Worcestershire Regiment Museum - MRMW

07/09/2026

Last week our Thursday volunteers participated in some internal training to improve and develop our research enquiries!

Our First World War database, developed by our long-standing volunteer Joe, is the first place we look after receiving a research enquiry covering the period 1881-1919.

Day-to-day Joe works as the Archivist for the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum, but on Thursday kindly came into the museum to give our team of researchers a detailed training day on how to use the database to its full potential and maximise results.

Special thanks to Joe for spending the day with our volunteers and to our team for their enthusiasm throughout the day!



📸Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcester) Volunteers Database Training, 2026. © The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcester).

03/09/2026

A Historic Anniversary!

English Civil War 375 - This year our friends at The Commandery - Worcester are commemorating the 375th Anniversary of the Battle of Worcester. Over 350 years of history and legacy, where the Commandery is at the heart of the story.

Make sure to take a look!

26/08/2026

We are delighted to share that The Worcestershire Soldier at The Commandery - Worcester has received a crucial grant from the AIM Museum Fundamentals scheme, funded by the Pilgrim Trust and the Julia Rausing Trust to conserve historically significant textiles.

The grant will fund the remedial conservation of three historic textiles for redisplay in the new galleries at The Commandery.

Surviving fragments of the 1787 Colours carried throughout the Peninsular War by the 29th Regiment bear the Regiment's very first battle honour for the Battle of Rolica (1808).
The 1795 Guidon was the first carried by the Worcestershire Yeomanry.

Conservation of the textiles will not only achieve improvements to collections care, but improved physical and intellectual access to these historic items for the foreseeable future.

📸King's Colour of the 29th Regiment of Foot © Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) WOSWR: M630. Regimental Colour of the 29th Regiment of Foot © Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) WOSWR: 2025-2

Association of Independent Museums

The Friends of the Worcestershire Yeomanry Museum
Worcestershire Yeomanry Museum

24/08/2026

As part of an ongoing accessioning project two of our volunteers got involved in some collections photography and documentation.

Joe and Izzy are both with us for a short time over the summer before heading back to university in Autumn. After working on a series of independent tasks, they came together to help photograph and index a small collection of new acquisitions including the personal photo-album of Private F. Hayward who served with the Worcestershire Regiment in the 1940s.

The work that Joe and Izzy have produced has contributed to all areas of the museum, from research enquiries to collections management, and it is great to see their enthusiasm for the work we do!



📸Student Volunteers with The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) 2026. © The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire)

17/08/2026

The Cost of Command - Officers of the Regiment strove for glory and honour in the brutal battles of the Peninsular War in the early 19th-century. But the outcome of their brave endeavour was never certain.

In this weeks reel, we spotlight a set of rare gold medals which honour an officer of the 29th Regiment and an officer of the 36th, one of whom did not survive to see the day won.

13/08/2026

The Friends of the Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) are asking for nominations to win £1,000 as part of the Benefact Group's annual Movement for Good Awards, which is giving over £1million away to charities and good causes!

Every nomination counts. We are grateful for any and all support!

Nominate today: https://movementforgood.com/draws/1000

10/08/2026

For many serving soldiers, Victory in Europe did not mean the end of the war. For those of the Worcestershire Regiment still serving in India, life remained hostile.

From our recent research enquiries, focus has been on one such individual who continued to serve with the 7th Battalion post VE Day.

5253854 Captain J. Plumley served with 'A' Company, 7th Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment in Burma and received both the Military Medal and Military Cross for his gallantry.

7th Battalion had been occupying a defensive 'box' in Zubza Village, 15 miles along the Kohima-Imphal road, which the battalion had been tasked with clearing.

On 11th April Cpl Plumley was acting platoon Sergeant when his company came under heavy close-range fire. The platoon commander was killed at the outset and the platoon isolated.

"In spite of 13 casualties, Cpl Plumley, who had assumed command, held the ground gained for five hours. When ordered to withdraw, he organised the successful evacuation of all the wounded". For his actions he received the Military Medal.

In December 1944, James Plumley was awarded an 'Emergency Commission', granted for the duration of hostilities. As an officer, Second-Lieutenant Plumley earnt his Military Cross for actions taken between the 17th March and 15th April 1945 around Mandalay.

"On these and many other occasions, 2nd/Lieut. Plumley has displayed remarkable tactical skill and leadership coupled with cold-blooded daring which has inspired his men to great heights".

📸Corporal James Plumley, 1940-44. Credit: Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) WOSWR: 2005-24-4 and 5. Captain James Plumley and his wife Ellen, 1940s. Credit: Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) WOSWR: 2005-24-9.
All photographs digitised by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust

Army Museums Network

03/08/2026

"A present from South Africa to Edward Cotterill from his son Henry"

This month the museum was gifted a hand-carved pipe belonging to Henry Charles Cotterill, 2nd Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment.

Henry Cotterill was one of many young men who saw service in the second South African War with the Worcestershire Regiment (1899-1902). After attesting in Worcester in October of 1899, Henry was sent to join the 2nd Battalion and disembarked SS Tintagel at Cape Town in January 1900.

Engraved with the badge of the 36th Regiment of Foot, Henry's gift to his father lists the hard-won battle honours of the Regiment. This beautiful piece demonstrates one way in which the 2nd Battalion continued to honour their roots in the 36th.

Henry went on to serve with the 10th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, during the First World War, for which he was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1915 Star.

📸 Hand-carved pipe of Henry Charles Cotterill, 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, carved in South Africa. ©️ The Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire), E2026-11.

27/07/2026

New to the collection - Waterloo Medal (1815) awarded to John Griffin, 2nd Battalion, 73rd Regiment of Foot, formerly of the Worcestershire Militia 🎖

This month, the museum was able to make an important new addition to the collection thanks to the generous help of The Friends of the Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) and with support from Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund!

A first for the museum, the Waterloo Medal of John Griffin is evidence of a crucial role played by Militia Regiments in events reaching far beyond their local roots.

Private Griffin was one of many who, having trained in his county Militia, answered the call to volunteer for a regular line regiment during the Napoleonic Wars. His decision brought him to the Battle of Waterloo, and to the award of this medal.

Over the coming weeks the museum will undertake research to trace the details of Griffin's career which we plan to share online and in the new Worcestershire Soldier Galleries at The Commandery - Worcester where the medal will go on display from February 2028.

To learn more about Griffin's medal and how it will fill a significant gap in the museum's collection, follow the link to our blogs page:

https://www.worcestershireandmercianregimentmuseum.org/new-acquisition-waterloo-medal-1815-awarded-to-john-griffin-2nd-battalion-73rd-regiment-of-foot-formerly-worcestershire-militia/

📸 Waterloo Medal (1815) awarded to John Griffin, 2nd Battalion, 73rd Regiment of Foot, formerly of the Worcestershire Militia, purchased with support from the Friends of the Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire) and the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund. © Mercian Regiment Museum (Worcestershire), E2026-13.

Victoria and Albert Museum Arts Council England

21/07/2026

Enjoy the latest Friends talk?

On Saturday 18th July, Lt Col. Mark Jackson held an exciting talk on the actions of 1st battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, in NWE between June 1944 and May 1945...

Now available for purchase:

'The First Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment in North West Europe', by Major D. Y. Watson

Follow the link below to secure your copy and delve deeper into the 1st Battalion's actions and experiences!

UK delivery only.

Available in paperback. UK postage only. Originally published in 1946, and written by one of the officers of the Battalion, the book has been significantly updated, indexed and augmented and is now available in a short 75th Anniversary print run.