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Royal Engineers Museum

Royal Engineers Museum Local History - National Heritage - Global Impact
OPEN TUESDAYS - SUNDAYS 10.00am - 4.00pm

Telling the story of the Corps of Royal Engineers, the RE Museum, Library and Archive follows the evolution of the Sappers.

Operating as usual

The Museum will be closed for the holidays between December 24th & January 6th. Our doors will close at 5pm (last entry ...
14/12/2022

The Museum will be closed for the holidays between December 24th & January 6th. Our doors will close at 5pm (last entry at 4pm) December 23rd and reopen at 10am on January 7th.

A couple of shots of the snow taken by Tom Harvey from the Corps Social Media Team at the museum yesterday.
13/12/2022

A couple of shots of the snow taken by Tom Harvey from the Corps Social Media Team at the museum yesterday.

As our followers will no doubt be aware, many Royal Flying Corps Officers and later Royal Air Force Officers were drawn ...
12/12/2022

As our followers will no doubt be aware, many Royal Flying Corps Officers and later Royal Air Force Officers were drawn from the Royal Engineers.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Pughe Lloyd, GBE, KCB, MC, DFC, (born on 12th December 1894), was no different. Before the First World War, he worked as a Post Office telegraphist; after enlisting when war was declared in August 1914 he was sent to the 21st Division on the Western Front where he served as a Signaller in the Royal Engineers.

In 1917 he was wounded by shrapnel while repairing a break in the telegraph line to the front and despite injuries to himself, his friend (with whom he had enlisted) managed to get Lloyd back for treatment. His friend was patched up in a casualty clearing station in France, but Lloyd had to be evacuated back to England. He wrote to his friend from his hospital bed, informing him of his decision to join the RFC as he considered it less dangerous than being exposed in the open mending breaks in the telegraph wires and urged his friend to join him. Thus Lloyd joined the RFC in 1917, but his friend decided to stay in the army. He went on to have a long career in the Royal Air Force, serving until his retirement in 1953.

You can see many Royal Engineers/Royal Flying Corps medal groups (including Major James McCuddens Victoria Cross group) and information on Royal Engineers Signals Companies in the galleries at the museum.

The weekend is fast approaching. If you're looking for something warm and dry to do with your family, the Royal Engineer...
09/12/2022

The weekend is fast approaching. If you're looking for something warm and dry to do with your family, the Royal Engineers Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am -5pm (last entry is at 4pm). You can also get in for free if you bought a ticket within the last year (all of our tickets are valid for a full year and for all of our events).

Following many messages about various companies at Wartime Christmas weekend, we've attempted to tag as many as possible...
07/12/2022

Following many messages about various companies at Wartime Christmas weekend, we've attempted to tag as many as possible in this post. We can't wait to see you again next year.

Miss Holiday Swing
Maidstone Lindyhoppers
Brompton & Invicta Military Wives Choir
Steve Hookins Historical Presentations
Martin Stoneham of the Friends of the Royal Engineers Museum
Rebecca Nash, Director of the Royal Engineers Museum
Hysterical History
Historic Dockyard Chatham
Kent Lasercraft
School History Workshops
Southeast Tanks Scale Model Club
Dockyard Jam Factory
Copper Rivet Distillery
Pear Tree Crafting
Pacwash
Major Bakes
Blue Bell Hill Apiaries
The 'Old Forge' Wartime House
3rd Para Brigade, & Home Front
Drop Zone 1

If we’ve missed any of you, please feel free to comment below and we’ll update the tags.

Whilst we may be closed today, we will be open as usual tomorrow.  If you haven't made full use of your yearly ticket ye...
06/12/2022

Whilst we may be closed today, we will be open as usual tomorrow. If you haven't made full use of your yearly ticket yet, now's the time to pop in, warm up and wander through to see what you missed last time.

There will be a temporary museum closure on Tuesday, the 6th of December; we will reopen to the public on the 7th of Dec...
01/12/2022

There will be a temporary museum closure on Tuesday, the 6th of December; we will reopen to the public on the 7th of December.

Did you enjoy Wartime Christmas? Remember, your ticket is valid for a whole year. We are open until the 23rd of December...
28/11/2022

Did you enjoy Wartime Christmas? Remember, your ticket is valid for a whole year. We are open until the 23rd of December, so you've plenty of time to come and explore in a slightly more relaxed atmosphere.

That’s it, Wartime Christmas is over for another year! Thank you to everyone who came along and helped make this such a ...
27/11/2022

That’s it, Wartime Christmas is over for another year! Thank you to everyone who came along and helped make this such a magical weekend.

