Worcestershire Regiment Museum - MRMW

15/06/2026

Upcoming talk by the Friends of the Museum this Saturday!

Robert Hildyard ~ 19th Century Diplomat and Envoy of Empire

Don't miss the opportunity to hear an illustrated talk by former diplomat and current Friend of the Museum Mike Seaman about the life and times of a young 19th century British Diplomat, who worked in Russia, France, Türkiye!

Taking place at Lyppard Grange Community Centre, Ankerage Green, WR4 0DZ. Saturday 20th June 2026, 1:30pm for 2:00pm start.

Friends Members £3/Guests and non-members £5.

Lyppard Hub

14/06/2026

Slightly strange press for The Worcestershire Soldier at the Commandery today - rest assured veterans and history students are not currently transporting our exhibition anywhere, although we do hope the creation of our new display will offer plenty of ways for both groups to get involved!

The context for the headline is that the project's progress has been reported officially to committee by our project partners, Worcester City Council.

The images in the news story are the designs for the new galleries at The Commandery which will host our collection and that of The Worcestershire Yeomanry Museum, all thanks to the support of

📷 Credit to Redman Design.

Worcestershire Yeomanry Museum
The Friends of the Worcestershire Yeomanry Museum
Worcester
The Commandery - Worcester

The Worcestershire Soldier exhibition is being moved from Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.

09/06/2026

On Saturday 6th June, the Museum attended the WFRA Reunion 2026 with the support of the Friends and volunteers!

After the successful rededication of the Worcestershire Regiment Malaya Memorial bench in April, we felt that Reunion was a good opportunity to share some of the Museum's collection relating to the Malayan Emergency.

A small selection of items were on display throughout the day along with brand new text panels: Iban Tracker Awang' s George Cross; Pte Reginald Kelly's sweetheart broach, and the General Service Medal of Pte Joseph Banner.

Every year we get the opportunity to meet some very extraordinary men and women. On this occasion we were grateful to meet the younger brother and extended family of Private Joseph Charlie Banner who served and died in Malaya in 1951.

Being able to show Private Banner's family his medal and see some personal photographs was the highlight of our Reunion experience for 2026.

The Mercian Regiment

📸MRMW Reunion Display. Credit: The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcester). WFRA Reunion 2026 images. Credit: WFRA Worcester Branch Honorary Member, Alan Bray.

08/06/2026

This week we remember the men of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment who fought and died during the largest amphibious invasion in history, the D Day Landings, June 1944.

The assault formed part of Operation Overlord, the successful invasion of German occupied Western Europe,and the 1st Battalion formed part of the 214th Infantry Brigade that landed as reinforcements in Normandy on 22nd June 1944.

Within the first week, whilst occupying ground captured at Cheux, the battalion suffered 16 casualties including all the Officers of A Company. Despite this, the battalion had done their job and consolidated their position effectively.

The battalion continued to endure and push onwards for the following two months, playing their part in the attack on Mouen, the battle for Hill 112 and the crossing of the Seine at Vernon (Operation Neptune) .

The entire operation cost the battalion 60 casualties.

📸1st Battalion in back streets of Vernon, August 1944. Credit: The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire). Officers of 'A' Company 1st Battalion, June 1944. Credit: The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire).
https://www.worcestershireandmercianregimentmuseum.org/brief-history-of-the-worcestershire-regiment/world-war-2/north-west-europe-the-battle-for-normandy-june-july-1944/

04/06/2026

📜THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS🖥️

To celebrate volunteers week the museum is recognising and commending the crucial work our dedicated volunteers do!

Our volunteers contribute to the museum in a number of ways; from transcribing and digitising our collections to our volunteer led research enquiries. The work they complete helps us and the public better understand our collection and regimental history.

Take a look at the impact their work has had on those looking into the military history of their family members in our new article!



https://www.worcestershireandmercianregimentmuseum.org/volunteers-week-2026-the-power-of-volunteers/

📸Volunteers with the Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcester) 2026. Credit: The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcester)

01/06/2026

in 1794, men of the 29th Regiment of Foot performed an unusual duty.

Drafted for sea-service, these infantrymen found themselves in the thick of a critical naval battle which became a great British victory in the French Revolutionary Wars.

Today we remember a remarkable soldier who lost his life that day, Captain Alexander Saunders.

In a time when officers' commissions were often purchased by those with wealth and connections, Saunders had risen through the ranks on merit. Born in Wednesbury, he had enlisted in the 29th aged just 11, and by 1790 held the rank of Captain. On 1 June 1794 he was the only officer of 29th aboard the Brunswick and was one of 12 men of the Regiment killed on deck at the height of the battle.

A newspaper report from the time records that he was hit by a cannon ball in the pit of the stomach and blown about the ship. His will, made on board the Brunswick, left his sons in the care of the Regiment.

📸Will of Alexander Saunders. Credit: The National Archives reference 11/1254/214. Print of the Glorious 1st June, 1794. Credit: The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) WOSWR: M56.

27/05/2026

Of the highest order - on the 27th May 1951 Iban Tracker Awang Anak Rawang received a commendation for the George Cross.

During the morning 10 Platoon of D Company 1st Battalion were ambushed in the Malayan jungle. Both Awang and a Private Hughes were wounded during the attack.

"Awang, disregarding completely his own wound in view of the impending bandit attack, took up a fire position to defend Hughes" - Citation 4th July 1951.

📸 Iban Tracker Awang Anak Rawang attached to 1st Battalion and on a visit to Regiment in 1970, wearing his George Cross. Credit: Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire).

https://www.worcestershireandmercianregimentmuseum.org/brief-history-of-the-worcestershire-regiment/the-worcestershire-regiment-in-malaya-1950-1953/

27/05/2026

Join us if you can at the next Friends talk "Who's For The Game?".

This Saturday, 30th May, 1:30pm for 2:00pm.

Friends/Members £3, Guests £5. Everyone is welcome!

20/05/2026

"Who's For The Game?"

Don't miss the next Friends talk Saturday 30th May.

Based on Doug Smith's book of the same name, a talk about Birmingham and Worcestershire sportsmen who served and died in the First World War and who were more than just names on a memorial.

Join us at The Talbot Chaddesley Corbett DY10 4SA
Arrival 1:30pm for 2:00pm start. Friends/Members £3, Guests £5.

📸 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment vs Devon & Somerset Wanderers, June 1910. Credit: Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire), WOSWR: Photo Album-59. Digitised by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust.

Army Museums Network

19/05/2026

We are making progress towards our goal! Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed so far. Every donation brings us closer to getting the project started 🙌

We have a once-in-a-generation chance to restore and secure access to Worcestershire's military heritage in a new long-term home at The Commandery. Please help us raise the final chunk of our match fundraising target to make those plans a reality.