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ISSUE 09 SUMMER 2012 MAGAZINE19Fashion and FencingWallace Collection

To Feed an ArmyStockholm

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Medals, Royal MilitaryMuseum, Brussels

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Shropshire Museums

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ICOMAM – the International Committee of Museums ofArms and Military History - is an International Committee ofICOM – the International Council of Museums.

It provides a forum for museums worldwide: • To encourage scientific research about arms and

armour and military collections, both in specialised andgeneral museums and in military collections.

• To stimulate a proper, professional standard of collectioncare, management, conservation and use in line withinternationally recognised good practice and ICOMguidelines.

• To promote the highest standards in display andinterpretation.

• To encourage networking and partnerships betweenmuseums and research the world over.ICOMAM achieves its goal by holding triennial

congresses and intermediate symposia on relevant topics.ICOMAM has over 260 members, representing museums

in more than 50 countries world-wide, including suchfamous institutions as the Royal Armouries of Leeds, theFrench Musée de l'Armée, the Metropolitan Museum of Art,The Musée de l'Armée et d'Histoire Militaire in Brussels, theHofjagd- und Rüstkammer of Vienna, the Real Armeria ofMadrid, the Topkapi Sarayi Museum in Istanbul.Membership has increased over the past ten years includinga larger share of museums outside of Europe and America.Also some so-called Battlefield Museums are members ofthis international contact group.

ICOMAM is directed by an International ruling bodycalled the Executive Board. The ICOMAM approach to theconservation and study of relevant artefacts is scientific,dispassionate, objective and humanistic. It aims to assessthe importance of weaponry in world history as a majorsociological phenomenon touching on all the aspects ofpolitics, economics and social behaviour including itsartistic spin-offs and its relationship with our culturalheritage and its interpretation in the world today.http://www.klm-mra.be/icomam/

Hawthorne CottageMoorfield RoadLEEDSLS12 3SEUK

[email protected]

Design by Dazeye

© Individual authors, Institutionsand ICOMAM, 2012

Published byin association with ICOMAM

ICOM is the international organisation of museums andmuseum professionals which is committed to theconservation, continuation and communication to society ofthe world's natural and cultural heritage, present andfuture, tangible and intangible. http://icom.museum/

ISSUE 09 MAGAZINE 3

Welcome to the ninth edition ofMAGAZINE – the newsletter ofICOMAM, the InternationalCommittee of Museums of Armsand Military History, published toinform members of its activitiesand publicize these to the widerworld.

Next year, ICOMAM will meet inRio de Janeiro with the theme ofthe accessioning and de-accessioning of collections. We would be very interested tohear of your experiences ain thisfield for out next issue.

Robert Douglas SmithRuth Rhynas Brown

EDITORS

Contents

10 14 41

News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0404 Welcome ICOMAM Chairman

06 National Army Museum News

10 Ventures and Successes National Army Museum

12 National Museum of The UnitedStates Airforce

14 Brompton 200: Royal EngineersMuseum

16 Tijdelijke tentoonstellingeen

Exhibitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1717 To Feed an Army:

Army Museum Stockholm

19 The Noble Art of the Sword:Fashion and Fencing inRenaissance Europe.Wallace Collection

25 Bashford Dean and the Creation ofthe Arms and Armor Department

Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . 2727 Medieval Military Technology

Articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2828 Practical Military History

32 Medal Collection, Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and MilitaryHistory, Brussels

36 Les collections d’armes du MuséeRoyal de Mariemont

41 Arms and armour in Shropshiremuseums

46 The Camel: Oman’s secret weapon

Cover: Rapier of Christian II, Elector ofSaxony. The hilt probably made by MarxBischhausen of Dresden, the bladeSolingen, c. 1605–7. Provenance: Electorsof Saxony. Rüstkammer, StaatlicheKunstsammlungen, Dresden, VI.433Wallace Collection, page 20

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WelcomePiet De GryseSenior Curator, Royal MilitaryMuseum, BrusselsICOMAM Chairman

Dear reader, We hope that when leafing through this newnumber of The Magazine you already signed up for our

annual conference later this year. It promises to be anunusual experience, with a good mix of lectures, visits tomuseums and possibilities for networking. Our localcontact, dr. Christopher Roads, does his utmost to make thecongress as attractive as possible. All necessary informationis to be found on our website, where you also can register online (a first!) for both the congress and the post-congresstour: http://icomam.icom.museum. We are very pleased andhonoured to be able to announce that dr. Hans-Martin Hinz,president of ICOM, will be with us for the conference. Thepresence of the president of a 30,000 strong associationindicates that our congress is important to ICOM as well.ICOM has for some time now been trying to create a closerrelationship with the various Arab countries. AnInternational Committee conference in one of those targetcountries therefore of course is an occasion par excellenceto network. For ICOMAM it undoubtedly is both a specialhonour and a challenge.

On June 4, 5 and 6 the annual ICOM meeting took placein Paris. Just as last year ICOMAM sent a threefolddelegation: Eva-Sofi Ernstell (Stockholm, Sweden), MathieuWillemsen, secretary (Delft, The Netherlands) and yourstruly. Our upcoming congress made for most pleasantconversations with the members of the National ICOMCommittee – Oman, present in Paris for the first time.During a working luncheon with the complete Omani andICOMAM delegations and in the presence of ICOM presidentdr. Hans-Martin Hinz and ICOM Director general JuliusAnfruns the provisional program was discussed, and it wasagreed to amend and alter it wherever necessary.

Shortly before the meetings in Paris ICOM HQ toldICOMAM that we were to receive a 3,215 euro grant for theyear 2012. This subsidy is based on the 2011 annual reportwe submitted ICOM HQ at the end of January 2012. Theallowance is slightly lower than in 2011 (3,333 euro).However, we also receive a supplementary subsidy in theframework of the ICOM program Support to young members

to attend IC meetings 2012, which will allow us to send ayoung scholar to the conference. This makes the overall2012 balance supporting our actions quite positive.

August 10 to 17, 2013: these are the dates for theupcoming ICOM congress to be organized in Rio de Janeiro(Brazil). Be sure to take the dates down, because we will atthe same time hold our annual ICOMAM conference. The2013 conference will gather at the Cidade des Artes (City ofArts) situated in Barra da Tijuca in the southwest of Rio,where the 2012 United Nations Rio +20 Earth Summitrecently took place and where the 2016 Olympic Games willbe held. I would explicitly like to thank our Vice ChairmanArmando de Senna Bittencourt for the follow-up on this fileand the communication of all necessary information toICOM Brazil. Details not only on the ICOM program but alsoon our own meetings, as well as the specific ICOMAMtheme will be featured in a next issue of The Magazine.Right now, you just have to jot down the dates.

Some months ago a specific task force within theExecutive Board started working on the revision of ourstatutes. The existing statutes, dating back to 2003, indeedwere in need of updating, amongst other reasons to matchthe ICOM guidelines. The study was first transmitted toICOM HQ and last year in Graz, once the ICOM suggestionshad been incorporated, put in front of the completeExecutive Board. The new statutes are now of course to bepresented to all voting members. Our secretary MathieuWillemsen will shortly activate this consultative process.

For quite some years now ICOMAM has been trying toparticipate in the discussions of the Arms Trade TreatyPreparatory Committee, as well as in the discussions of theSmall Arms and Light Weapons Committee at UN level. Ourboard member Kenneth Smith-Christmas, and our localcontact Tom Mason as specialist for the World Forum on theFuture of Sport Shooting Activities have been involved inseveral meetings at UN level. An important meeting isplanned in New York at the beginning of July where they willadvocate our point of view in this matter (read our policy forSafeguarding the World Heritage of Small Arms and LightWeapons on our website!).

Finally, I wish to thank the editors of this Magazine, Boband Ruth Smith-Brown, and the many contributing authorsfor their collaboration. They once more succeeded in puttingtogether an exciting issue.

See you in Nizwa in the beautiful and surprising Oman!

ICOMAM NEWS

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Cher lecteur, Nous espérons qu’en feuilletant ce nouveaunuméro de The Magazine, vous vous êtes déjà inscrit

pour notre congrès annuel au Sultanat d’Oman. Nous nousattendons à une expérience hors du commun, avec un bonmélange de communications, de visites et de rencontres.Notre correspondant sur place, le Dr. Christopher Roads, amis les petits plats dans les grands pour compiler unrendez-vous des plus intéressants. Toutes les informationsnécessaires se trouvent sur notre site Internet, à partirduquel vous pouvez également vous enregistrer en ligne(une grande première !) tant pour le congrès que pour lesvisites post-congrès : http://icomam.icom.museum. Noussommes très heureux et honorés de pouvoir vous annoncerla présence du Dr. Hans-Martin Hinz, le président de l’ICOM.La présence du président d’une association comptant30.000 membres indique que notre congrès importeégalement à l’ICOM. Depuis quelque temps, l’ICOM essaiede tisser des liens plus soutenus avec les différents paysarabes. La conférence d’un Comité international dans undes pays cible est évidemment une occasion rêvée pourcréer des rencontres. Pour l’ICOMAM, il s’agitindéniablement d’un honneur et d’un défi.

Les 4, 5 et 6 juin a eu lieu la rencontre annuelle del’ICOM à Paris. Tout comme l’année dernière, l’ICOMAM aenvoyé une délégation tripartite : Eva-Sofi Ernstell(Stockholm, Suède), Mathieu Willemsen, secrétaire (Delft,Pays-Bas) et votre dévoué président. Notre prochaincongrès a fait l’objet de très agréables entretiens avec lesmembres du Comité national ICOM – Oman, qui étaientprésents à Paris pour la première fois. Lors d’un déjeuneravec la délégation d’Oman au grand complet et en présencedu président de l’ICOM, le Dr. Hans-Martin Hinz et ledirecteur général de l’ICOM, Julius Anfruns, le programmeprovisoire a été passé en revue et il a été convenu del’amender si nécessaire.

Quelques jours avant la conférence, le QG de l’ICOM àParis nous faisait savoir que nous allions recevoir unsubside de 3.215 euro pour l’année 2012. Ce subside sebasait sur le rapport annuel 2011 que nous avions soumisau QG de l’ICOM fin janvier 2012. Le subside est légèrementinférieur à celui de 2011 (3.333 euro). Cependant, nousallons recevoir une allocation supplémentaire dans le cadredu programme de l’ICOM « Aide aux jeunes membres pourleur participation aux réunions CI de 2012 », ce qui nouspermettra d’envoyer un jeune chercheur à la conférence. Decette façon, le soutien à nos actions en 2012 est positif.

