Ever since first volunteering at The Rifles (Berkshire & Wiltshire) Museum in Salisbury, I’ve been fascinated by storytelling: how can you tell the history of the British Army in different and innovative ways considering most regiments fought in the same wars throughout the last four centuries? Therefore, the Army Museums Ogilby Trust’s Museum Directory has become almost a checklist for me to visit regimental museums around the UK. The York Army Museum is a fantastic opportunity to explore Yorkshire’s military past in infantry and cavalry form.
The York Army Museum is housed in a rather unassuming building on Tower Street and attention is drawn more to the imposing Clifford’s Tower opposite (and the children often seen tumbling down the embankment). Greeted warmly at the ticket desk in the gift shop, visitors descend to the subterranean museum. The challenge for any museum is to introduce concepts to novices whilst not patronising subject specialists and the York Army Museum introduces its collections – The Yorkshire Regiment and The Royal Dragoon Guards – expertly as you enter the single-floor, multi-area museum.
Today’s Yorkshire Regiment has a long history that predates its formation in 2006 when the Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire, The Green Howards and The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment were amalgamated. But what is an infantry regiment? We’re informed that “The Yorkshire Regiment is made up of three battalions of infantry, each of around 600 soldiers” and that, “as infantrymen, the soldiers of The Yorkshire Regiment and its predecessors have always fought on foot.”
Meanwhile, The Royal Dragoon Guards is an armoured cavalry regiment made up of 500 soldiers. The RDG was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards though, again, there are four centuries of predecessors. And, as for a cavalry regiment…? Well, that was 549 men and 608 horses in 1914, and 663 men and 78 tanks in 1944.
Along the full length of one wall, we follow the story of each regiment – with battle honours and artefacts – from their formation to disbandment or merging. Two key stories stand out…
During the Battle of Brandywine (1777) in the American War of Independence, the 15th Regiment of Foot (later The East Yorkshire Regiment) ran out of shot (bullets) but continued to fire just gunpowder from their muskets in a bid to deceive and frighten the enemy. The deception earned the regiment the nickname ‘The Snappers’.
In April 1969, the 1st Battalion The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire was the first British Army unit deployed under Operation Banner to Northern Ireland in response to what became known as ‘The Troubles’. Yorkshire’s regiments served multiple tours until the late-1990s.
At the furthest end of the museum space, we find a reproduction of the Officers’ Mess where there are presented regimental colours, silverware and folklore. We read about Lieutenant Colonel Robert Baden-Powell who commanded the 5th Dragoon Guards from 1897 to 1899 before forming the Scout Association in 1910 upon his retirement from the army. Also detailed are the exploits of Captain Lawrence Oates who served in the 3rd Battalion The West Yorkshire Regiment and 6th Inniskilling Dragoons before his famous sacrificial death on the Scott vs Amundsen ‘Terra Nova’ South Pole expedition in 1912.
It's in the mess area that children (and adults) can try out their morse code skills or enjoy a game of chess. Towards the exit, there is a children’s uniform dress-up wardrobe and an arcade-style handgun shooting game.
Through the penultimate zone, we hear the stories of soldiers telling their experiences of battle and barrack life, recalling the heroism and camaraderie of the men from Yorkshire. Visitors are then brought up-to-date with final words on today’s Yorkshire Regiment and Royal Dragoon Guards.
In all, an attentive visitor will spend an hour and a half in the museum. As referenced above, the museum is situated in the basement, to which there are 11 steps and a platform stairlift.
York Army Museum
Address – 3 Tower Street, York, YO1 9SB, UK
Website – https://yorkarmymuseum.co.uk/
Opening times – 10am-5pm every day except Sunday
Prices – Adults £7; Children aged 5-18 £3.50 and under-5s free; Family £17; various concessions and free tickets
Parking in Yorkshire is plentiful but expensive, and visitors are encouraged to use the Park-and-Ride service.
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David developed an interest in military history in his teens, which led him naturally to War Studies at King’s College, London. His professional life involves delivering data and marketing consultancy across the education sector, and beyond that he was Marketing Officer for the Salisbury Military History Society for five years and has provided support to a range of heritage institutions including the Rifles (Berkshire & Wiltshire) Museum, Royal Artillery Museum and Army Flying Museum. He enjoys exploring new ways to tell stories and engage with audiences.
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Salisbury Military History Society
The Rifles (Berkshire & Wiltshire) Museum
Royal Artillery Museum
Army Flying Museum