Photos from Hysterical History's post
27/11/2022

Photos from Hysterical History's post

Looking to get out of the rain and do something with the family? Why not come along to the Wartime Christmas event at th...
27/11/2022

Looking to get out of the rain and do something with the family? Why not come along to the Wartime Christmas event at the Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham, Kent. We've got live music from Miss Holiday Swing and Military Wives Choir, along with dancing from the Maidstone Lindyhoppers. Talks from Steve Hookins on those who served on the Home Front, lots of cakes, crafts and retro goodies to buy and a chance to meet Sapper Santa in his Grotto!

10am to 5pm (with the last entry at 4pm), at the Royal Engineers Museum Gillingham, Follow the postcode ME7 1 UR and look for our Christmas banners.

Today our Wartime Christmas event ramps up the entertainment with sets from the Brompton and Invicta Military Wives Choi...
27/11/2022

Today our Wartime Christmas event ramps up the entertainment with sets from the Brompton and Invicta Military Wives Choir! Here is Sunday's lineup for our musical entertainment and our historical talks.

Today our Wartime Christmas event begins! Here is Sunday's lineup for our musical entertainment and our historical talks...
26/11/2022

Today our Wartime Christmas event begins! Here is Sunday's lineup for our musical entertainment and our historical talks.

Things are getting busier at the Royal Engineers Museum Wartime Christmas Event, today and tomorrow from 10am - 5pm (las...
26/11/2022

Things are getting busier at the Royal Engineers Museum Wartime Christmas Event, today and tomorrow from 10am - 5pm (last entry 4pm).

Today our Wartime Christmas event begins! Here is Saturday's lineup for our musical entertainment and our historical tal...
26/11/2022

Today our Wartime Christmas event begins! Here is Saturday's lineup for our musical entertainment and our historical talks.

Today our Wartime Christmas event begins! Here is Sunday's lineup for our musical entertainment and our historical talks...
26/11/2022

Today our Wartime Christmas event begins! Here is Sunday's lineup for our musical entertainment and our historical talks.

This year we've got live music from Miss Holiday Swing at Wartime Christmas  Weekend (26th/27th November). Miss Holiday ...
25/11/2022

This year we've got live music from Miss Holiday Swing at Wartime Christmas Weekend (26th/27th November). Miss Holiday Swing, or Holly as she's more commonly known, is a Jazz & Swing Vocalist from the heart of Kent. Her latest album, "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" reached Number 6 in the iTunes Jazz Charts (quite the achievement for an unsigned artist) and she was also voted "Best Live Stream Performance" for the whole of the UK through the Book Entertainment Awards 2021.

The Wartime Christmas weekend at the RE Museum will be as busy as ever this year. We've got sellers of vintage and retro clothing, treats, and crafts, as well as locally produced comestibles and drinks. You'll also have a chance to meet Sapper Santa and hear from living history groups and historical experts.

Held on the 26th and 27th of November (from 10am-5pm, with final museum entry at 4pm) at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, it's an event you won't want to miss, whether you're a history buff looking to indulge in some time travel, or you're looking for some last minute crafty gifts, you're sure to find something for you.

Tickets are the regular museum rate and are valid for a year (that means if you've been within the last year, your museum ticket will still give you access to this event for free!!).

Only days left to go until Wartime Christmas!The Wartime Christmas weekend at the RE Museum will be as busy as ever this...
25/11/2022

Only days left to go until Wartime Christmas!

The Wartime Christmas weekend at the RE Museum will be as busy as ever this year. We've got sellers of vintage and retro clothing, treats, and crafts, as well as locally produced comestibles and drinks. You'll also have a chance to meet Sapper Santa, and hear from living history groups and historical experts!

Held on the 26th and 27th of November (from 10am-5pm, with final museum entry at 4pm) at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham. It's an event you won't want to miss; whether you're a history buff looking to indulge in some time travel or looking for some last-minute crafty gifts, you're sure to find something for you.

Tickets are the regular museum rate and are valid for a year (if you've been within the last year, your museum ticket will still give you access to this event for free!!).

Click the link in our main profile to learn more, or visit www.re-museum.co.uk.

Once again this year, the Brompton and Invicta Military Wives Choir will perform on Sunday 27th, at our Wartime Christma...
25/11/2022

Once again this year, the Brompton and Invicta Military Wives Choir will perform on Sunday 27th, at our Wartime Christmas celebrations. They will delight us with Christmas classics and usher in tonnes of holiday cheer throughout the day.