10-17 août 2013 : voilà les dates du prochain congrès del’ICOM, congrès qui se tient tous les trois ans et qui seraorganisé, vous le savez peut-être déjà, à Rio de Janeiro(Brésil). Notez ces dates dans vos agendas, car notreconférence annuelle se tiendra simultanément. Laconférence 2013 se réunira à la Cidade des Artes (la Citédes Arts) de Barra da Tijuca au sud-ouest de Rio, au mêmeendroit où vient de se tenir le sommet de la Terre desNations Unies et où se tiendront les Jeux olympiques de2016. Je tiens à remercier tout particulièrement notre vice-président Armando de Senna Bittencourt pour le suivi de cedossier et la communication de toutes les informationsnécessaires à l’ICOM Brésil. Les détails, tant sur leprogramme de l’ICOM que sur notre propre congrès,paraîtront dans un prochain numéro de The Magazine. Pourl’instant, vous avez uniquement à prendre note des dates.

Il y a quelques mois, un groupe de travail spécifique ausein du Comité exécutif s’est penché sur la révision de nosstatuts. Les statuts existants, datant de 2003, avaient eneffet besoin d’une bonne révision, notamment pourrépondre aux directives de l’ICOM. L’étude a d’abord ététransmise au QG de l’ICOM, avant d’être présentée, aprèsincorporation des remarques de l’ICOM, au Comité exécutiflors du congrès de Graz de l’année dernière. Les nouveauxstatuts seront maintenant proposés à tous les membres.Cette consultation sera bientôt lancée par notre secrétaireMathieu Willemsen.

Depuis quelques années, l’ICOMAM essaie de participeraux débats du Comité préparatoire pour le traité sur lecommerce des armes et aux entretiens de la CommissionPetites Armes de l’ONU. Notre membre du comité KennethSmith-Christmas et le spécialiste du forum mondial surl’avenir des associations de tir sportif Tom Mason ontparticipé à plusieurs réunions. Une grande réunion aura lieuà New York en juillet et ils y défendront notre point de vue enla matière (lisez notre note sur la préservation dupatrimoine mondial des petites armes sur notre siteInternet !).

Enfin, j’aimerais remercier les rédacteurs de ceMagazine, Bob et Ruth Smith-Brown, ainsi que lesnombreux auteurs qui ont contribué à cette édition. Tousensemble, ils ont – une fois encore – réussi à composer unnuméro passionnant.

Au plaisir de vous rencontrer à Nizwa, dans lemagnifique et surprenant Sultanat d’Oman !

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News

National ArmyMuseum securesHeritage LotteryFund supportThe National Army Museum (NAM), based in Chelsea,

London, has received initial support for a £11.3mHeritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid, including £350,000 ofdevelopment funding, for the Building for the Future project.

The project aims to see the radical transformation ofNAM’s offer for on-site, off-site and online audiencesthrough a programme of redevelopment and outreachactivities.

The project will include the renovation of the visitorexperience at the Chelsea site, with new galleries toreinterpret the Collection, much improved educationfacilities and increased access to the Collection. In addition,NAM will be developing an extensive outreach programmeworking alongside the pre-existing national network ofregimental museums. This programme will establish arange of digital and off-site projects that will include touringexhibitions, volunteer and training opportunities. Theseactivities will be linked to the upcoming First World War andBattle of Waterloo anniversaries in 2014 and 2015.

The National Army Museum opened on its current site in1970 to house the national

collections of the Land Forces of the Crown, and nowreceives in excess of 270,000 visitors a year. With no majorbuilding work undertaken since 1980, the project providesNAM with the opportunity to upgrade the existing site tomeet the needs of its growing audiences.

Janice Murray, the Director of the National ArmyMuseum, said, ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have achievedthe stage one development grant. The Museum has seen ahuge increase in visitors over the last six years and thisproject enables us build on that success, creating excitingprojects reaching communities up and down the country.’

Sue Bowers, Head of HLF London, said: ‘The HeritageLottery Fund was extremely

impressed with the National Army Museum’s plans,particularly a range of innovative ideas which wouldtransform the visitor experience and widen the overallappeal of the site. Whilstthis is just the beginning of thejourney and there is much hard work to be done we aredelighted with how the project is developing and lookforward to liaising closely with the museum in the comingmonths.’

Kids Counting in KalashnikovsAn Afghan schoolbook, which uses bullets and

Kalashnikov rifles as counting tools, is one of severalpoignant items now on display at the National ArmyMuseum.

The illustrated children’s textbook references apples andpears alongside mujahed (holy warrior), jihad (holy war) andtopak (rifle) in its exercises. The book dates from the Islamicyear 1356 (circa 1986) during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.Its warlike content is a stark reminder of the lasting legacyof conflict in modern Afghan society, with lethal weaponsbeing regarded as everyday items.

Curator, Sophie Stathi, said: “For me, the militarysubject matter of the schoolbook reflects how the conflicttouched the everyday lives of citizens in Afghanistan.”

The schoolbook joins other new display items includingcharm bracelets and Operation Service Medals in theAfghanistan section of the Museum’s Conflicts of Interestgallery. This area sheds light on the intensity and humancost of the recent fighting, and the British Army’s longhistory in the region.

The Conflicts of Interest gallery explores over 40 years ofconflicts, from Northern Ireland and the Falklands to Iraqand Afghanistan. It examines the role of the British Armyacross the globe and the impact being a serviceman orwoman has on home life. Conflicts of Interest is a forum fordebate and the gallery’s Conflicting Opinions area

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encourages visitors to consider the consequences of bothmilitary intervention and inaction, and to share their ownopinion.

Watch and listen to interviews about these newAfghanistan items at:

http://www.nam.ac.uk/collection/collection-news/new-afghanistan-objects-on-display

New items on display in the Afghanistan section of theConflict of Interest gallery:

Afghan schoolbookThis children’s workbook from the Soviet era (1980s) wasfound in 2007 by Captain Daniel Hinxman, 2nd Battalion, theMercian Regiment. His team set up a medical clinic forvillagers outside Zumbalay in a compound previously usedby the Taliban.Lent by Captain Daniel Hinxman

Operational Service Medal for AfghanistanThis medal was awarded to Sapper Dewi Allen for service inAfghanistan in 2009-10. The red and blue bands of themedal ribbon reflect the three British services involved,while the light brown represents Afghanistan’s landscape.Lent by Sapper Allen

Memorial wristbandCorporal David Barnsdale was killed in an IED strike in2010, while taking part in a route clearance near Gereshk.To commemorate “a character” and “a friend of everyone”,Corporal Barnsdale’s family produced memorial wristbandsfor the entire squadron. This pristine example was donatedby Corporal Barnsdale’s close friend; whose own wristbandis faded through constant wear.

‘Lucky charm’ braceletLance Corporal Jose Cravalho De Matos paid $5 to anAfghan local to have this bracelet woven with the name ofhis girlfriend, Sophie, and wore it every day as a “luckycharm”.It worked: on one operation alone, he walked overtwo well-concealed devices which failed to detonate.

Unofficial Search BadgeIn the face of frequent demands on soldiers from 61 FieldSquadron to ‘do Engineers’ work’, this badge was ordered bytheir officers to encourage recognition of the Search Teams’specialist role.

Toby Ecclestone’s identification badgeDue to the nature of the injuries they face, Search Team 9,ordered an additional form of identification badge. Worn onthe sleeve, this badge features the blood type and Zapnumber of Sapper Toby Ecclestone. Zap numbers are acombination of a soldier’s last name and theirArmy number. They are used in radio reports to identifycasualties.

National ArmyMuseum New Galleries

Jubilee: 60 Years of the Sovereign and Her SoldiersOpens 25 May - FreeQueen Elizabeth II joins Queen Victoria as only the secondBritish monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.Celebrating 60 years of The Queen's reign, this displayexplores different aspects of the relationship between TheSovereign and her Army. It shows The Queen not only in herceremonial role, but also on active service.Visitors can discover the historic link between the Monarchyand the Armed Services and how these traditions continuetoday.This display draws on the Museum's collections of archiveimages and artefacts, including The Queen's ATS uniform.

War Horse: Fact &Fiction – FreeCloses 31 August 2012 A major new exhibitionexploring the true historybehind the hugelypopular War Horse novel.This is an exhibition forall the family withexciting hands-oninteractive displays andexclusive costumes and props from the Spielberg-directedfilm, plus material from War Horse author, MichaelMorpurgo and the National Theatre. The touching real-lifestories of the horses and the men who depended on themwill be illustrated through the Museum’s rich Collectionencouraging visitors to think about the million of ‘patientheroes’ who supported the British Army.http://www.nam.ac.uk/press/war-horse-fact-fiction

Kids' Zone Discover the Museum’s new soft-play area called Kids’ Zonewith forest and arctic themed climbing frames for kids toscale, slide and run through. This colourful children’s playarea explores aspects of army life from camping to clothingand includes a dedicated soft-play space for babies, plusarts and crafts, dressing-up costumes, books, interactivetoys and panels. At the heart of the new Kids’ Zone are thesix key principals of Early Years Foundation Stages, ensuringthat children are learning whilst having fun. There areexciting objects from the Museum’s Collection on displaywith lots of interactive models for children to touch andexplore. This fresh new space offers kids the space to move,interact and create in a bright and safe environment.http://www.nam.ac.uk/kids/kids-zone

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Up-comingEvents

The National Army Museum Book Festival8 and 9 September 2012This September, The National Army Museum will bringtogether leading authors and historians to give 16 talks overtwo days covering the entire sweep of British Militaryhistory. The first ever NAM book festival is a must for anyoneinterested in the history of the British Army.Held in conjunction with Osprey Military PressTickets:£15.00 standard (single day)£12.50 concessions (single day£25.00 single ticket for both days

The Big Blitz Jive22 September 2012The Museum’s alive with Big Blitz Jive! An electric eveningof fun ‘40s dance, glamour and Big Band sounds at theNational Army Museum. Swing and jive to the sounds of thebig band, brush up on your fancy footwork with theprofessional dance instructors from the London SwingSociety and ladies enjoy an extra touch of glamour with ourauthentic 40’s hair and make-overs. Grab your partners bythe hand and join the Big Blitz Jive!Tickets:£15.00 standard£12.50 Concession£7.50 under 15’s

Remembrance11 November 2012 To mark the commemorations for Armistice Day and paytribute to the fallen from all conflicts, British solider ‘TommyAtkins’ will read The Roll Call of the fallen.

