A STAIRCASE of poppies will honour soldiers from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment who fell during the First World War.
A century on from the end of the Great War, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire) at St John’s House in Warwick is preparing to stage its own special poppy installation in tribute to the 11,500 soldiers who died.
Curator Stephanie Bennett said: “It is really important that the museum remembers the contribution made by the soldiers in the First World War, especially as so many gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.
“We are the home of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and the collective memory of all the soldiers. There will be a spectacular display of poppies on the lovely staircase leading visitors up to more poppies on the landing.”
The commemorations at the museum will also include a display of centenary ceramic pendants with designs from members of the public, and a silhouette – to remember and reflect on those who went to war and did not return – will be seated on a chair. The ceramic pendants were made possible thanks to funding from Warwick District Council and the silhouette thanks to a grant from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
The poppies display can be seen from October 9 until December 15.
The museum tells the story of the county infantry regiment from 1674 to the Fusiliers of today. During the First World War the regiment had 31 battalions serving at home and the front.
The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm (closes at 4pm in November and December). Admission is £4 (concessions £3/children aged five £2/family £10).
Visit www.warwickfusiliers.co.uk for further details.
* THE ROYAL Regiment of Fusiliers Museum is opening a Veterans Cafe at St John’s House in Warwick.
Open to all former servicemen and women, it will offer a chance to chat over coffee and cake on the first Tuesday of every month from 10.30am to 12.30pm. It will launch on October 2.
Lt Col John Rice, chair of the Museum Trustees said: “This project is so important because it is about bringing the armed forces community together so that they can support, interact and socialise with each other. For ex-servicemen tackling social isolation is often a much needed, but overlooked area.”
Email [email protected] or call 01926 491653 for further details.
