Royal Signals Museum - Events
Forthcoming Events and
Special Exhibitions
THE ROYAL SIGNALS ANNUAL BAND CONCERT 2009 - 10th ANNIVERSARY
Saturday 16th May 2009
The Lighthouse, Poole.
A NIGHT AT THE PROMS
At the Lighthouse, Poole
Saturday 3rd May 2008
Featuring
The Massed Bands of the Royal Corps of Signals
The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Corps of Signals
And Special Guests
Performing
a selection of Film Themes, Jazz, Big Band and Popular Classics
Les Miserables, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky
Organised by the The Royal Signals Museum
Women at War
A series of new displays at the Royal Signals Museum Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund .
A new exhibition Women at War, funded the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), opened at the Royal Signals Museum on Friday. The exhibition opening was attended by retired and serving women soldiers from the various regiments depicted in the display with a strong contingent from the Royal Corps of Signals Gina Lewington, ex WRAC and Royal Signals said of the display; “It is about time that the role of women in the British Army was given some prominence and I am very proud to be here. The films, interviews and archive footage are absolutely fascinating and give a real insight into the essential role that we were given.”
Of particular interest are the new documentaries created by producer Martyn Cox who has spent months recording interviews with ladies from the SOE, Y Service, WRAC and ATS. These films are amazing snapshots, interspersed with personal photographs and archive footage, which give a real insight into the lives of these courageous and dedicated women. The films include interviews with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Honorary Colonel of the FANY. There are four separate displays; The FANY 1907 – 1939, The Second World War 1939-1945, Post War 1945 – 1990, Into the 21st Century.
By the end of the First World War, the FANY had been awarded many decorations, including 27 Croix de Guerre. The SOE and “Y” Service had similarly impressive roles. Three SOE / FANY Agents – Violette Szabo, Odette Hallowes and Noor Inayat Khan were awarded George Crosses, two of them posthumously. Many other decorations were awarded to women for their dedication and heroism. Evidence of the continuing role of women can be seen by the array of medals worn by Major Emma Rae which show her service in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan.
This exhibition and its outreach material will create new insights into the nation’s heritage and the sometimes hidden but formative role of women within our society. Furthermore it will open the eyes of school children to the bravery, sacrifice and achievements of these women who protected our community and our freedom.
In her own words Odette summarised her wartime experiences with the words; “I am a very ordinary woman to whom a chance was given to see human beings at their best and their worst.”
At the heart of the project are filmed interviews of women describing their duties, emotions and experiences. With interactive touch screen displays this modern and dynamic display illustrates the significant role of Women in the army throughout the 20th Century.The project will also start a national campaign to encourage women veterans who have never told their story to contact local organisations to make a record of their wartime activities. Working with the Imperial war Museum and Oral History Society and many others, the Royal Signals Museum is appealing to anyone with a story or photographs to contact them.
Operation Secret Waves
A new 'high tech' state of the art interactive centre has been created, supported by the National Lottery through the Millennium Commission.
Drive a simulator through a virtual world.
Guide a laser beam around an urban environment.
Direction Find the enemy
Discover how Radios, Phones and Mobile Phones work. Through a series of interactive computer programmes and hands-on experiments, experience the fascinating science of the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) The EMS is something that is more familiar to you than you may imagine. The light that your eyes can see is actually part of the EMS and you are surrounded by other technologies which have changed all our lives so drastically in the last 50 years such as Microwaves and TVs. Find out for yourself how they work. Learn about the development of communications from the early days of Lamps, Flags and Heliographs to the LASERS, Satellites and Fibre Optics of today.
16 Air Assault Brigade
The newest fighting arm of the Army, with a Parchuting capability, providing high-tech rapid response in all theatres of war, is revealed in a new exhibition at the Museum. The history and role of 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron is explained. Learn about the 'Maroon Berets'.
Enigma Codes and Code Breakers Exhibition
Come and see the world famous ENIGMA MACHINE and find out how it worked. The exhibition consists of an interactive display designed particularly for younger visitors. It looks at codes in wartime and shows how the German Enigma codes were broken during the Second World War by British Codebreakers using the first digital computer - THE BOMBE. The information gained from the German messages was then made into ULTRA intelligence and was seen by some people as one of the most important breakthroughs in securing an early end to the war.
There are Coded fun trails held with prizes for younger visitors.
Behind Enemy Lines
The Story of the Special Operations Executive - The War Time Spying school which ''Set Europe Ablaze''. See our fine collection of Suitcase and Spy Radios. Interactive computers and videos reveal the Training, Methods and Missions of these brave agents and spies - many of them young women, who risked or gave their lives for their country.
Elite Forces
The story of the Long Range Desert Group and wartime SAS, their methods, training, missions, equipment and survival aids. See the PINK PANTHER assault vehicle. How did the sun compass help to win the war in the desert?
Motorcycle Collection and Despatch Riders
The Museum has a wonderful collections of Despatch Rider Motorcycles from the early days of the Corps and tells the story of the daring DRs.
Animals at War.
A converted bus Pigeon Loft at the Front during the First World War.
Expanded display featuring Dogs, Pigeons and other animals which have had important wartime roles in Army signalling.
Witness the bravery of pigeon 'William of Orange' and how he won the animal's Victoria Cross at Arnhem.
D-Day & DORSET
Find out the parts played by the Royal Signals and the County of Dorset in the D-Day landings, Operation OVERLORD, and the subsequent drive to victory across Europe. A series of exhibits, films, maps and photographs.
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