South Wales Borderers Museum
Encyclopedia
The South Wales Borderers Museum is located at Brecon
in Wales
and is the regimental museum of the 24th Regiment of Foot. The museum's collection is made up of artefacts collected from a variety of sources from around the world and which display the regiment's 300 year history.
, South Wales
, and claims to have the finest collection of weapons to be found in any regimental museum in the United Kingdom
. Its collection of guns shows the development of soldiers' weapons from the 18th century to the present.
The museum's Medal Room contains about 3,000 medals. The Victoria Cross
case in the main hall contains sixteen replica VCs which represent the originals which are owned by the regiment but which cannot be displayed because they are too valuable. The museum's greatest attraction is its Zulu War
Room, which displays the exploits of the 24th Regiment of Foot during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War
made famous by the 1964 film Zulu
, during which campaign the Regiment won 11 VCs. Queen Victoria
called the soldiers of the 24th Foot "The Noble 24th".
The museum has an extensive archive which in particular relates to the Zulu War of 1879. Access to the archive collection is available to bona fide
researchers by appointment. The museum also has an excellent collection of pictures, paintings, diorama
s, drums, assegai
s, ammunition, buttons, badges and uniforms.
es awarded to the following soldiers of the Regiment:
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and is the regimental museum of the 24th Regiment of Foot. The museum's collection is made up of artefacts collected from a variety of sources from around the world and which display the regiment's 300 year history.
The collection
The museum is based at The Barracks in BreconBrecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, and claims to have the finest collection of weapons to be found in any regimental museum in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Its collection of guns shows the development of soldiers' weapons from the 18th century to the present.
The museum's Medal Room contains about 3,000 medals. The 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....
case in the main hall contains sixteen replica VCs which represent the originals which are owned by the regiment but which cannot be displayed because they are too valuable. The museum's greatest attraction is its Zulu War
Anglo-Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom.Following the imperialist scheme by which Lord Carnarvon had successfully brought about federation in Canada, it was thought that a similar plan might succeed with the various African kingdoms, tribal areas and...
Room, which displays the exploits of the 24th Regiment of Foot during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War
Anglo-Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom.Following the imperialist scheme by which Lord Carnarvon had successfully brought about federation in Canada, it was thought that a similar plan might succeed with the various African kingdoms, tribal areas and...
made famous by the 1964 film Zulu
Zulu (film)
Zulu is a 1964 historical war film depicting the Battle of Rorke's Drift between the British Army and the Zulus in January 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War....
, during which campaign the Regiment won 11 VCs. Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
called the soldiers of the 24th Foot "The Noble 24th".
The museum has an extensive archive which in particular relates to the Zulu War of 1879. Access to the archive collection is available to bona fide
Bona Fide
Bona Fide is a studio album from rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first studio album in six years and is the only studio album to feature guitarist Ben Granfelt...
researchers by appointment. The museum also has an excellent collection of pictures, paintings, diorama
Diorama
The word diorama can either refer to a nineteenth century mobile theatre device, or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional full-size or miniature model, sometimes enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum...
s, drums, assegai
Assegai
An assegai or assagai is a pole weapon used for throwing or hurling, usually a light spear or javelin made of wood and pointed with iron.-Iklwa:...
s, ammunition, buttons, badges and uniforms.
Victoria Crosses held by the museum
The South Wales Borderers Museum owns the Victoria CrossVictoria 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....
es awarded to the following soldiers of the Regiment:
- Sergeant William Wilson AllenWilliam Wilson AllenWilliam Wilson Allen, VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift in January 1879, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:He was about 35...
, 24th Regiment ( Rorke's Drift ) - Private David BellDavid Bell (VC)David Bell VC was born County Down, Ireland . Bell was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.He was approximately 22 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion,...
, 24th Regiment - Major Gonville BromheadGonville BromheadMajor Gonville Bromhead VC was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, 24th Regiment ( Rorke's Drift ) - Brigadier General Edward Stevenson BrowneEdward Stevenson BrowneBrigadier General Edward Stevenson Browne VC CB was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:He was 26 years old, and a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion,...
, 24th Regiment - Captain Angus BuchananAngus BuchananAngus Buchanan, VC, MC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...
, 4th Bn, South Wales Borderers (On loan) - General Sir Alexander CobbeAlexander CobbeGeneral Sir Alexander Stanhope Cobbe VC GCB KCSI DSO was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Indian Army. attached King's African Rifles - Lieutenant Neville Josiah Coghill, 24th Regiment ( Isandhlwana )
- Private William Griffiths, 24th Regiment
- Private Frederick HitchFrederick HitchFrederick Hitch, VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:Hitch was 22 years old, and a private in...
24th Regiment ( Rorke's Drift ) - Sergeant Alfred Henry HookAlfred Henry HookAlfred Henry "Harry" Hook VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Background:Born in Churcham,...
, 24th Regiment ( Rorke's Drift ) - Major General Dudley Graham JohnsonDudley Graham JohnsonMajor General Dudley Graham Johnson VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Military career:Johnson served with the Wiltshire Regiment...
, South Wales Borderers attached 2nd Bn, Royal Sussex Regiment - Private William JonesWilliam Jones (VC)William Jones VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross for his action at the Battle of Rorke's Drift in January 1897, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.- Details :Jones was born and...
, 24th Regiment ( Rorke's Drift ) - Lieutenant Teignmouth MelvillTeignmouth MelvillTeignmouth Melvill VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, 24th Regiment ( Isandhlwana ) - Co. Sergeant Major Ivor ReesIvor ReesIvor Rees VC was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, 11th Bn, South Wales Borderers - Sergeant John WilliamsJohn Williams (VC)John Williams VC , was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, 24th Regiment ( Rorke's Drift ) - Warrant Officer II John Henry Williams, 10th Bn, South Wales Borderers