The Military Wives Choirs has an extensive network across the UK and overseas, with active choirs as far as Riyadh. Available to all women with a military connection, the network's shared mission to sing, share and support each other is prevalent in more ways than one, inside and outside the rehearsal room.

The Wartime Christmas weekend at the RE Museum will be as busy as ever this year. We've got sellers of vintage and retro clothing, treats, and crafts, as well as locally produced comestibles and drinks. You'll also have a chance to meet Sapper Santa and hear from living history groups and historical experts.

Held on the 26th and 27th of November (from 10am-5pm, with final museum entry at 4pm) at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, it's an event you won't want to miss, whether you're a history buff looking to indulge in some time travel, or you're looking for some last minute crafty gifts, you're sure to find something for you.

Tickets are the regular museum rate and are valid for a year (if you've been within the last year, your museum ticket will still give you access to this event for free!!). You can even pre-order your tickets here: https://re-museum.digitickets.co.uk/category/11987.

25/11/2022

This year at Wartime Christmas, we've got lots of great display groups and stands. One of the great local producers attending our Wartime Christmas event is the Blue Bell Hill Apiary. A family business consisting of Adrian, Tracey, and Jennie Meads, who are passionate about bee-keeping and protecting bees! With over 25 years of experience in beekeeping, they sell local honey, beeswax and even beekeeping supplies in Kent.

The Wartime Christmas weekend at the RE Museum will be as busy as ever this year. We've got sellers of vintage and retro clothing, treats, and crafts, as well as locally produced comestibles and drinks. You'll also have a chance to meet Sapper Santa and hear from living history groups and historical experts.

Held on the 26th and 27th of November (from 10am-5pm, with final museum entry at 4pm) at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, it's an event you won't want to miss, whether you're a history buff looking to indulge in some time travel, or you're looking for some last minute crafty gifts, you're sure to find something for you.

Tickets are the regular museum rate and are valid for a year (if you've been within the last year, your museum ticket will still give you access to this event for free!!).

This year at Wartime Christmas we've got lots of great display groups, and stands.   Russell Palmer of Hysterical Histor...
24/11/2022

This year at Wartime Christmas we've got lots of great display groups, and stands. Russell Palmer of Hysterical History is
one of the fantastic educators we've got attending, where he will be covering bomb disposal in the RE during WW2.

The Wartime Christmas weekend at the RE Museum will be as busy as ever this year. We've got sellers of vintage and retro clothing, treats, and crafts, as well as locally produced comestibles and drinks. You'll also have a chance to meet Sapper Santa, and hear from living history groups and historical experts.

Held on the 26th and 27th of November (from 10am-5pm, with final museum entry at 4pm) at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, it's an event you won't want to miss, whether you're a history buff looking to indulge in some time travel, or you're looking for some last minute crafty gifts, you're sure to find something for you.

Tickets are the regular museum rate, and are valid for a year (that means if you've been within the last year, your museum ticket will still give you access to this event for free!!).

This year at Wartime Christmas we've got lots of great display groups, and stands.   One of the great local (less than 3...
24/11/2022

This year at Wartime Christmas we've got lots of great display groups, and stands. One of the great local (less than 3 miles away) producers attending our Wartime Christmas event is the Dockyard Jam Factory.

The award winning Dockyard Jam Factory is located in Rochester, where they hand craft fruit preserves using only the finest ingredients and time-honoured methodology. Many of their ingredients are sourced from family-owned farms dedicated to sustainable farming practices or foraged locally. Their relationships with their suppliers allow them access to the season’s freshest fruits possible, as well as ensuring quality by minimising the time and steps from farm to jar.

The Wartime Christmas weekend at the RE Museum will be as busy as ever this year. We've got sellers of vintage and retro clothing, treats, and crafts, as well as locally produced comestibles and drinks. You'll also have a chance to meet Sapper Santa, and hear from living history groups and historical experts.

Held on the 26th and 27th of November (from 10am-5pm, with final museum entry at 4pm) at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, it's an event you won't want to miss, whether you're a history buff looking to indulge in some time travel, or you're looking for some last minute crafty gifts, you're sure to find something for you.

Tickets are the regular museum rate, and are valid for a year (that means if you've been within the last year, your museum ticket will still give you access to this event for free!!).

Address

Prince Arthur Road
Gillingham
ME71UR

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

01634 822839

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We had it all going on today at the Army Stay n Play session!

