Green Howards Museum, Richmond

A Victoria Cross and other medals - photo courtesy of the Green Howards Museum

The Green Howards Museum is the regimental museum of one of Britain’s most famous and illustrious regiments, with a long and glorious history of bravery and dedication to duty to King (or Queen) and country.

The Museum was set up in 1922 and had a variety of temporary (and often unsuitable) homes until 1973 when it re-opened in its present location – the former Holy Trinity Church in Richmond. The Museum’s raison d’être is to record and pass on the history of the regiment, and it has many artefacts and memorabilia.

Col Charles Howard, after whom the regiment is named - picture courtesy of the Green Howards Museum

The Medal Room (the Harrison Gallery) is absolutely stunning – in more than one way. The sheer number of medals is overpowering, with more than 4,000 of these military awards for bravery on show, many of which have been donated to the collection. The display is also stunningly brilliant: the bright ribbon colours and the gleaming metal make it dazzling to the eye.

The medals which form the centrepiece of the display are the 18 Victoria Crosses and three George Crosses in the Medal Room. The accompanying citations tell heart-wrenching but inspiring stories of bravery in the most difficult circumstances.

One of the many interesting items in the Museum - a snuff box commissioned by Napoleon - photo courtesy of the Green Howards Museum

As well as a collection of associated artefacts going back to 1688 which weave together the tales of the many battles and engagements the Green Howards were involved in over the years, the Museum also houses a unique collection of uniforms beginning in the mid-1700s through to the present day as well as original weapons, the Regimental silver and the Richmond Town Hall silver.

Besides the static and audio visual displays, the Museum hosts a summer lecture programme including topics such as ‘Regimental Richmond’, ‘On the Frontline with the Green Howards’, ‘Toy Soldiers’ and ‘Colonel Ronald Fife of Nunnington Hall’.

Company Sergeant Major Stan Hollis, the only man to win a Victoria Cross on D-Day - One of the many interesting items in the Museum - photo courtesy of the Green Howards Museum

The Museum also welcomes small groups for guided tours, with refreshments. It’s essential to book beforehand for this very enjoyable and popular service.

The Museum has an amazing shop where visitors can obtain many gift items including Diamond Jubilee memorabilia, low-cost toys for children, old fashioned sweets, tea towels and cups, as well as Green Howard engraved presentation gifts.

The Museum Entrance - photo courtesy of the Green Howards Museum

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm up to 22nd December; Sunday 12.30 to 4.00 pm up to 31st October.

Entrance fee: adults £3.50, concessions £3.00, 13-17 yrs £1.00, under 13s free when accompanied by an adult.

For more information call in for a leaflet, telephone or visit the Museum’s website.

The address of the Green Howards Museum is:

Trinity Church Square
Richmond
North Yorkshire
DL10 4QN

Tel: 01748 826561

Email: museum@greenhowards.org.uk

A little bit of history

The Green Howards regiment was formed (or rather raised) in 1688 in Somerset, to serve under Prince William of Orange (who became King William III of England and Ireland) and was known under a variety of titles. Informally, regiments took their name from the Regimental Colonel; the man in charge in 1744 was one Honourable Charles Howard. As it happened there were two Colonels called Howard at the time, and their regiments were known as the Buff Howards and the Green Howards, reflecting the colour of the facings to their uniforms). The Honourable Charles’ regiment had green facings, so they became known, unofficially, as the Green Howards. In 1782 the Green Howards were given the official title of The 19th (First Yorkshire North Riding Regiment) of Foot, but (thank goodness) the nickname had stuck, and they continued to be referred to as the Green Howards. Eventually, it dawned on the powers that be that this was actually rather a good name, and in 1920 the regiment was officially titled The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales‘s Own Yorkshire Regiment).

The regiment’s connection with Richmond, in what was then the North Riding, dates back to 1873 – when it became permanently based there. Unfortunately, the regiment ceased to have an independent existence after being merged with two other Yorkshire-based regiments in June 2006 to form the Yorkshire Regiment.

Until it’s absorption into the Yorkshire Regiment the Green Howards had played a huge part in the local history of Richmond – and the Green Howards Museum is a living reminder of its glorious story.

During the 20^th century the Green Howards saw action in every major sphere of conflict in either combat or policing roles: from South Africa at the turn of the century; through the First World War in France and Belgium (1914-1918); North Russia (1919); the Third Afghan War (1919); Palestine (1938); Waziristan (1937-39); the Second World War (1939-1945) where they fought in Europe (Norway, Sicily, Italy, France, Holland and Germany), North Africa (the Western Desert), and SE Asia (Burma); Malaya (1949-1952); and, since 1952 in Afghanistan, Arabian Gulf (Gulf War 1991), Austria, Belize, Bosnia, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Libya, Suez, Berlin and West Germany, and Northern Ireland England.

Throughout these campaigns soldiers from the regiment have won many honours including the only Victoria Cross awarded for the fighting on D-Day in 1944. The VC, as it is commonly referred to, is the ultimate recognition of courage under fire for military personnel. In all the regiment’s men were awarded eighteen Victoria Crosses and a further three George Crosses (the next highest military honour – awarded for bravery not in the face of the enemy).