire, England |
| Coordinates | 51°23′11″N 0°53′39″W / 51.3864°N 0.8942°W |
| Director | Lt Col Cleasby (Rtd) |
| Website | REME Museum of Technology |
The REME Museum of Technology is located 6 miles (10 km) south east of Reading. The museum holds collections of various technological artifacts associated with the work of the REME, the corps of the British Army responsible for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of electrical and mechanical equipment. [1]
Exhibits
The museum has a variety of exhibits divided between several buildings.
Guard Room
A replica of a 1950's Guard Room. This exhibit contains details on security and discipline on a British Army base. These is also a history of Maj Gen Rowcroft, REME's first Director.
Main Museum
The original part of the museum. Amongst the displays in this building is a history of various technical trades that REME Craftsman specialise in. The main museum also houses The Medal Room, a display of medals awarded to REME soldiers and officers, including a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and a Victoria Cross.
Electronics Display
The first room is dedicated to the history of electronics, both civilian and military. There are examples of British Army radio units from the 1930s to present day including a Bowman Radio unit.
Armour's Hall
A large collection of weapons dating from a 16th-century Flintlock Musket to modern SA80's currently used by the British Army.
Prince Philip Vehicle Hall
A hall built in 1999, dedicated to REME's Colonel in Chief Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, containing a selection of recovery and repair vehicles used by REME since its creation in 1942. There is also an exhibition dedicated to Ivan Hirst, a REME Major who was instrumental to Volkswagen's post-war reconstruction. This exhibition also has a rear end of a VW Beetle used as a sofa.
Vehicles on display
- Scammell Pioneer
- Saxon (vehicle)
- FV432
- FV434
- Land Rover 101 Forward Control with crane
- Sherman BARV
- Austin K6
- Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (CRARRV)
- Westland Scout
- 1948 VW Beetle, first Beetle in the UK.
- FV106 Samson ARV
- Alvis Stalwart
- Austin Champ
- Bedford QL
- Goliath tracked mine
Other activities
Archives
The REME Museum of Technology is the home to an extensive collection of military records. The museum catalogues and restores these documents.
Visitor facilities
The Guard Room contains the museum's shop and café.
The museum is open Sunday to Fridays throughout the year.
Future Developments
As part of the Ministry of Defence's Defence Technical Training Change Programme (DTTCP), all military training at Arborfield and Bordon garrisons will relocate to MOD Lyneham, Wiltshire by the end of 2015. [2] This includes the Museum and its collections which are currently located at both sites. To facilitate this move, the Museum will close in Arborfield in April 2015 to allow time to pack and move the objects in it's collection. [3] [4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Museum Website Move". Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ↑ "MOD Planning Document". Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ↑ "Bracknell New article on the Museum Move". Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ↑ "Details about the Museum's Move". Retrieved 11 March 2015.
External links
Media related to REME Museum of Technology at Wikimedia Commons- The REME Museum of Technology website
- Bracknell New article on the Museum Move