Appeal to all members and my visit to Brecon Museum

Hi All,
I and my wife (and she went voluntary, not at the end of a bayonet and Martini) had the privilege of visiting the Royal Regiment of Wales museum in Brecon on Tuesday 16th. What a wonderful warm welcome we received from the staff and what a superb museum. I just wish I had days and not hours.

I would like to say a massive public thank you to Bill Cainan (member on here) the curator of the museum who took time out of his busy day to guide us around the museum. His passion, expertise, knowledge and professionalism come across in abundance. My wife just loved the tour and said how interesting it was and how it made the day.

I know some of you might have rattled sabres with Bill in discussions on here, but I can assure you he is an absolute top bloke to meet and if I had his wealth and depth of knowledge I am sure I would be rattling sabres too.

He and his team do a fantastic job under very difficult circumstances and have limited funding and not enough funding to maintain and do what he wants within the museum. I know their website is under construction and they have a member’s area. I have not been asked by Bill to do this, but if you need to subscribe and pay to become a member of the museum I would appeal to every member on here to join and provide much needed funding.

I know financial times are difficult in the present economic situation of uncertainty but if every member listed on here even subscribed at £10 each then that would give Bill 10% of his budget and at £20 each 20% of his budget, as it takes around £80,000 a year just to stand still.

I for one will subscribe without out reservation. Anyway enough of me and my soap box, I took some photo’s while I was there and I hope you enjoy my mediocre photography.
Cheers
Richie

One of me stood by the actual colours that flew over Rorke's Drift and "No comedians"

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Portrait of Lt. Anstey

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Lt. Edgar Anstey's medal

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One of William Lloyd's paintings depicting what the average soldier looked like.

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Knife and scabbard picked up from the battle field at Isandlwana.

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Shako plate of the 24th from Isandlwana

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Sabretouche with badge

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Field glasses recovered from Isandlwana.

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Other ranks tunic worn by Capt. Godwin-Austen

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Uniform of Lt. Coghill.

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Medals

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Misc.

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Wow!! Looks like you had a great day. Excellent photo's and lots of them. Thanks for posting.

Great photos Richie, well done.
You look fit and well standing by the RD flag, but I would have preferred to see a photo of your Mrs tbh! :lol:
Thanks for posting Richie. Reminds me I would like to get back there again next time I am in the area. Last time I went was last year I think, a month or two before the family descendants donated Lt Anstey's medal to the museum ( a high class act by the family) and I mean to go and see the Anstey corner.

Hi impi,
It certainly was a great day out, not a huge museum compared to some but worth a visit. Anyway some more photo's and again this is only a fraction on what is on show in the museum.

Hi tasker,
Both myself and the wife said to Bill what a great gesture to donate that medal of Anstey's to the museum and yes top family, well done mate
I was looking fit and I was not breathing in either. :lol:
Just for you task one of the missus but this was taken at Leeds Armoury.

cheers
Richie

The VC's - unfortunately the originals are in the bank and cannot be displayed, again this is all down to funding.
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It's the jacket that makes me look fat - honest

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Model of Rorke's Drift made by Ian Knight when he was 12, approx 1/72 scale.

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54mm -1/32 scale model figures making up a scene from Isandlwana, some serious hours have gone into this one.

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The one who tolerate's my Zulu passion - Just for you tasker
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Hi Richie.
Loved the line '' No Comedians ........'' , mate you have taken brilliant pictures , well done . :lol: . I agree it's the Jackets fault ! :lol: :lol: :lol: . Do you think you'd need a full day there or possibly 2 or more ?? . I'm certain I'd be there for a week or at least until Bill asked me to leave with my crowbar and trolley etc etc !. I was salivating over the Medal displays , if Bill could organise a way of us to donate I'm sure many on here would do so . The Pic of Mrs '' Richie '' is that you in uniform behind her on the horse ?? :lol: . Well done mate , excellent work that man !.
Cheers 90th.

Hi 90th,

To be honest if you wanted to read everything in the museum then a couple of days, as it covers the whole history. If you wanted to chat to Bill about the Zulu war then minimum of a week for you.
The medals I have shown are only a fraction of the medals that are on display in the medal room, the same for the rest of the museum exhibits. There is also a small separate armoury display next door to this with revolvers, rifles and machine guns.