Celebrity speakersChurchill and Company by David Dilks27 November 2012, 7.00pm46 years after his death, Sir Winston Churchill continues tocommand attention across the world. David Dilks reflectsupon Churchill's relations with friends and rivals. Excerptsfrom Churchill’s speeches not previously heard in thiscountry will illustrate the talk.

Defeating Hitler by Paul Winter4 July 2012, 7.00pmFrom Hitler’s madness to the failure of the Germanintelligence services, Paul Winter draws on previouslyunpublished, top secret Whitehall documents, to examinethe reasons for the eventual defeat of Hitler’s war machine.

On Afghanistan’s Plains: The Story of Britain’s Afghan WarsJules Stewart1 August 2012, 7.00pmHave we learned nothing? Jules Stewart examines Britain’spast wars in Afghanistan, the losses sustained and theirimpact on the current conflict. Jules Stewart looks at thepotential danger of re-playing Britain’s military catastrophesand considers what can be learnt from revisiting earlierAfghan conflicts.

Celebrity speaker tickets:£7.50 standard. £5 concessions or 3 tickets for the price of 2 tickets

World Wars Celebrity Speaker Day - Speakers TBC17 November 2012, 10.30am - 5.30pmWere the First and Second World Wars one giant globalstruggle? The World Wars define the 20th century. Ashistorians begin to question the accuracy of looking at theWorld Wars as two distinct and separate conflicts we bringtogether authors and historians to discuss the issuessurrounding this global struggle.Tickets :£15.00 standard£12.50 concession

Permanent galleries

Changing the World 1784 – 1904This gallery examines the British Army’s role in theexpansion and defence of British trade, political interest,and empire, and its effect on the shape of Britain and theworld today.http://www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/permanent-galleries/changing-world-1784-1904

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World Wars, 1905-1945This gallery explores the role of the BritishCommonwealth's civilian armies and their defence ofdemocracy during the First and Second World Wars, the eraof 'Total War'.http://www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/permanent-galleries/world-wars-1905-1945

Conflicts of InterestThis major new gallery examines over four decades of actionon the world stage by the modern British Army. Lookingbeyond the media headlines, it explores the conflictinginterests of enforcing peace through a violent means,balancing global security with the needs of vulnerablecommunities and the demands of the job on the personallives of our troops. http://www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/permanent-galleries/conflicts-interest-1969-present

National Service DisplayCovering eight conflicts in 20 years, this new displayexplores the contribution of Britain’s post-war nationalservice conscripts as they moved from civilian to soldier.Personal stories of endless drilling and grueling inspectionsare contrasted with detail on how such a range of difficultcommitments sent these young men to far-flung corners ofthe world. The Making of Britain DisplayFrom foreign invasion to contests for the crown, from civilwar at home to rebellion in the Colonies, this galleryinvestigates the Army’s role in creating and defending thenation state of Great Britain we know today.

http://www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/special-displays/national-service

Korea 1950 – 53: The Cold War’s Hot WarMarking the 60th Anniversary since the outbreak of theKorean War, this new display examines the role of theBritish Army during the first and only UN war to date. Mixing

personal objects and artefacts from the Museum’scollection with contemporary media reports, the display willexplore both the personal experience of soldiers and thefar-reaching legacy of the conflict.http://www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/special-displays/korea-1950-53-cold-wars-hot-war

Action ZonesVictorian Soldier Action ZoneAre you a drummer boy, an infantryman or a cavalry officer?Find out in the Museum’s interactive Victorian Action Zone.Quizzes, games and hands-on activities help you learn aboutlife as a Victorian Soldier and the part they played in theshaping of Britain’s Empire. Admission: Free Location:Changing the World galleryThe World’s Army – Empire, Commonwealth and DominionSoldiers1914- 45 Action ZoneExplore the lives of people from around the world involved inthe First and Second World Wars and the great advancemade in technologies of warfare in our family interactivezone. Admission: Free, Location: World Wars galleryTickets can be booked in the following ways:In person at the Museum shop, online at:http://www.nam.ac.uk www.nam.ac.uk or by phone: 0207881 6600

Lunchtime lecturesFree Lunchtime lectures take place every Thursday at12.30pm.Please see website for further details:http://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/lunchtime-lecturesFor further information or images, please contact:National Army Museum press office Tel: 020 7730 0717 ext.2535, email:

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New Venturesand SuccessesNote from theNational ArmyMuseum Director Janice Murray

Record visitor figures, innovativepartnerships and laying the

foundations for an exciting new future;2011-12 has marked a step change in theway we operate. We are now reaching moreaudiences in more ways than ever before.”

In 2011-12 the National Army Museum enjoyed its mostsuccessful year to date, welcoming over 270,000 visitorsthrough its doors with a packed programme of acclaimedexhibitions and innovative events and digital projects.

The opening of two hugely popular temporaryexhibitions, the explosive Draw Your Weapons: The Art ofCommando Comics followed by our special exhibition WarHorse: Fact & Fiction, alongside the relaunch of our hugelypopular Kids’ Zone space, provided new and exciting contentfor all the family.

Programmed alongside these were talks by world-renowned experts such as Peter Snow, Max Hastings and

Saul David, as well as a series of in-depth discussion eventscovering a broad range of topics from the British Army’scampaign in Malaya to the Anglo-Zulu War.

Significant interest in our Britain’s Greatest Foes digitalproject and War Horse microsite have seen record virtualvisitors, many of whom came from outside the UK.

Behind the scenes our curatorial teams have beenfocused on the rehousing of 90% of our Study Collection instate-of-the-art new facilities. The improved recording andstorage of the Collection means it is now more accessiblethan ever before.

We have also been attracting nationwide acclaimthrough widespread national and international presscoverage. Industry recognition has been received throughour longlisting for The Telegraph’s Family Friendly MuseumsAward and our shortlisting at the prestigious Museums andHeritage awards for War Horse: Fact & Fiction.

We could not have achieved so much over the past yearwithout great partnerships. The Museum is proud to haveworked with Michael Morpurgo, the National Theatre andDisney to create War Horse: Fact and Fiction, and we weredelighted when HRH The Duchess of Cornwall was able toopen the exhibition.

Leading publishers DC Thomson were integral to thedevelopment of Draw Your Weapons: The Art of CommandoComics allowing us to display original items from their vastarchive and providing us with invaluable creative input.

Perhaps most excitingly, however, was the creation ofthe Museum masterplan. This outlines our vision for theNational Army Museum of the future, not just in the

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New Post toStrengthen LinksAcross ArmyMuseums

The National Army Museum is pleased to announce theappointment of a full-time, Regimental Museums

Liaison Officer. This is a new post, established by theMuseum to provide dedicated support and greatercollaboration between the Museum, across the country’s136 Regimental Museums, Ministry of Defence and theArmy Museums Ogilby Trust (AMOT). Military Museums haveseen growing public’s interest with over five million peoplevisiting Regimental Museums in 2010-11. The creation ofthis post offers an exciting opportunity for RegimentalMuseums and the National Army Museum to work closertogether to raise the profile of Military Museums, the storiesthey hold and the people and events they commemorate togenerate even more public visits and interest.

There was great competition for the role with the postbeing awarded to Mr. Julian Farrance. Julian has worked at

innovative redisplay of the Chelsea site, but also in thedevelopment of a national footprint. We will be working handin hand with our regimental museum partners to illustrateand remember the contribution of the British Army incommunities up and down the country. The appointment ofa full-time Regimental Liaison Officer and warm supportfrom the Army Museums Ogilby Trust and the MOD have putin place the groundwork for this development over the nextfive years.

We embark on the 2012-13 year with greater financialsecurity provided by our Fundraising Leadership Group andrestructured Commercial Services team. We will be lookingto generate a range of exciting new outreach work reachingever more diverse audiences and move forward with plansfor commemorations surrounding the First World Warcentenary and the 200th anniversary of the Battle ofWaterloo.

National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea,London SW3 4HT Nearest Tube Station: Sloane SquareOpen daily 10am to 5.30pm (except 24-26 Dec & 1 Jan) Telephone: 020 7730 0717 Registered Charity No. 237902www.nam.ac.ukwww.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

the National Army Museum for 12 years and brings with himgreat enthusiasm, as well as extensive experience of themuseum, military and educational sectors. Julian Farrance,said “The National Army Museum and the 136 RegimentalMuseums provide a great network of Military Museumswithin communities across the country for everyone to visitand enjoy. Working together, we can offer visitors greateraccess to collections and resources, providing them with aneven better visitor experience that will engage and harnesstheir growing interest in military history.”

Julian will be coordinating specialist training and advice,events and networking opportunities for RegimentalMuseums, as well as coordinating touring exhibition supportand Collection loans.

The post is part of the National Army Museum’scomprehensive programme to provide the public withgreater access to its Collection and with the remarkableitems, stories and histories held across the country in thenetwork of Regimental Museums. The Museum explores theimpact of the British Army on the story of Britain, Europeand the world, how Britain’s past has helped shape itspresent and how the actions of a few can affect the futuresof many.


News

News from the National Museumof the United States Air ForceDayton, Ohio

U.S. Air Force's First C-17 Arrives The U.S. Air Force’s first C-17 (T-1) landed at the National

Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Wednesday, April 25.This C-17 Globemaster III (S/N 87-0025) was essentially

hand-built for the sole purpose of developmental test andevaluation, with an estimated life span of approximately fiveyears. The aircraft was periodically rebuilt and refurbishedover the years and its lifespan grew from five to 21 years.

“After more than 20 years of wide-ranging flight tests, T-1 is starting a new career at the National Museum of theU.S. Air Force,” said Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John L. “Jack” Hudson,museum director. “This aircraft will serve as therepresentative C-17 airframe in the museum’s collection,allowing us to share with the public more of the story of thedemanding airlift missions facing today’s Air Force.”

