Future of RAMC Museum

[Les Viner]

You may have heard a recent rumour that the RAMC museum at Keough Barracks, or more accurately outside the gates of the barracks is under threat of closure. I can't give you any more details than this as I don't know the facts but a recent communication from Mick McCran suggested this might happen. If this is the case I'm suggesting that we as OTT Reunited should do everything in our power to ensure that the museum continues in one form or another. I really must applaud the sterling and dedicated work done by Pete Starling and his team to make it one of the leading museums of its kind. Many of us will have made donated precious items to the museum where they will have been archived and preserved for future generations and for research. I donated a picture of my Grandfather recovering from his would inflicted at the battle of Ypres in world War One. He was an "Old Contemptible" and at that time serving with the Rifle Brigade. Although he received a neck would which left him with a permanent slight stoop he was not discharged and fought in seven other WW1 battles. He was recalled to the colours in WW2 and served in the Royal Engineers. The picture was taken in an advanced dressing station just outside of the front line before being evacuated back to blighty. For the future many of us may wish to donate our own personal memorials which would otherwise be easily lost or sold within one or two generations. The museum would be a safe refuge for these articles especially if they were accompanied by
good provenance. I would be interested in other members comments and suggestions. Please add any to this thread and don't start a new one unless it is clearly a new subject. Kind regards,