The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum In Maidstone

Discussion in 'WW2 Museums. Events, & places to see.' started by Charley Fortnum, Aug 18, 2018.

  1. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Housed within Maidstone Museum since 1960, the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regimental Museum charts the long and prestigious history of Maidstone’s local regiment from its foundations in 1756 to its amalgamation in 1961.

    Starting with its forebears, the 50th and 97th Regiment of Foot, the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent (QORWK) Regiment was involved in many of the British Army’s campaigns of the 18th and 19th century as well as the First and Second World Wars. During these campaigns, the Regiment gained a good reputation as hardworking and dependable soldiers.

    The gallery is full of fascinating, colourful and thought-provoking objects such as the Sutlej Gun and the museum’s four Victoria Crosses. The museum focuses on the stories these objects tell and the people at the heart of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, making it of interest to military history experts, local people, and interested visitors alike.

    Source:
    Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regimental Museum | Maidstone Museum

    I was at Maidstone Museum unexpectedly last week (last minute plan), making a witch's hat with Little Miss Fortnum, and I found ten minutes to dash to the regimental museum. I'd hoped to catch the curator, but there was nobody about and the junior staff I did find said that nobody would see me without an appointment--fair enough (I'd hoped to enquire whether they have anything on 6RWK at Cassino...).

    It's a single (cluttered) room for the entire history of the regiment with a small overflow onto the walls outside. I took a series of snapshots just to give the flavour for those considering a visit.

    The larger museum is really very good for a local place, and there's a lot of little gems to find. While I was there there was a Terry Pratchett theme going on with a display of artwork in the gallery and craft workshops for the children.

    (Apologies for the quality of the pictures. I actually left and then had the idea, went back in and took all these in about two minutes before leaving again):

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  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

  3. Markyboy

    Markyboy Member

    My ‘manor’, I’m only ten minutes up the road. Seconded, it’s a pretty good museum for the size of the town, kids enjoy it.
     
  4. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    My family are mostly in Bearsted, which I assume you know.

    The Pacific Islands ethnography section is good.
     
  5. Markyboy

    Markyboy Member

    I’m in Marden, up past Loose. Even my missus doesn’t mind this museum as there’s a mummy and a fashion section. Need to go and see it again.
     
  6. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Found it quite coincidental that this thread was added to today as I’d been looking something up on an old acquaintance and also found:
    http://thequeensownbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Queens-Own-Gazette-September-1953.pdf
    which may be of interest to other browsers. My old friend - overdue a look-up - is in the picture on P258, but I also noted a piece on P239 about the museum. I wonder if the:

    “ I am arranging to have a set of cap and collar badges forwarded for your Museum at Maidstone ...........
    Sincerely,
    J. B. Rousseau, Lt.-Col.
    The Carleton and York Regiment”

    are still there? I hadn’t come across the Carleton and Yorks before and similarly hadn’t realised that the QORWK had had an affiliation with the East Yorks as well. Another one to visit.
     

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