News Archive

Our very special Bobbie has returned from his stay in London at the Imperial War Museum where he was part of the Animals' War exhibition.  He will be pleased to meet old friends again, and to make new ones so why not drop in to see him?

Our living history event on Saturday 19th May proved a great success with a steady flow of people throughout the day and evening.

We were all treated to four re-enactment shows that included loud musket and cannon fire. 

At the event were re-enactors and representatives from the Brandywine Battlefield park in Pennsylvania, U.S. who were keen to stress that they wanted even more of their members to attend the event next year. So it looks as if we certainly have a good re-match to look forward to!

The Ministry of Defence has announced the latest casualty of the war in Iraq as Rifleman Paul Donnachie who was born in Reading, Berkshire.

Rifleman Donnachie was a Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry  recruit and had joined the 2nd Battalion The Rifles only in December 2006. He was killed on Sunday 29th April 2007 during a routine patrol in the Al Ashar district of Basra City.

The Riflemen in the Wardrobe museum staff and volunteers would like to express our sadness at this news and would like to send our heartfelt sympathy to all his family.

More information can be found on the Minstry of Defence website at www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/Military Operations/RiflemanPaulDonnachie

The official name for this museum has now changed. We are now 'The Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum', with the marketing name being 'Riflemen in the Wardrobe'.

A full press release and statement will follow as soon as various admin details have been dealt with. So watch this space!

On Thursday 1st February, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry merged with The Devonshire and Dorsetshire Light Infantry to become the 1st Battalion The Rifles.Our picture shows (from left to right) Lt.Col.John Venus (Regimental Assistant Secretary), Alistair Riggs (Museum Attendant), and Jackie Dryden (Acting Curator) witnessing the new raising of the new flag for The Rifles at the Wardrobe.

The 1st Battalion The Rifles, is now part of the British Army's largest Infantry Regiment with five Regular and two Territorial Battalions. Although the 1st Battalion RGBW had a short,  busy and outstanding record, we at this museum are commited to preserving the story of the former Royal Berkshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment and Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment, with a history dating back over 250 years, to 1743. It also records the short history of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.

Her Majesty the Queen has graciously appointed Field Marshal His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT GBE OM AC QSO as Colonel in Chief, The Rifles.

For more information on The Rifles visit the website ~ www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regts/the_rifles

The new book by Martin McIntyre entitled Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment has arrived and is now on sale, price £12.99 + postage and packing.

As usual with all 'Mac''s books, it is full of images, in fact over 200 and accompanied by informative descriptions and anecdotes.

This fascinating collection records the actions of the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment from its beginning in 1959 through to 1994 when the Regiment was amalgamated with the Gloucestershire Regiment to become 1 RGBW.

Please click on the MUSEUM SHOP section which can be found on the Wardrobe web home page then click on BOOKS - REGIMENTAL.

Friday 19th January has seen the last day for David Chilton as Curator. Our picture shows him at his leaving party which took place in the Wardrobe's Regimental Room.

As yet no replacement has been found which means we will be short staffed, so please bear with us with your queries for the guestbook, we will answer as soon as we can.

Jackie Dryden, who has been working as Assistant Curator since being responsible for the refurbishment in 2001 is acting as Curator/Manager for the forseeable future.

Released this month is this ultimate music double CD of the Regimental Band and the Corps of Drums of the 1st Battalion The Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment.

This treat for military music fans and ex-members of the Regiment includes 45 tracks taken from four recordings:
- Regimental Band recording for Regimental Association reunion 1961
- Corps of Drums recording in Cyprus 1985
- Regimental Band - "The Farmer's Boy" recorded in London 1987
- Regimental Band and Corps of Drums - "Airmobile Infantry" recorded at Catterick 1991

The 1961 recording has never previously been released. The 1985 Cyprus recording had limited distribution and it includes the Corps of Drums singing the Farmer's Boy.

Reasonably priced, this double CD will fit in well with Martin McIntyre's new book on the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment, to be published later this month.

To order your copy of the double CD go to the Music Section of our on-line shop – and order. It's as easy as that!

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On Saturday 25th November during a rainy morning a memorial plaque was unveiled  here at the Wardrobe in memory of those who have died while serving with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry.

The dedication service took place in the memorial garden and among those attending were the families of the soldiers who lost their lives, including the wife and the mother of Brigadier SWJ Saunders killed in Athens in 2000.

The plaque was unveiled by Brigadier Davidson-Houston, Deputy Colonel of the Regiment and the service was conducted by the Reverend Fran Myatt CF, Chaplain to the 1st Battalion.

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As we do not have the ability at present to upload more than one image per news item, we make no apologies for presenting several items concerning the same event; the funeral of Tom Venn, killed in action in October 1944 as part of the 5th Wiltshires and buried with full military honours on 8th November 2006.

Tom's coffin is taken into the cemetery.