T-1 made its first flight on Sept. 15, 1991, when it wasdelivered to the USAF at Edwards AFB, Calif., for testing.After completing the extensive C-17 flight test program, T-1supported many other flight and propulsion test programsfor the USAF, NASA and others.

In addition to its role as a flight test aircraft, T-1 is also aHollywood star. The aircraft appeared in country superstarToby Keith’s Emmy Award-winning production of “AmericanSoldier.” T-1 went on to appear in five motion pictures:“Transformers,” “Iron Man,” “Transformers: Revenge of theFallen,” “Iron Man 2” and “Superman: Man of Steel” (to bereleased by Warner Brothers in 2013).

“Today, C-17 (87-0025) takes on her final and incrediblyimportant assignment,” said Col. Andrew D. Ingram, the C-17 system program director at Wright-Patterson Air ForceBase. “If you’ve ever witnessed the face of an 8-year-oldlittle girl or a 7-year-old little boy when they first enter themuseum's Cold War Gallery and see the B-2 and the F-22for the very first time, you know what I'm talking about. Thisis a place where dreams are born. America's future walksthese galleries, every day.”

The C-17 is the Air Force’s newest, most versatile cargoaircraft to enter the airlift force. It is capable of rapidstrategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to mainoperating bases or directly to small airfields. The aircraftcan also perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions ortransport litters and ambulatory patients duringaeromedical evacuations.

According to Bob Ciesla, vice president Airlift and C-17

program manager for the Boeing Company, it is a greathonor to support the U.S. Air Force by building the C-17Globemaster III and continuing a proud and long history ofsupporting our military men and women with the bestproducts, systems and technologies to carry out theirmissions.

“Congratulations to the Air Force on the retirement of T-1 – the revolutionary C-17 that for two decades has providedthe most advanced strategic and tactical airlift capabilitiesof any airlifter in the world,” Ciesla said. “We are proud tocontinue building and maintaining the world’s C-17s to bringhope, save lives and preserve peace.”

The museum anticipates the C-17 to be on public displayin the Air Park this summer. More information about theaircraft is available athttp://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=19411

22 B-25 Mitchellbombers plan to takepart in tribute toDoolittle Tokyo Raiders One of the largest gatherings of B-25 Mitchell bombers

since World War II is being planned to take place as partof a tribute to the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders as theycommemorate the 70th anniversary of their raid on Japanduring a reunion April 17-20 at the National Museum of theU.S. Air Force.

On April 18, 1942, 80 men achieved the unimaginablewhen they took off from an aircraft carrier on a top secretmission to bomb Japan. These men, led by Lt. Col. James H."Jimmy" Doolittle, came to be known as the Doolittle TokyoRaiders.

Twenty-two B-25 Mitchell bombers plan to come fromacross the nation and land on the runway behind themuseum on the morning of April 17. The aircraft will thenbe placed on static display from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for thepublic to get an up-close look at each plane and meet thepilots and crews.


News

The National Museum of the United States Air Force islocated on Springfield Street, six miles northeast ofdowntown Dayton. It is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.(closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day).Admission and parking are free.

For more information about the museum, visithttp://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

On April 18 at approximately 12:15 p.m., the aircraft willtake-off one by one, form-up together over the Dayton areaand then fly in formation over the museum at 1 p.m. — justprior to the Doolittle Raiders Memorial Service in themuseum’s Memorial Park.

These outdoor reunion events are weather contingentand subject to change. In order to operate the B-25s on themuseum’s normally closed runway, there must be relativelyclear weather and a dry runway. A final weather call will beannounced on April 16. For the latest updates andinformation on the reunion, including the completeschedule, visit:http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/doolittle.asp

The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association, Inc. continuesto work on securing sponsorship to assist with the fundingof these B-25 aircraft. Those interested in helping shouldvisit http://www.doolittle-raiders.org/ www.doolittle-raiders.org, or contact Tom Casey with the Doolittle TokyoRaiders Association, Inc. at (941) 921-7361 [email protected] or Larry Kelley at (410) 991-2356 [email protected]. (Federal endorsement is not implied.)

At this time, all five of the living Doolittle Tokyo Raiders -- Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Lt. Col. Robert L. Hite, Lt. Col.Edward J. Saylor, Maj. Thomas C. Griffin and Staff Sgt. DavidJ. Thatcher -- are able to travel and plan to be on-hand forthe reunion events. Others scheduled to attend the reunioninclude retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Allen Josey, who wasan electrician on the aircraft carrier Hornet when theRaiders took off on their mission, and Hu Daxian ofZhejiang, China. Daxian is the wife of Li Senlin, who aidedDoolittle Tokyo Raider crew number two.

Other public events during the reunion include twoautograph sessions, two lunches (sold-out), a dinnerbanquet (sold-out) and the screening of the film "ThirtySeconds Over Tokyo," which will be shown in the museum'sCarney Auditorium on April 18.

Before and after the museum reunion events, the B-25aircraft will stage out of Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio, topractice formation flights, and will offer public rides andstatic displays. For more information on the events atGrimes Field visit;http://www.champaignaviationmuseum.org/Grimes_Gathering_of_B-25s.php

Southeast Asia War ArtExhibit Now OpenAn art exhibit featuring 30 paintings with scenes from the

war in Southeast Asia is now open at the NationalMuseum of the U.S. Air Force.

The paintings, which were selected for exhibit from theU.S. Air Force Art Collection, can be viewed daily duringregular museum hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The artwork isdisplayed in the museum’s Hall of Honor, and admission tothe museum and the exhibit is free.

“We are pleased to feature this exhibit as part of themuseum’s continuing commemoration of the 50thanniversary of the War in Southeast Asia,” said SeniorCurator Terry Aitken. “These dramatic paintings are aunique way for our visitors to reflect upon the events andexperiences of those who served in Southeast Asia.”

In addition to the art exhibit, museum staff has beenrenovating the Southeast Asia War Gallery since the fall of2010. Planned in four phases, the renovation’s first phasewas completed in the spring of 2011, and phase two will becomplete later this year. For updates, visithttp://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/sea.asp


News

Brompton 200: Civilian Life in a Military Village A new project at the RoyalEngineers Museum, Library andArchive wins Heritage LotteryFund Support

Today, the Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive(REMLA) has received £9,700 from the Heritage Lottery

Fund (HLF) for an exciting community led project, ‘Brompton200: Civilian Life in a Military Village’, in Medway, Kent. 2012celebrates the bicentenary of the Royal School of MilitaryEngineering (RSME) in Brompton. To celebrate this theproject, which is led by volunteers from the localcommunity, will explore the impact the military, in particularthe Royal Engineers, have had on the community ofBrompton. The project which includes a community runhistorical website, touring exhibition and guided tours willstart at the end of April with the exhibition and websitelaunch planned for the end of June 2012.

‘Brompton 200: Civilian Life in a Military Village’ is aproject organised by REMLA to increase local participationin and awareness of the history of Brompton Villagecovering the period 1812-2012. Members of the BromptonHistory Research Group and other local volunteers will beresearching and collating information which will bedisseminated through a number of different means. Atouring exhibition will start at REMLA before running atlocal libraries and Medway Archives and a number of guidedtours of Brompton and its historic sites will be run bymembers of the local community over the summer months.An interactive website will allow all members of the localcommunity to share stories of the area; upload photographsas well as browse through the historical research that hasbeen collated and listen to oral histories which record localmemories of the village. These activities will be supportedby local history schools sessions and a teachers pack

Queeny the bulldog - the British mascot who was born and bred inBrompton-an example of the sorts of stories the project hopes touncover


News

developed by REMLA’s education department to aid PrimarySchools in the delivery of local history sessions. REMLA willrun a number of outreach sessions linked to the project andwill be offering free training for all the volunteers involved.

In 1812 the Royal Engineers set up the School of MilitaryEngineering (later the Royal School of Military Engineering-RSME) in Brompton. For 200 years the RSME and the Corpsof Royal Engineers have had an effect on the village ofBrompton, shaping its history and even its landscape.Brompton is at the centre of a potential World Heritage Sitein Chatham and is part of what is known as ‘The Great LinesPark’. Despite this little is known about the history of thevillage, a civilian enclave in the heart of a military world,which is surrounded by the Dockyard to the north, the RoyalSchool of Military Engineering to the east and the GreatLines to the south and west. The village has been identifiedas a key area that’s story is inextricably linked with thedevelopment of the Medway towns. It is a story that needsresearching and retelling and the grant from the HeritageLottery Fund will enable this to happen.

Commenting on the award, Miss Amy Adams from theRoyal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive said:“Brompton Village is a hidden gem in the Medway Townswith a fascinating history which is begging to be told. We aredelighted to have the support of the Heritage Lottery Fundwhich will allow the Museum to work with the localcommunity to discover the hidden secrets of Brompton’spast and share them with the wider community.”

The Brompton Community- then and now


News

Pierre Terjanian Appointed Curatorin Department of Arms and Armorat Metropolitan Museum

the museum’s Kretzschmar von Kienbusch Collection ofmore than 1,200 outstanding examples of late medieval andRenaissance European arms and armor and related objects.In 2005, he also took on the position of Acting Head of theDepartment of European Decorative Arts and Sculpturebefore 1700, administering the department and overseeingits collection. Among his many activities at the museum, hehas researched and re-catalogued extensive portions of thearms and armor collection; rediscovered unique, long-lost16th-century albums of drawings illustrating the works ofleading German armorers; reinstalled four permanentgalleries for arms and armor; acquired works including rare16th-century armors for man and horse; prepared acomprehensive, richly illustrated catalogue of 100 highlightsof the arms and armor collection that is scheduled forpublication in 2013; and lectured widely.

A native of Strasbourg, France, he obtained a mastersdegree in law from Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas, amaster of science degree in management from HEC Paris,and a doctoral degree in history from Université de Metz,and has also done graduate study in history at the Universityof California, Berkeley.

Thomas P. Campbell, Director of The MetropolitanMuseum of Art, announced the appointment of Pierre

Terjanian as a Curator in the Museum’s Department ofArms and Armor, effective this October. He currently holdsthe dual role of J. J. Medveckis Associate Curator of Armsand Armor, as well as Acting Head of the Department ofEuropean Decorative Arts and Sculpture before 1700, at thePhiladelphia Museum of Art.

