From Wednesday 1st November, the Royal Marines Museum’s refurbished “End of Empire” gallery will be open to the general public. This gallery explores key themes within Royal Marines history and covers the period from the end of the Second World War to the Falklands Campaign.
One artefact in this gallery is the Wilkinson Sword of Peace which was awarded to the 41 Commando group during their peace keeping mission in Cyprus, 1974-1975. It is given to a unit of each service, which is judged to have made the most valuable contribution towards establishing good and friendly relations with the inhabitants of any community at home or overseas.
It has been given to the Royal Marines on a number of occasions, recognising service in Northern Ireland (1973), the Falkland Islands (1977), Cyprus (1974 and 1984) and Kosovo (2002).
The Wilkinson Sword of Peace was inaugurated in 1966 and is awarded annually by the sword manufacturer Messrs Wilkinson Sword Ltd.
Ghosts of Jutland
A free lecture on the Ghosts of Jutland by Nick Hewitt, Interpretation Officer of HMS Belfast will be taking place at 1pm on Wednesday 15 November at the Royal Marines Museum.
It was on 31 May 1916 that two great fleets and nearly 100,000 men fought for maritime supremacy. Britain’s Royal Navy was tested to its limits, as its Grand Fleet came face-to-face with Germany’s High Seas Fleet. The Battle of Jutland was the only time that fleets of big-gun ‘dreadnought’ battleships actually came to blows. It was the end of an era.
During the lecture Nick will reveal how the Battle was a great drama and a human tragedy on an epic scale for the men who fought at Jutland.
“Ghosts of Jutland” is a new commemorative exhibition on board HMS Belfast to mark the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Jutland.
Contact Michelle Rickman, telephone 023 9281 9385 for bookings
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