We had some wonderful book week characters turn up at the session today 🦖📚

We run our first session on 10 minute slots in the sensory room for parents & children to enjoy with thanks to Anthony at Lampard Centre 💡🌈

We had pancakes for snack & the lovely Amber from Royal Engineers Museum came along to make rockets with the children 🚀

Fun had by all .. have a great week, see you all next week
Gemma
army Coordinator 💂💜🧡
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
1 RSME Regiment
36 Engineer Regiment
Today we remember Trooper David Denbury QGM MM, 22 SAS, killed in Iraq during the Gulf War on the 21st February 1991.

Born near Newport, South Wales, David first joined the Army as a Royal Engineer serving with 9 Parachute Squadron before passing selection and joining the SAS in 1989.

During the Gulf War he was deployed as a motor cycle outrider with A Sqn, doing forward reconnaissance hunting for Scud missile launchers, when they came across an Iraqi convoy.

The Iraqis saw them and took off with the SAS patrol pursuing them. The outriders forced the convoy to stop. The SAS troopers engaged the Iraqis in a firefight and the outriders got caught in the crossfire. One outrider was wounded and Corporal Denbury died.

For his courage he was posthumously awarded the Military Medal.

Ubique & Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt

"Everywhere" and "Where Right And Glory Lead"

Who Dares Wins

Lest We forget 🌺

John 15:13

“𝔊𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔥𝔞𝔱𝔥 𝔫𝔬 𝔪𝔞𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰, 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔞 𝔪𝔞𝔫 𝔩𝔞𝔶 𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔩𝔦𝔣𝔢 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔣𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔡𝔰”

Royal British Legion
Royal British Legion Kilkeel
Royal British Legion, Limavady Branch
Ballymoney Royal British Legion
Lisburn Branch Royal British Legion
Portadown Royal British Legion Club
Forces News
The Not Forgotten
Corps of Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers Association
Royal Engineers Museum
Special Air Service
We had a trip out to Royal Engineers Museum today which everyone enjoyed very much. Thanks to Queenborough Fisheries for funding our trips out which are so important to those that are socially isolated.
This is a card sent by my Granddad to my Nan. She kept it for all these years.
The Glider Pilot Regiment 80 anniversary seat in the Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove will be dedicated on the 19th February 2022 commencing at 1130 hours. This is an open invite and everyone is welcome to attend. The seat will be placed close to the Pagasus Bridge Memorial Flight which can be viewed at www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/279088
The Glider Pilot Regiment 80 anniversary seat in the Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove will be dedicated on the 19th February 2022 commencing at 1130 hours. This is an open invite and everyone is welcome to attend. The seat will be placed close to the Pagasus Bridge Memorial Flight which can be viewed at www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/279088
What a fabulous morning at Army Stay n Play with a visit from Amber at the Royal Engineers Museum
We made solider puppets and dressed up in all military attire! 🪖🎖💂💂🏼‍♂️💂🏿‍♀️

Thank you to the Museum for popping down and holding a session with the Army families today at the Lampard Centre.

There is more information in the pictures below on the children sessions held at the royal engineers museum 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

1 RSME Regiment
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
British Army
Home-Stay Medway’s Army Stay n Play this Thursday 27.01.22
We are really excited to be joined for a session with Amber from the Royal Engineers Museum.
Amber will be there to do an activity with the children, promote the Museum and what’s on offer for families & to ask any questions.

‘Royal Engineers Museum is the largest military museum where you can discover the story of the Royal Engineers and how they have helped the British Army live, move and fight for over 300’.

I hope you see many of you there to take up this opportunity to come & meet Amber and learn more about the RE Museum 😊
Royal Engineers Museum
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
1 RSME Regiment
Well done to Steve (The Rifleman) Davies who has found another forgotten Irishman.

This is an unusual one a private headstone in the St Dunstans plot in Woodvale Cemetery Brighton, I cleaned the 28 small marble headstone 3 months ago but failed to notice him 🤔

Jo Parker-Smith the volunteer coordinator at Blind Veterans UK contacted me and sent photo of broken dirty grave saying his Great Nephew had been in contact from Ireland I said I would clean and repair it.

He is writing a book on him and has a lot of historical informationplus medal group.

Lt John Moore Royal Engineers was born in County Kerry in 1873 and served in the Boer War with the 7th Field Company.

He returned in 1902 to take part in the coronation cermony in London.

He went to Singapore for a few years as an instructor and on return attendedcthe school of Musketry at Hythe.