“We are very pleased to welcome Pierre to theMetropolitan Museum,” said Mr. Campbell in making theannouncement. “He is an impressive scholar with strongcuratorial credentials and experience. I am also delightedthat his arrival will coincide with the celebrations andactivities marking the centenary of our Arms and ArmorDepartment.”

Pierre Terjanian has worked at the Philadelphia Museumof Art since 1997, first as an Andrew W. Mellon CuratorialFellow of Arms and Armor (1997-2000), and then as AdjunctAssociate Curator (2000-2003), Associate Curator (2004-2006), and the J. J. Medveckis Associate Curator (2006-present), all in the Department of European Decorative Artsand Sculpture before 1700. In his current role, he oversees

The ICOMAM websiteICOMAM’s website is hosted by the Royal Armouries in

Brussels and includes details of ICOMAM’s activities. Weare always trying to widen and increase our readership andimpact and want to encourage all our member museums toinclude a link on their website or Facebook pages. Alsoplease tell your Museum Friends about us and where to gethold of the MAGAZINESee http://www.klm-mra.be/icomam


To Feed an Army1 June 2012 – 31 March 2013

Exhibitions

The phrase “An army marches on its stomach” is usuallyattributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. The fact that soldiers

need food and drink to function in the field is obvious tomost of us. Throughout the history of mankind, however, thesupply of food has played a significantly larger part inwarfare than many are aware of. Over thousands of years,men have waged war over food and with food, but youcannot wage war without food. Food is in many ways the fuelthat makes large-scale warfare possible. A secure supply offood has always been necessary to feed an army so that itssoldiers have the strength to march and fight. To cut off theenemy’s access to food is a weapon that is often moreefficient than bullets and grenades.

The exhibition To Feed an Army reflects these issues andtells the story about food's role in military history in generalbut especially on the importance of food in the history of theSwedish army.

While creating this exhibition we have carried out an in-depth study in archives and libraries to bring out the historyof objects such as cooking equipment, mess tins andthermos flasks. In many cases it is entirely new informationthat has become available and the exhibition catalog may beviewed as a cultural achievement. The history of theseobjects has not previously been documented.

The exhibition is aimed at the curious visitor, young orold. The trivial things, which were used to make food for awhole army has got a place in specially designed booths,making their stories accessible and visible and worthlistening to.

To feed an army is an exhibition about food as anecessity, and as a strategic weapon. It displays food historyin the Swedish army, from the locally produced stews of the17th century to the freeze-dried battle rations of our time.Items from the Army Museum collections mirror foodculture, cooking, meals and how the soldier got his dailybread.

Klas Kronberg Project leader

At the moment until 15/09/2012 this exhibition is on showin the Royal Military Museum in Brussels…'


Exhibitions


Exhibitions

The Noble Art of the Sword: Fashion and Fencing in Renaissance EuropeWallace Collection 17 May 2012 - 16 September 2012

Rapier of the future Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II (1527-76)The hilt Spanish or Italian, the blade by Antonio Piccinino of Milan,c. 1550–70. Hofjagd –und Rüstkammer, Vienna, A588

Parade costume of Christian II, Elector of Saxony (1583–1611). Theconstruction and embroidery probably Saxon, Dresden, the fabricpossibly Italian, beginning of the 17th century, between 1601 and1609. Signed ‘Biberach’. Provenance: Electors of Saxony.Rüstkammer, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, i.7


Exhibitions

Rapier of Christian II, Elector of Saxony. The hilt probably made byMarx Bischhausen of Dresden, the blade Solingen, c. 1605–7.Provenance: Electors of Saxony. Rüstkammer, StaatlicheKunstsammlungen, Dresden, VI.433

Rapier. Saxon, Dresden, the blade Solingen. Saxon, Dresden, theblade Solingen, c. 1608. Provenance: Electors of Saxony.Rüstkammer, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, VI.370 andXI.4

Fight Book - Ridolfo Capo Ferro, Gran Simulatero dell'arte edell'uso della scherma, Siena. © The Howard de Walden Library


Exhibitions

Rapier, Spanish, c. 1565–1600. © By kind permission of theTrustees of the Wallace Collection

Rapier, hilt Italian, blade Spanish, c. 1585–1620. © By kindpermission of the Trustees of the Wallace Collection

Rapier - hilt English, blade German, c. 1605–15


Exhibitions

Ragione di adoprar sicuramente l’arme si daoffesa. Giacomo di Grassi (active second half of the16th century), Venice, 1570. © Wallace Collection,Howard de Walden Library

Detail of a rapier by the goldsmith-jeweller GiulioCesare Marciliano. Made by the goldsmith-jewellerGiulio Cesare Marciliano and the swordsmithFederigo Piccinino, both of Milan, 1600–09.Provenance: Gift from Elector Christian II ofSaxony to his brother Duke Johann Georg I in 1609or earlier; placed in the Electoral armoury before1612; Historical Museum, Dresden. Rüstkammer,Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, VI 429,p201 and i470


Exhibitions

Anthony van Dyck - Philippe Le Roy, 1630. © By kind permission ofthe Trustees of the Wallace Collection.

Partial armour, Italian, c. 1570–90. © By kind permission of theTrustees of the Wallace Collection

Combined Rapier and Wheel-Lock Pistol, German, c. 1580–90. ©By kind permission of the Trustees of the Wallace Collection


Exhibitions

Rapier Italian c. 1590–1620. © By kind permission of the Trusteesof the Wallace Collection

Fight Book - Ridolfo Capo Ferro, Gran Simulatero dell'arte edell'uso della scherma, Siena. © The Howard de Walden Library

Fight Book - Achille Marozzo, Opera Nova, Bologna. © The Howardde Walden Library


Exhibitions

Bashford Dean and the Creation of the Arms and Armor Department2 October 2012 – 29 September 2013Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gallery, Arms and Armor Galleries

Gothic Armor. German, ca. 1475-1500, with early 20th centuryadditions and restorations. Steel, copper alloy, leather, pigment.Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Bequest of Bashford Dean,1928 (29.150.8).

When the Arms and Armor Department was created byThe Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Board of Trustees

on 28 October 1912, it was mainly due to the impressivescholarship and tireless efforts of Dr. Bashford Dean (1867-1928), the department's founding curator.

To mark the centennial of the establishment of the Armsand Armor Department, Bashford Dean and the Creation ofthe Arms and Armor Department—an exhibition featuringsome 25 rare objects and period photographs—willcelebrate Dean’s multifaceted career, surveying his work asa field zoologist in Japan, a professor at ColumbiaUniversity, and Curator of Fishes at the American Museumof Natural History, and then concentrating on hisgroundbreaking work as the Metropolitan Museum’s firstCurator of Arms and Armor.

Among the highlights of the exhibition will be a rareexample of late Gothic German armor (ca. 1475-1500) thatwas expertly completed and restored under Dean’s closesupervision. Since this type of armor was no longeravailable on the art market by the early 20th century, Dean

One of the galleries of Arms and Armor at the MetropolitanMuseum of Art as designed and installed under Bashford Dean’ssupervision in 1915, shortly after the Riggs donation(photographed in 1921).

used his knowledge and resources to create one suitable formuseum display. Contrasted with this will be a 19th-century Japanese armor that Dean acquired whileconducting scientific research in Japan and later donated tothe Museum. A photograph taken around 1900 that showshim wearing the full suit of armor will be displayed togetherwith the armor.

Between 1904 and 1912, Dean rose rapidly from guestcurator to honorary curator and finally to head of the newlycreated Arms and Armor Department, building thecollection into one of international importance before hispremature death in 1928. In the process, he designedhelmets and body armor for U.S. troops in World War I,fostered interest and involvement from an influential groupof private collectors, established an American scholarshipon historical arms and armor, and laid the foundation forthe continued growth of the collection into one of the mostencyclopedic in the world today and one of the best lovedand most visited galleries in the Museum.

A variety of education programs will be offered inconjunction with the exhibition and in celebration of the100th anniversary of the Department of Arms and Armor,including a Sunday at the Met on 28 October at 3:00 p.m.,gallery talks and studio programs, and programs andservices for visitors with disabilities. A Family Guide to the


Exhibitions

Bashford Dean ca. 1900 wearing a full suit of Japanese armor(04.4.2) that he acquired while conducting scientific research inJapan. He later donated the armor and his entire collection ofJapanese arms and armor to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The staff of the Arms and Armor Department at the MetropolitanMuseum of Art in 1919.

Bashford Dean, in his uniform as a Major of Ordnance, in charge ofthe Helmets and Body Armor Unit, photographed ca. 1917-1918.

collection will also be published. Further details about theexhibition and related programs will be available atwww.metmuseum.org.

A history of the Arms and Armor Department, written byStuart W. Pyhrr, Curator in Charge of the Museum’s Armsand Armor Department, will also be published as theSummer 2012 Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin.

The exhibition is organized by Donald J. La Rocca, Curatorof the Museum’s Arms and Armor Department.


Publications

Medieval MilitaryTechnology Kelly Devries and Robert D Smith. University of Toronto Press, 2012. ISBN 978-1-4426-0497-1. 356 pp. 50 illustrations.

First published in 1992, Medieval MilitaryTechnology has become the definitive book

in its field, garnering much praise and a largereadership. This thorough update of a classicbook, regarded as both an excellent overviewand an important piece of scholarship,includes fully revised content, new sections onthe use of horses, handguns, incendiaryweapons, and siege engines, and eighteen newillustrations. The four key organizing sectionsof the book still remain: arms and armour,artillery, fortifications, and warships.Throughout, the authors connect thesetechnologies to broader themes anddevelopments in medieval society as well as tocurrent scholarly and curatorial controversies.

This is a full and authorative treatment ofthe subject which illuminates ourunderstanding of the medieval world ad itswarfare with remarkable clarity.

John France, Swansea University

Practical Military History

David J Blackmore

The purposes of this paper are firstto introduce the idea of a new

approach to military history, explainingits nature and role in the study ofmilitary history. Secondly, it is todemonstrate that this new approachhas broad benefits beyond simplyincreasing our understanding ofwarfare. Thirdly it will lay out the formthat practical history would take. It willconclude with some suggestions ofhow the subject might be integratedinto university teaching.

