After a £2 million refurbishment, Richmond’s Green Howards Museum reopened its doors rather fittingly on Remembrance Sunday. Coming to visit the museum later that week it was clear that this poignant time would make it a particularly special visit. As the nation and world reflected on the First World War as a global event earlier in the week, the museum offered an opportunity to think about military history from a distinctly Yorkshire perspective.
The museum is home to artefacts and exhibits of the Yorkshire Regiment’s 300 years of existence, ranging from histories of battles fought to displays of the 16 Victoria Crosses and 3 George Crosses awarded to its members across the years for their acts of gallantry.
One of the things which struck me most was the way the regiment’s service spanned familiar battles across British military history I’d read about before: they had been at the Ypres Salient; fought at Passchendale; been at Dunkirk; taken part in the Normandy Landing. I could trace this even as far as the Falklands War and into the present day in Iraq.
Reflections on war and military history are often moments of national remembrance, but of course the national sacrifice always has local sacrifices and bravery underneath it and it was great to experience history from this perspective. An excellent museum and a wonderful way to help local children and adults learn more about a vital part of the nation and county’s history.