In 1914 he went to New Zealand as an instructor in field engineering and served with the Anzacs at Quinns Post in Gallipoli.

Military Medal Citation

'For gallantry and good work in connection with the placing of the defences of Quinn's Post, Gallipoli, during 1915 in an efficient state. This work was carried out in front of our infantry firing line and the working parties were subject to a heavy rifle and bomb fire. Company Sergeant-Major Moore, by his excellent example contributed largely to the successful prosecution and speedy determination of the work.'

In 1916 and 1917 he served on the Western Front at the Somme and at Messines. He was wounded by shell fire in July 1917 and was returned to England for medical treatment.

Early in 1918 he returned to New Zealand and was demobilised there in 1919.

He then returned to London and his eye sight got progressivly worse.

He died at Brighton in 1932 on the anniversary of Armstice Day.

He married Marion in Wiltshire in 1906, when she was working in Salisbury. She went to New Zealand with him, but unfortunately not much is known of her. She died just weeks after John Moore, also at Brighton.

Lest We Forget 🌺

Royal British Legion
Bathgate Royal British Legion
Molesey Royal British Legion
Gnosall and District Royal British Legion
Halton Royal British Legion
Limpsfield Royal British Legion
Forces News
Corps of Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers Museum
Military Grave Restorer
Today is the 100th Birthday of John E Humphreys OBE DL CstJ. Nicknamed the ‘The Great Escapist’, this now Chelsea Pensioner dared to blindside the German forces on not one but two occasions during World War II.

Very few escape stories rival that of John Humphreys - the World War II Prisoner of War who was detained twice and twice evaded his captors, with both escapes as extraordinary as the other.

Posted to Africa in 1940, John spent some time in the Western Desert which was bombed three times a day, every day, with monotonous regularity. It was during this time that John sustained a head injury and when he regained consciousness, he found himself surrounded by German soldiers.

"When I woke up I was surrounded by a couple of Germans who looked down on me and said: 'For you Tommy, the War is over.' I can still see them now if I close my eyes, two big fellas, looking down on me."

John was promptly captured and sent to a prisoner of war camp in North East Italy, which in his words was a "soul destroying experience."

Starving and on the brink of despair, John knew that the only way to keep his sanity was to formulate an escape plan. He got his hands on an Italian grammar book and embarked on an intense course of study, until he had built an impressively large vocabulary. Realising that he'd have to practise with a native speaker in order to perfect his accent and cadence, he found a bored sentry to converse with on a regular basis. In no time at all, John had acquired the accent of this guard and was almost ready to put his escape plan into action.

In the winter, as luck would have it, John received a Greek army uniform from the Red Cross, which looked very much like an Italian uniform. With a little bit of alteration and a near to perfect Italian accent, John easily passed as an Italian soldier. Grabbing his two closest mates in the camp, John confidently marched them to a sentry, pretending to take them for punishment. As soon as they were waved forward, John and his friends made a break for it and were, at last, free!

Freedom however was unfortunately short-lived for this cunning soldier, and in 1944, John was once again captured by the Germans in Arnhem. This time, he managed to conceal a jack-knife in his trousers, using the blade to chip away cement surrounding a barred window, in order to execute his second extraordinary escape.

John's story is legendary amongst the Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital today and few can believe that this unassuming gentleman had the audacity to blindside the German forces on not one, but two occasions during one of the world's fiercest wars.

Ubique and Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt
"Everywhere" & "Where Right And Glory Lead"

John’s determination and cunning is exemplary, and he is a true Sapper legend. Happy Birthday, John! 🎉

Royal British Legion
Royal British Legion - Hungerford
Royal British Legion Club, Newquay
Royal British Legion Antrim
Randalstown Royal British Legion
Forces News
299 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers Museum
24 Commando Royal Engineers
The Chelsea Pensioners
The Not Forgotten
U
Staying in London after the Threshold.aero nightshoot at The Royal Air Force Museum, London gave opportunity to visit the Royal Engineers Museum, have been wanting to shoot their Harrier for years but they also happened to have their fieseler fi 103 on display aswell.
x

Other Gillingham museums (show all)

Royal Engineers Museum Historic Dockyard Chatham Fort Amherst Events Guildhall Museum Rochester Friends of the Guildhall Museums The old airport garage museum New Tavern Fort Maidstone Museums LV21 The Bay Museum Canvey Island Transport Museum Leigh Heritage Centre Southend Central Museum Southchurch Hall The Weald Foundation