In recent years military history hasbeen described as falling into twocategories, old military history andnew military history. According toPeter Paret new military history madeits appearance in the 1960s and heoffered the following definition.

Most military historians and othersconversant with the disciplinewould probably agree that the NewMilitary History refers to a partialturning away from the greatcaptains, and from weapons,tactics, and operations as the mainconcerns of the historical study ofwar. Instead we are asked to paygreater attention to the interactionof war with society, economics,politics, and culture. The NewMilitary History stands for an effortto integrate the study of militaryinstitutions and their actions moreclosely with other kinds of history(Paret 1991: 10).

At the same time, in the forward to hisbook, The Nine Years’ War and theBritish Army, 1688–1697, John Childswrote that both forms of militaryhistory were necessary, explaining thedifference between the two, but alsopointing out their inter-dependency.

The ‘new military history’ hasprincipally been concerned with

the study of military institutionsand their interaction with social,political and economic forces.Campaign history has beendeliberately eschewed asrepresentative of the ‘old militaryhistory’, a form too often practisedby ‘amateur’ historians and retiredservice officers. Expressed crudely,the ‘new military history’ has beenadopted by ‘professional’ historiansat universities to bring academicrespectability to a branch of theirdiscipline which has long been thepoor relation of its political,religious, social and economicbrothers. A modus Vivendi betweenthe two varieties is slowlyemerging, especially in the militaryhistory of the twentieth century,but divergence remains strong inthe early modern period. Armieswere raised, at great expense, toconduct legalised violence againstboth the internal and externalenemies of the state. Theircampaigns, actions and methodsare as historically vital and relevantas their institutions and personnel.To study armies withoutinvestigating their wars and battlesmakes as much sense as learningto write but not to read (Childs1991: 2–3).

More recently William P Tatum hasoffered a different division of militaryhistory.

Instead of trying to maintain thetired division between ‘old’ and‘new’ military history, we shouldinstead look to the natural divisionbetween the History of War and theHistory of the Army.

He clarifies his proposal, speaking ofdividing ‘academic military historybetween the study of War as a

Articles


phenomenon and the study of theArmy as an institution...’ In arguing forhis proposed division he suggests thatthere is a fundamental problem withNew Military History, which is ‘thereduced role of combat withinanalytical narratives’ (Tatum 2007:79–80).

Paret’s paper was first given at theannual meeting of the AmericanMilitary Institute in Durham, N.C. on22 March 1991. The theme of theconference was ‘The New MilitaryHistory’ and in his Conference ReviewEssay John Whiteclay Chamberswrote;

The criticism against a tendencywithin the ‘new’ military history toavoid the study of war and battle isa point already well established inthe literature, and has alreadycontributed to a ‘new’ combathistory emphasizing theexperience of the common soldierin battle and a ‘new’ operationalhistory integrating tactical,strategic, and administrativeconcerns into analyses ofeconomic mobilization, political,and cultural influences (Chambers1991: 395–406).

In recent years militaryhistory has beendescribed as falling intotwo categories, oldmilitary history and newmilitary history.


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Amongst the discussion of the natureof ‘old’ and ‘new’ military history bothTatum and Chambers make asignificant point. New Military Historyhas resulted in historians becomingless concerned with combat. Perhaps,as suggested by Childs, in order toachieve some perceived respectabilityfor military history, its practitionershave seized upon the readily availablemethodologies of other forms ofhistory and thus moved away fromcombat which those methodologiesare not able to analyse. Indeed, inarguing for his division of militaryhistory, Tatum argues that Militaryhistory has failed to develop its ownmethodologies and instead relied uponthe ready made options offered byother forms of history (Tatum 2007:74). Furthermore, one has only to lookat recent military history PhDs ormilitary history conference agendas tosee how infrequently analytical studiesof combat make an appearance. Workfeaturing combat still tends to be ofthe ‘old’ narrative type.

In recent years a number ofhistorians have endeavoured toaddress this shortcoming. In his Art ofWarfare in the Age of Marlborough,covering the period of 1688 to 1748,Chandler’s aim is ‘a fairly fullexamination of how the regimentalofficer and soldier fought andmanoeuvred’ and he achieves a greatdeal of success (Chandler 1990: 9).However, as he deals with all armsand the major European nations it isperhaps not surprising that he doesnot get down to the detail of howMarlborough’s own army fought.

Writing about military historybooks dealing with the period 1689 to1763 Brent Nosworthy wrote ‘The so-called higher levels of warfare,generally referred to as the‘operational’ and ‘strategic’ levels, areparticularly well covered’. However, hegoes on to write ‘Though we are givengeneral information, such as the typesof formations the troops employed andsome of the methods they used to firetheir weapons, the picture blurs assoon as we increase the degree ofmagnification’ (Nosworthy 1992: xi).

Elsewhere he has expressed his viewmore bluntly, ‘The traditional approachused to dissect and analyse battleswhich explains ‘what’ occurred duringa particular contest has unfortunatelylargely ignored the ‘how’ and the ‘why’’(Nosworthy 1997: xv).

Nosworthy himself is not entirelysuccessful in his stated aims;

The goal of the present work, TheAnatomy of Victory: Battle Tactics1689-1763, is to reconstruct eachof the major tactical and grandtactical doctrines as they existedduring the period underconsideration, and to explore howthese doctrines evolved to producewhat could be called ‘Fredricianwarfare (Nosworthy 1992: xiii).

He does indeed explore the tacticaldoctrines of the European nationsthrough the period, primarily Franceand Prussia with who he deals in someconsiderable depth, looking at theirdoctrines and ongoing tacticalevolution. But this is still ‘what’ ratherthan ‘how’. Despite his claimed goal hestill fails to explain the detail of the howand why things occurred as they did.

Clearly there is something missingfrom the current approach to Militaryhistory that is not provided for in ‘new’or ‘old’ military history nor in theHistory of War and the History of theArmy. This is the study of theprocedures and practices of armies,how they did things. I have called thisPractical Military History.

Practical Military History servestwo immediate purposes. First, itenables the military historian to makea correct interpretation ofcontemporary accounts of militaryevents. James Wolfe consideredBland’s Treatise of Military Disciplineindispensible to the military educationof young officers (Reid 2000: 133;Bland 1727). This is the knowledgethat a junior officer in the British Armyrequired in order to carry out hisduties, but many historians endeavourto understand and explain thefunctioning of the army without thesame knowledge. Without thisknowledge it is considerably harder tounderstand why things happened theway they did. This, of course, does notprevent the production of accuratenarrative accounts of battles andcampaigns, particularly as these tendto be based on the accounts of officersand men who did have theprofessional knowledge to understandevents. Similarly other aspects ofmilitary history, such as training,finance, uniforms, equipment, strategyand social history aspects can beeffectively addressed without thisknowledge. Yet military historians riskmisunderstanding or even completelymisinterpreting those accounts writtenby professionals, because they do notshare the same knowledge of howthings were done and managed. Inturn this gives rise to the danger ofdrawing incorrect conclusions abouttactics and doctrine.

Secondly, narrative military historythat is not supported by a thoroughknowledge of the military practicesand procedures of the army or periodunder consideration can only be acomposite of contemporarydescriptions of events translated into amodern idiom and placed into a

Clearly there issomething missing fromthe current approach toMilitary history that isnot provided for in ‘new’or ‘old’ military historynor in the History of Warand the History of theArmy.

chronological and topographicalframework. It cannot offer any morethan is in the accounts, it cannotanalyse those actions beyond statingwhether or not they were successful.However, with a thorough knowledgeof the full repertoire of militarypractices it is possible to considerwhether or not the best options werechosen in a given situation and toassess the skill with which the chosencourse of action was followed.Although, naturally, any assessmentwill be subjective, that is still aconsiderable advance on a simpleaccount of events.

There is also a tendency amongstnarrative military historians to givecredit for the successful execution of abattle plan to the general who devisedit without consideration for the skillsof the troops who execute it. However,a military genius cannot make badtroops good, whereas good troops canmake a mediocre general look good. Aknowledge of military practices at alllevels, from private to general, allowsan assessment to be made of wherethe responsibility lies for the outcomeof an action, be it victory or defeat.

For example, it has long beenmaintained that the defeat of theBritish force under Braddock on theMonongahela River in 1755 was theresult of the poor quality of theinfantry involved and the unsuitabilityto the circumstances of employingEuropean style tactics. StanleyPargellis, however, has argued that iswas the failure of Braddock and hisofficers to employ European tacticsproperly that lead to the defeat. Inmaking his argument Pargellis refersto the principle military manual of theperiod written by Humphrey Bland(Pargellis 1936: 253–269).

Practical military history can alsobe of assistance to historians takingthe new military history approach toarmies. They are studying armies asinstitutions and armies as institutionsare shaped by their function and thatfunction is to fight. The manner inwhich armies function, their practices,therefore have a direct bearing ontheir nature, on the form of the

institution, on its requirements andculture.

In addition to improving theunderstanding of academics ofmilitary history I believe that there areother benefits of Practical MilitaryHistory. As a result of my museumexperience I am only too aware thatthere is often a gulf between theacademic in a university and thesubject specialist curator in amuseum. The first is rarely concernedwith the material culture of war whilethe second often neglects the contextof that material. The nature of militarymaterial culture and the proceduresthat employ it are inextricably linked,each influences the other, thusPractical Military History can bridgethat divide between academic andcurator, university and museum to thebenefit of both.

Military history today is a subjectthat is frequently seen as politicallyincorrect and is consequentlyneglected, yet it has thousands of fans,reenactors. Reenactors are almost bydefinition most interested in militaryprocedure, as well as military materialculture, but they lack academic rigourin their activities and are often nottaken seriously by academics. Yet theyare enthusiastic supporters andadvocates of military history who canprovide opportunities for practicalresearch as well as being enthusiasticcustomers for its products.

Practical Military History is amissing field in the study of militaryhistory that could provide manybenefits. It is a vehicle through whichacademics, curators and reenactorscould be brought together to thebenefit of all parties and thestrengthening of the position ofmilitary history.