The point of showing this was to help in my own little way to raise awareness of the much needed funding for this museum which is a registered charity.
I intend next year to do a couple of unique one off projects that I will sell and donate the money to Bill and his wonderful museum.

Yes that was me - I was going to whisk her away on my charger. :lol: Mind it looks like I've put on 4 stone since then

cheers
Richie

Great Pictures Ritchie - I cant wait to see the new models that this trip has inspired.

I love the uniforms and like 90th the medal display is amazing - a great collection of SAGS and as for the VC's awesome - nice to see that Ashcroft hasn't got every VC that has come to market.

i agree with Richie - it would be nice to find ways for us to help the Museum's funding issue- subscriptions, Fundraising etc

I noticed that Julian's essays contribute direct to the museum which is admirable.

Perhaps we could have a sponsored debate on who was to balme for Isandlwana !! :lol:

Congrats to Richie to getting his Mrs to go to the museum. I am sure that all our wives tolerate our interest/obsession with the conflict and it is nice to see her taking an active interest.

To be fair MrsD did accompany me to RD and Isandlwana so I cant complain and so I always accept the raised eyebrow at the arrival of the latest registered package with a smile.

Lets put our collective head together as to how we can help the museum.

Hi Sergio,
Thanks mate, I am definitely going to make a couple of one off models and put them up for sale, how can you not get inspired. If I can get 12 models finished I thought about producing a calendar with all profits going to the museum.

Well Lord Ashcroft has Robert Jones VC. Maybe we could all petition him to donate it.

Bill also told me Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame is a massive fan of Zulu. We should all bombard him daily to do a remake and give a percentage of the profits to the museum. He can even send our extra's fees.

I totally agree, if we could all collectively put our heads together and try and do our bit, now that would be something and very gratifying.

As for Isandlwana - £5 a head for Pulleine and £5 a head for Durnford - all proceeds to Brecon. :lol: Sitting on the fence £10.

It was the wife I bounced the idea off about the models and she said 100% yes.

Something else that you may not all be aware of, 60% of the collection is in storage and not on display. Again this is down to space. But space that could be rectified will additional funding creativity and new display cabinets.

cheers
Richie

Thanks Richie, great photos. It looks like you guys have been on a super tour of the museums.
I have heeded your "no comedians" warning so will not make the predictable jokes about your attractive, tolerant wife and her being well out of your league etc etc, but no, you are a fortunate man indeed. :lol:
Hope you both had a great tour, keep the photos rolling!

Hi Richie.

Glad you enjoyed your visit to the museum.

You have taken some great pictures, and many thanks for posting them for us all to look at.

Whilst I was looking at the pictures, I was wondering if there was anything (other that the odd badge, or locket belt buckle), that showed the regiments full and real title, ie; 24th (2nd Warwickshire) regiment of foot. The reason I ask is because as I was looking at the pictures I didn't see anything that showed this, apart from the words 24th regiment (which of course implies the regiment pre 1782), as from 1782 its title was the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) regiment of foot, and it was under this title that the regiment fought during the AZW, but I couldn't see anything in the photo's that said this.

I would have thought that a museum that is supposedly dedicated to the memory of a regiment (especially its involvement in the AZW), would have had its full title in large upper case letters displayed for all to see, however, it appears that this is not the case for the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) regiment, and what's more, it held this title until 1881 (which is much longer than it was ever known as the SWB), but it would seem that the full title of the regiment during the AZW is being ignored or avoided, which is a sad and disappointing way to treat the memory of the men that fought and died fighting during the AZW when the regiment was called the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) regiment of foot.

If the museum is proud of this regiment and its involvement in the AZW, then the question arises why is it that its title of the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) regiment never seems to be on display for the public to see i wonder? One has to ask the question, could this be a deliberate ploy to keep the Welsh myth created by the film alive and well?

Anyway, moan overwith, glad you enjoyed it Richie mate, and again, great pictures.

Hi tasker,
:lol:


Hi Martin,
To be honest there were other buckles and badges in the case but I only snapped a couple, so there might be, you are probably better off asking Bill.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.
cheers
Richie