National Army Museum

27/08/2026

‘Nations have no permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests.’
Lord Palmerston — 1848

Alliances and coalitions have been consistent factors of our defence
But when friends become foes and enemies turn allies – does the traditional alliance system remain Britains best military strategy?

In this video, we look at how changing national interests have affected Britain's military relationship with France from the 17th century to the present day.

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/friends-these-french

(image Description: Scene in the Café du Commerce Valetta. "Mourir pour la patrie" Malta 1854 Entente Cordiale)

22/08/2026

This Monday, join us on Ukrainian Independence Day for a special Museum Late exploring the impact of Operation Interflex. 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

Hear from an expert panel with first-hand experience of the programme, alongside an evening of Ukrainian culture featuring live music, poetry, language activities and more.

📅 Monday 24 August
🕠 5.30pm–8.30pm
📍 National Army Museum
🎟️ £10 | Members £8

The event includes the temporary display Picturing Interflex, which will remain open and free to visit until 6 September 2026.

The display charts the story of Operation Interflex, the UK-led multinational programme which has trained more than 63,000 Ukrainian troops over the past four years.

Find out more and book: https://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/operation-interflex

15/08/2026

Following the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle (1915), Indian soldiers were sent to the English seaside town of Brighton to recover from the injuries they sustained.

This autograph book was compiled by Indian soliders while recuperating at the Royal Pavilion.
The messages are written in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and English, and offer personal insights into the experiances of Indian soldiers recieveing treatment in Britain.

🧑‍🎨 Drawn on the Western Front: Paul Sarrut and the Indian Army
🎟️ Free Entry

🔗 Plan your visit https://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/drawn-western-front

13/08/2026

📆 On this day. 13 August 1910

The death of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910).

🕯️ She was dubbed 'The Lady with the Lamp' after her habit of making rounds at night.

A legend in her own lifetime and one of the most famous women in British history. Her work in the Crimea set the standards for modern nursing. For the rest of her life, she continued to campaign for improved sanitary conditions in both military and civilian hospitals.

Find out more about her life on our website https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/florence-nightingale-lady-lamp

08/08/2026

Now on display in our Templer Study Centre are newly acquired first-hand accounts of the Napoleonic Wars, including the Battle of Waterloo.

These extraordinary manuscripts bring the voices of those who witnessed these historic events into the National Army Museum's collection, where they'll be preserved for future generations and help inspire new research.

We're also proud to have retained Archive Service Accreditation from The National Archives, recognising our commitment to caring for and sharing these important collections.

07/08/2026

The Road to Waterloo Continues! 🏅

Exclusive link to the premiere: https://youtu.be/KpOqew4XvbQ?is=W3XzeoDShve5Ybix

In Part II of our collaboration with the National Army Museum, Robert Wilde-Evan’s and historian Matilda Greig explore the world of military honours - from the Legion d’honneur and its long history across French regimes, to naval medals and more.

🎙️Thank you to everyone who has enjoyed Part I of this magnificent collaboration, and helping us reach 100k views!

👉The Road to Waterloo: Part 2

📍 Available on all major podcast streaming platforms.

In Part II of our special collaboration with the National Army Muse...

06/08/2026

These remarkable drawings by French artist Paul Sarrut offer a rare glimpse into the lives of Indian soldiers serving on the Western Front during the First World War.

Created in France between 1914 and 1915, Sarrut's sketches capture both the realities of military life and quieter moments, revealing the experiences of soldiers far from home during one of the coldest winters of the war.

Almost all are signed, dated and include the location where they were drawn, making them an extraordinary visual record of the British Indian Army in France.

These drawings were recently acquired by the National Army Museum with support from the Art Fund and are now on display in Drawn on the Western Front: Paul Sarrut and the Indian Army.

🎟️ Free entry

🔗 Find out more and plan your visit https://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/drawn-western-front

03/08/2026

Hidden Voices: Valerie Erskine Howe

What would you do if your partner told you to get out there and 'learn about life' before they would marry you? Would you join the Army? That's what Valerie Erskine Howe did... in the middle of a war. This is her story.

Read the full story on our website https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/hidden-voices-valerie-erskine-howe

31/07/2026

These remarkable first-hand accounts, including eyewitness testimony from the Battle of Waterloo, have recently been acquired by the National Army Museum. Together, they offer a rare glimpse into the experiences, thoughts and emotions of the soldiers who lived through one of the defining conflicts of the nineteenth century.

The acquisitions come as the Museum celebrates retaining Archive Service Accreditation, the UK standard recognising excellence in preserving, managing and making archive collections accessible.

Because of their age and fragility, only a small selection can be displayed at any one time, making this a unique opportunity to see these extraordinary documents in person.

Visit the Templer Study Centre to discover these newly acquired archives and learn how they are helping preserve the voices of those who witnessed history firsthand.

📍 National Army Museum
🎟️ Free entry
📅 until 31 August 2026

Find out more https://www.nam.ac.uk/collections/templer-study-centre

23/07/2026

🎉 We've added even more to this year's Chelsea History Festival programme!

Join leading historians as they explore whether spies, secret missions and intelligence operations really changed the course of the Second World War.

Discover how seven remarkable rivers, including the Thames, have shaped the cultures, communities and histories around them – and influenced the wider world.

Hear Templer Medal winner David Grummitt reconsider the warfare, politics and martial culture of England during the Wars of the Roses.

Explore the full programme of more than 100 talks, tours and performances taking place 1–4 October at chelseaheritagequarter.co.uk

Follow Chelsea Heritage Quarter to keep up to date with eveything planned for this year's Chelsea History Festival