In concrete terms PracticalMilitary History has two parts, firstlearning and understanding thepractices of an army in a given periodand secondly applying that knowledgeto the study of military history. For anexample of how this might work it isconvenient to consider the BritishArmy of the mid-18th century. Asstated above, James Wolfe considered

Bland’s Military Discipline as a keywork for study by any new, juniorofficer. Hand in hand with this,however, went instruction from seniorNCOs and other officers. A study ofBland under the guidance of someonewho understands and is familiar withits contents would provide exactly thelevel of knowledge that Wolfe believedwas required. It would provide aworking knowledge of weapons, whichin turn would lead to an understandingof why they were deployed in the waythey were. This in turn would lead toknowledge of drill and tacticsincluding the correct contemporaryterminology. Such knowledge wouldenable the correct interpretation ofaccounts of battles and an analysis ofthe actions of participants rather thanthe more usual simple narrativeoutcome of a study. A knowledge ofweapons would also provide a goodlink into the material culture of theperiod.


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Military history today is asubject that is frequentlyseen as politicallyincorrect and isconsequently neglected,yet it has thousands offans, reenactors.


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In doing this Practical MilitaryHistory would improve ‘old’ militaryhistory and be in a position to make acontribution to the relatively new fieldof battlefield archaeology andinterpretation. For example,something as simple as understandinghow the New Model Army was paidhas already lead to an accuratestatement of that army’s strength andthus its deployment at Naseby(Blackmore 2003: 3; Evans 2007: 30,58–61). It could also help theinterpretation of warfare and itsassociated material culture inmuseums.

In addition to a combat orientatedknowledge this sort of study woulddeliver knowledge of what might betermed the non-combat practices ofthe army. This would result in aclearer understanding of the way oflife of soldiers, how and whycampaigns were conducted as theywere. This is where Practical MilitaryHistory could have a beneficial effecton ‘new’ military history. Mostobviously it would reveal practices thatwould impact on the local people,economy and landscape. A deeperunderstanding of a soldier’s way of lifewould lead to a greater level ofempathy. The social history aspect ofthe army would be more easilyunderstood.

It would not be possible to do morethan introduce students to the conceptof Practical Military History, having, asit does, an application to any army inany period. However, an effectiveintroduction could be achieved throughthe study of one army in one or twoperiods where contemporary materialis readily available along with thenecessary expertise to explain it. Mostobviously, in the United Kingdom, theEnglish Civil Wars and the mid-18thcentury suggest themselves aspossibilities. Contemporary material isreadily available through Early EnglishBooks on Line and Eighteenth CenturyCollections Online. There are anumber of English Civil War sitesready for study, particularly Nasebyand although a little remote thebattlefields Culloden has been subject

to considerable archaeological study inrecent years. Both sites are associatedwith contrasting museum projects. Inthe United Sates of America theAmerican War of Independence or theAmerican Civil War would provideopportunities for study. The 18thcentury would also provide richopportunities in Europe.

Whether undertaken as a part offormal university teaching or as adulteducation in museums PracticalMilitary History could only help todeepen understanding of past events.It can bring together bring togetheracademics, curators and re-enactorsin an alliance that could only benefitall involved and the subject of militaryhistory. As an approach to history thatcould be applied in other fields itoffers military history the opportunityto be at the forefront of history ratherthen the poor relation that no onetalks about.

ReferencesBlackmore D 2003 ‘Counting the New

Model Army’. Civil War Times: 58.Leigh on Sea.

Bland H 1727 Treatise of MilitaryDiscipline. London.

Chambers J W 1991 ConferenceReview Essay: The New MilitaryHistory: Myth and Reality. TheJournal of Military History: 55, 3(July).

Chandler D 1990 The Art of Warfare inthe age of Marlborough.Staplehurst.

Childs J 1991 The Nine Years’ War andthe British Army, 1688–1697.Manchester.

Evans M M 2007 Naseby 1645, TheTriumph of the New Model Army.Oxford.

Nosworthy B 1992 The Anatomy ofVictory, Battle Tactics 1689–1763.New York.

Nosworthy B 1997 Battle Tactics ofNapoleon and his Enemies.London, paper back edition.

Paret P 1991 ‘The New MilitaryHistory’. In Parameters, The USArmy’s Senior ProfessionalJournal.

Pargellis S 1936 ‘Braddock’s Defeat’.The American Historical Review:41, 2 (January).

Reid S 2000 Wolfe, The Career ofGeneral James Wolfe fromCulloden to Quebec. Staplehurst.

Tatum W P 2007 ‘Challenging the NewMilitary History: The Case ofEighteenth-Century British ArmyStudies’. History Compass: 5, 1.

Whether undertaken asa part of formaluniversity teaching or asadult education inmuseums PracticalMilitary History couldonly help to deepenunderstanding of pastevents


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The medal collection of the Royal Museumof the Armed Forces and of Military History,Brussels

Guy DeploigeMedals collection administrator

The Royal Museum of the ArmedForces and of Military History in

Brussels safeguards a very extensiveand varied heritage. One of the lesser-known sub-collections is that of thehonorary distinctions.

The collection is extremelydiversified, both chronologically andgeographically. It contains military aswell as civil distinctions attributed toordinary soldiers, officers ordistinguished personalities alike.Curiously enough, an entire life can bepieced together through thesehonorary distinctions. The medals anddistinctions indeed often pinpointdecisive steps in a career.

One of the most remarkableensembles – probably also the largestone – dates back to the Napoleonicera. Collectors refer to these items asthe Brouwet collection.

Right: Order of the Golden Fleece,Austrian branch. 200045

Below left: Breast Star of Grand Cross ofthe Order of Saint-Henry of Saxony fromGeneral Reynier 1771–1814. 200120

Below right: Breast Star of Grand Cross ofthe Order of Westphalia (1809–13) 200155

The collection isextremely diversified,both chronologically andgeographically. Itcontains military as wellas civil distinctionsattributed to ordinarysoldiers, officers ordistinguishedpersonalities alike.


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The public keeps extending theMuseum’s collection in this fieldthrough donations and gifts. Theinstitution then tries to identify thebeneficiary, to determine the reasonfor the award and to document theinformation and store the data forfuture generations. Nominativedistinctions are always accepted,regardless of the numbers of similardistinctions the Museum mightalready possess. We indeed estimatethat the Museum also has to act as akind of archive in this respect.Honorary distinctions are personalobjects received for exceptionalreasons and this fully justifies theirsafeguarding.

Above: Knight Cross and box of the RoyalOrder of Holland (1807–08) of Baron deSénégra. 200161-200199

Right: Knight Cross of the Order of the TwoSicilies (1808–09) period Joseph Bonapart.200166


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Above: Officers Cross of the Legion ofHonour and Knight of the Iron Crown ofItaly (First French Empire) of GeneralSubervie. 200271

Above right: Knight Cross of the Order ofSpain (1800–14) periode Joseph Bonapart.200176

Right: Axe of Honor (1797–1802) given toMr Hennequin for action near Boulogne on15 August 1801. 200185


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The Museum also purposivelyacquires pieces. In these cases weespecially focus on Belgian history andon a Belgian link with regard to themanufacturer, the recipient or thejewel.

We recently bought somesignificant items.

The first is a set of distinctionsbelonging to Belgian Typhoon pilotPaul ‘Polo’ Cooreman, DFC, whoserved with the Royal Air Force 609squadron from 29 October 1943 to 6December 1944. On 3 August he wasshot down above Normandy. He is oneof the pilots claiming the air raid onfield marshal Rommel’s car on 17 July1944 in the vicinity of the Frenchvillage of Livarot in Normandy. PaulCooreman was awarded theDistinguished Flying Cross on 14 April1945 and therefore belongs to theexclusive group of Belgians havingreceived this exceptional distinction.

Another remarkable acquisition isa third class knight’s cross in themilitary Order of Maria Theresa(Austria) from the 18th century,attributed to a member of the vonBarco family. In the second half of the18th century present-day Belgium waspart of the Austrian Netherlands andsome members of the nobility receivedthis special honorary distinction.Amongst them, Charles-Joseph deLigne (1735–1814) and Charles-Antoine-Maximilien de Baillet(1737–1806). The first king of theBelgians, Leopold I, also received thethird class knighthood in that sameorder in 1814, for his contributions inthe Kulm battle (1813) and during theFrench military campaign (1814).

All photographs © Royal Museum ofthe Army and of Military History.Photographs: Guy Deploige

Above: RAF wing, Order of Leopold, Orderof the Crown, War Cross 40-45, EscapeCross, Medal of POW, DFC, Defence medal,1939–45 Star, Atlantic Star, France andGermany Star, Aircrew Star, Medal ofLiberation (France) of Captain P.Cooreman. 201200278-201200279

Right: Military Maria-Theresia Order.201200418


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Les collections d’armes du Musée Royal deMariemont (Belgique)

Corinne Gysbergh et Arnaud QuertinmontService numérisation Musée royal de Mariemont

Le Musée royal de Mariemont(Belgique) conserve une collection

méconnue de près de 300 armesprovenant des quatre coins du monde.Le Musée est né de la volonté d’unhomme, Raoul Warocqué (1870-1917),richissime homme d’affaire. Amateuréclairé, sa passion pour les collectionsl’entraîne des livres rares aux oeuvresreprésentatives des grandescivilisations d’Europe et d’Asie, àl’histoire de sa région, le Hainaut. Ilest également très impliqué dans lavie politique belge et dans le mécénatculturel. Ce sont, en effet, devéritables trésors que Raoul Warocquéa rassemblés au cours de sa vie,réunissant grâce à sa fortunecolossale des oeuvres convoitées parles plus grands musées du monde. Safamille a acquis le domaine deMariemont et y fit édifier son châteaupeu avant 1830. Dernier de la lignée etsans descendant, Raoul Warocqué,toujours dans son esprit dephilanthropie et dans sa volontéd’éducation permanente, légua sondomaine, son château et l’ensemblede ses collections à l’État belge pour

qu’il devienne un musée. Au sein decelui-ci, plusieurs pièces accueillaientles armes acquises au fil du temps parsa famille, dans les salles de ventes,au cours de voyages ou toutsimplement reçues en cadeau. Lespièces plus pondéreuses, comme lescanons, étaient exposées à l’extérieur,sur la façade arrière du château.

