The Museum Collection
The Museum was founded in 1974 and today contains a varied and impressive collection of artefacts illustrating the roles, arms and uniforms adopted by the Berkshire Yeomanry since its beginnings in 1794. The Museum is owned and funded by a small Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose aims are educating the public in the history of the regiment through (i) caring, improving and preserving the Museum’s collection (ii) upholding of the traditions of the Berkshire Yeomanry and (iii) perpetuating the regiment’s deeds including maintaining regimental memorials.
The Museum has a number of permanent displays which cover various periods in the regiment’s history including:
• The Early Years 1794-1899
• The Boer War 1899-1902
• The Edwardian Era 1902-1914
• The Great War 1914-1918
• Between the Wars 1919-1939
• The Second World War 1939-1946
• The Cold War 1947-1989
These displays tell the history of the period with relevant artefacts, meaningful descriptions and by showing photographs illustrating deployment , training and operations.
Members of The Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry at Annual Camp in July 1900, Churn Downs near Blewbury
The Museum has displays covering particular topics such as
•Regimental buttons and badges
•Medals awarded to officers and soldiers since 1897
•Social life in the Victorian and Edwardian eras
Museum staff provide a guided tour of the Museum and can handle group visits of up to 10 persons.
In recent years the Museum has expanded its archive and now has a considerable amount of detail relating to the officers and soldiers who served in the regiment. Museum staff regularly handle enquiries from family descendants and from those undertaking research into local or military history.
In conjunction with the Berkshire Yeomanry Regimental Association, the Museum publishes an annual journal covering current events and articles on a particular aspects of the regiment’s history. Some of the articles are included on this website. Please contact us if you wish to have a list of the available articles and then let us know should you like a copy of any of them.
Museum 360 Tour
Copyright © 2022. The Berkshire Yeomnary Museum. A Charitable Incorporated Organisation (1192384)