REME Museum of Technology
Encyclopedia
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 hence the name of the regiment.
and a Victoria Cross
.
unit.
's currently used by the British Army.
, containing a selection of recovery
and repair vehicles used by REME since its creation in 1942. There is also a 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.
The museum is open Sunday to Fridays throughout the year.
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
. The museum holds collections of various technological artifacts associated with the work of the REME
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
, the corps of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
responsible for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of electrical and mechanical equipment hence the name of the regiment.
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 CrossConspicuous Gallantry Cross
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is a second level military decoration of the United Kingdom armed forces. Created in 1993 and first awarded in 1995, it was instituted after a review of the British honours system to remove distinctions of rank in the awarding of gallantry decorations...
and a Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
.
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 1930's to present day including a Bowman RadioBowman (communications system)
Bowman is the name of the tactical communications system used by the British Armed Forces.The Bowman C4I system consists of a range of HF radio, VHF radio and UHF radio sets designed to provide secure integrated voice, data services to dismounted soldiers, individual vehicles and command HQs up to...
unit.
Armour's Hall
A large collection of weapons dating from a 16th century Flintlock Musket to modern SA80SA80
The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
'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 EdinburghPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
, containing a selection of recovery
Armoured recovery vehicle
An armoured recovery vehicle is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to repair battle- or mine-damaged as well as broken-down armoured vehicles during combat, or to tow them out of the danger zone for more extensive repairs...
and repair vehicles used by REME since its creation in 1942. There is also a exhibition dedicated to Ivan Hirst
Ivan Hirst
Major Ivan Hirst , was a British Army officer and engineer who was instrumental in reviving Volkswagen from a single factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, into a major postwar automotive manufacturer.-Education:...
, a REME Major who was instrumental to Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
's post-war reconstruction. This exhibition also has a rear end of a VW Beetle used as a sofa.
Vehicles on display
- Scammell PioneerScammell PioneerThe Scammell Pioneer R100 was a British vehicle that was used in the Second World War. The basic vehicle was used as an artillery tractor for heavier pieces such as the 7.2 inch howitzer. This had an 8-ton winch and an overhead runway with a 10-cwt hoist. Early war use included towing the six inch...
- Saxon (vehicle)Saxon (vehicle)The Saxon is an armoured personnel carrier used by the British Army and supplied in small numbers to various overseas organisations. It was developed by GKN Sankey, from earlier projects, AT 100 IS and AT104, and is due to be replaced by the Future Rapid Effect System.-Design:The Saxon was intended...
- FV432FV432The FV432 is the armoured personnel carrier variant of the British Army's FV430 series of armoured fighting vehicles. Since its introduction in the 1960s it has been the most common variant, being used for transporting infantry on the battlefield...
- FV434FV434The FV434 is the Armoured Repair Vehicle variant of the British Army's FV430 series of armoured fighting vehicles. Introduced in the 1960s and is operated by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers...
- Land Rover 101 Forward ControlLand Rover 101 Forward Controlthumb|right|300px|Side View.The 101 Forward Control was a vehicle produced by Land Rover for the British Army.-History:The vehicle was primarily produced to meet the Army's requirement for a gun tractor, and was designed to tow a field gun with a ton of ammunition and other equipment in the rear...
with crane - Sherman BARVBARVThe Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle is a British military support vehicle used for amphibious landings.There have been three different BARVs in British service since their introduction during World War II...
- AustinAustin Motor CompanyThe Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987...
K6 - Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (CRARRV)
- Westland ScoutWestland ScoutThe Westland Scout was a general purpose military light helicopter developed by Westland Helicopters. It was closely related to the Westland Wasp naval helicopter.-Design and development:...
- 1948 VW Beetle, first Beetle in the UK.
- FV106 SamsonFV106 SamsonFV106 Samson is a British Army armoured recovery vehicle, one of the CVR family. The main role of this vehicle is to recover the CVR family of vehicles, but can recover other light tracked vehicles such as the FV430 series.-Design and features:...
ARV - Alvis Stalwart
- Austin ChampAustin ChampThe Austin Champ was the civilian version of a British Army vehicle made by the Austin Motor Company. The army version was officially known as "Truck, 1/4 ton, CT, 4x4, cargo & FFW, Austin Mk.1" however the civilian name "Champ" was universally, if unofficially, applied to it.- History :A British...
- Bedford QLBedfordBedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
- Goliath tracked mineGoliath tracked mineThe Goliath tracked mine - complete German name: Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath - was a remote controlled German-engineered demolition vehicle, also known as the beetle tank to Allies....
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.