L’incendie qui ravagea le corps delogis le jour de Noël 1960, épargna fortheureusement la majeure partie descollections. Celles-ci furent dès lorsabritées dans un nouveau musée,inauguré en 1975 et construit parl’architecte belge Roger Bastin.Aujourd’hui, le Musée royal deMariemont, seul établissementscientifique de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, poursuit l’oeuvre de sonfondateur par l’étude et la mise envaleur, mais aussi l’enrichissement,des collections qui lui sont confiées.Le Musée s’est également investi dansde nombreux projets pilotes dontl’objectif est de rendre le patrimoineculturel toujours plus accessible aupublic et à la communautéscientifique. Parmi ceux-ci, la

numérisation de pans entiers de sescollections et la valorisation de cesressources de qualité grâce à leurmise en ligne sélective et performantetiennent une place importante. Desmilliers d’objets conservés etinventories numériquement, lacréation et le développement de troissites Internet majeurs pour lacompréhension d’un patrimoineculturel riche et diversifié, lacollaboration à d’ambitieux projetseuropéens et internationaux, desmilliers de visiteurs sur virtuels et detéléchargements web annuels, autantde projets rendus possibles,notamment, grâce à un subsideannuel de la Délégation générale à lanumérisation des patrimoinesculturels de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, en charge de la mise enoeuvre du Plan Pep's (Plan depréservation et exploitation despatrimoines).

Récemment, ce sont lescollections d’armes du Musée quiviennent d’être numérisées. Cellescidatent, majoritairement, des cinqderniers siècles et proviennent dumonde asiatique, d’Afrique du Nord,du Congo et d’Europe. Cet article sepropose de présenter quelques piecesoriginales de l’ensemble numérisé, defaçon à faire connaitre une collectionméconnue conservée au Musée royalde Mariemont.

Monde asiatiqueIntéressé par les philosophiesorientales, le grand mécène deMariemont ramène en 1910, lors d’unséjour en Extrême-Orient, un nombreconsidérable d’oeuvres chinoises etjaponaises. Parmi celles-ci plusieursarmes dont, notamment, des sabresde samouraï. Si le Musée possèdeplusieurs exemplaires de katana et dewakizashi, aucun daisho (associationdes deux armes) ne fut acquis parRaoul Warocqué.

Le premier exemple présenté estun wakizashi (sabre court) japonaisportant la signature du forgeron Gyodôet conservé sous le n° III.I.87. Il seprésente sous la forme d’une lameavec gorge de 43 cm (nagasa) réalisée


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Long de 27,5 cm, le poignard (yoroïtoshi ?) japonais inventorié sous le n°N.231, est un objet tout à faitremarquable. De forme cylindrique, ilse compose de deux parties : unelame en acier trempé de 16,4 cm et unfourreau de 19,5 cm. La surfaceextérieure offre un décor annelé. Laparticularité de cette arme est deprésenter un serpent, en relief,enroulé sur la totalité de la pièce. Unecordelette rouge est accrochée aufourreau.

en acier trempé, d’un habaki(manchette) en cuivre, d’une garde(tsuba) circulaire en fer et d’unepoignée en bois laqué (same)recouvert de galuchat, et décorée d’itoen coton brun clair. La pièce, d’unelongueur totale de 60,5 cm estaccompagnée d’un saya (fourreau) enbois recouvert de galuchat moucheténoir et blanc contenant un petitcouteau (kozuka) en fer. Le sageo decoton noir est malheureusementabîmé.

Au sein de cette collection setrouvent également des armesprovenant d’Inde. Ainsi ce katar, enacier et en cuivre inventorié sous le n°III.I.170. Ce poignard à lame large àdouble tranchant mesure 47 cm delong et est antérieur au 19e siècle. Lapartie centrale de la lame présente undécor, en incrustation dorée,d’éléphants et de motifs végétaux. Lemanche, caractéristique de ce genred’arme, est muni de deux traverses depréhension décorées des mêmesmotifs que la lame. Ce katar possèdela particularité d’être équipé d’unmécanisme permettant, lorsqu’onserre la paume de la main sur lesdeux traverses de la poignée, deséparer la lame en deux partiesexactement comme pourrait s’ouvrirune paire de ciseaux, ce qui dévoileune troisième lame, faisant alors de cepoignard une arme redoutable. Cetobjet est conservé dans un fourreau debois entièrement recouvert de cuirnoir (non illustré). Ce type de poignarda ceci de particulier que lorsqu'il estbrandi, sa lame est dans l'axelongitudinal du bras, dont il enconstitue, en quelque sorte, leprolongement naturel. Il permet ainside porter des coups d’estoc d’unegrande puissance.

Afrique du NordRaoul Warocqué s’intéresseégalement aux orfèvreries etcéramiques musulmanes etorientales. Céramiques et flyssakabyles, fusils ottomans et étendardsreligieux font ainsi également partiede ses collections.

Les jambiyas (terme arabegénérique pour les poignards de cetype) nord-africains, et spécialementceux du Maroc, se distinguent de ceuxdu reste du monde musulman par leurlame habituellement moins recourbéeet par le fait qu’elle comporte untranchant complet du côté de la

n° N.231

n° III.I.170

n° III.I.87


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courbe concave. En général, il existeun demi-tranchant (côté pointe) sur lacourbe convexe.

L’exemplaire III.I.161 fait partie decette catégorie d’objets. Il s’agit d’unekoummya, poignard traditionnel despopulations berbères du Maroc. D’unelongueur de 41 cm, il présente unelame en acier courbe, ornée de deuxrectangles avec croix en diagonalessur chaque face. La garde est unesimple manchette de fer enserrant lehaut de la lame. La poignée étroite etle pommeau en « queue de paon »sont en bois noir, ce dernier étantdécoré de demi-cercles en argent. Ilest également orné d’une bande decuivre sur sa tranche et prolongé parune tige surmontée d’une sphère encuivre. Le fourreau de 28 cm est encuir brun foncé. Il offre un décorrepoussé de motifs géométriques surune seule face, et renforcé de bandesde cuivre et de fils de cuivre tordus enforme de boucles simples ou doubles.Le dard du fourreau est plaqué d’unepièce de cuivre qui remontepartiellement sur les bords extérieurs.

Le flyssa III.I.54 est caractéristiquedes populations kabyles du 19e siècle.La lame, la poignée et le pommeaulatéral de ce « sabre » furent forgésd’une seule et même pièce de métalde 94 cm de long. La lame, droite,présente un tranchant orné sur lesdeux faces de divers motifsgéométriques (triangles barrésverticalement, zigzags, chevrons)rehaussés par endroits de cuivre. Le

manche est de section octogonale etest entièrement gravé de motifsgéométriques dont la moitié estplaquée de cuivre. Le pommeau, quantà lui, adopte la forme d’une têted’oiseau. L’arme est accompagnéed’un fourreau de bois (97 cm de long)dont l’une des faces est entièrementornée de motifs géométriques(zigzags, lignes ondulées, croix)disposés en bandes longitudinales ettransversales, le tout profondémentgravé dans le bois. Cinq cerclages encuivre disposés à intervalles réguliersmaintiennent l’ensemble.

CongoRaoul Warocqué s’est peu intéressé auCongo belge, tant en termed’investissement industriel etfinancier que d’un point de vuepurement artistique. Plusieurs objetsfigurent néanmoins au sein de ses

collections. Boucliers, peaux de bêtes,fétiches en bois, minéraux et armessont autant de souvenirs et decadeaux ramenés de voyages par sescompatriotes ou acquis chez desfournisseurs spécialisés comme c’estle cas pour les ivoires sculptés.

Bien que les pointes de sagaies etde flèches soient majoritaires, ce sonttrois objets tout à fait originaux quiseront présentés.

Le premier est une tête de hached’apparat, inventoriée sous le n°H.36.30. Cette pièce,vraisemblablement issue de la tribudes Songyé, mesure 27,7 cm de longet 22,4 cm de large. La structureprincipale est composée de trois tiges.La première, droite et centrale, estdécorée d’une tête anthropomorphetandis que les deux tiges extérieuress’évasent pour donner à la pièce laforme d’un calice. Elles portent

n° III.I.161 n° H.36.30

n° III.I.54


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également une tête similaire maiscette fois-ci sur le côté extérieur. Cestrois axes sont solidarisés à leursommet par une lame large etconvexe, pointue à ses extrémités.Partant de la base, deux autres tigesvrillées et également décorées d’unetête humaine se solidarisent sous lalame par un subril jeu de torsades.Les traits du visage sont typiques decette tribu du Congo. Les yeux sontdes demi-cercles incisés dans lemétal, le nez est en forme de triangle,la bouche est un simple traithorizontal et quelques traits sontincisés au niveau du menton.

Le tranchet en fer H.90.16 estcaractéristique des tribusNgbandi/Yakoma et Ngombe, raisonpour laquelle il est difficile de luipréférer une provenance à une autre.Seule la lame, d’une longueur de 37,3cm, est authentique. La majeure partiedes collections congolaises de RaoulWarocqué a souffert de l’incendie duchâteau familial en 1960, raison pourlaquelle les manches de ces objetssont soit manquant, soit desrestitutions. La longe tige massive desection triangulaire sortant du manchese divise en deux parties qui serejoignent à la base de la lame. Cettezone est décorée de petits points et decercles concentriques. La lame s’évasealors, les tranchants se réunissantassez brusquement en formant unangle de chaque côté. Une arêtemédiane, décorée de petits points,divise la lame en deux parties obliques.Un petit trou circulaire est placé sur lapartie sommitale de celle-ci.

Bien que traditionnellement, cegenre de ngulu en fer soit catégoriséen « couteau d’exécution », il est plusvraisemblable qu’il s’agisse d’unearme d’apparat. En effet, des objetssimilaires en bois et donc nontranchants ont également étédécouverts. Caractéristique despopulations Lobala, Nzombo etNgbandi, ce ngulu inventorié H.90.19et dont la lame mesure 45 cm de long,se présente sous la forme d’une lameen fer à deux tranchants avec unelégère arête centrale. À 25 cm delongueur, elle se dédouble pourformer deux arcs de cercle sur le restede sa longueur. Au centre, la lame seprolonge sur 5 cm donnant au ngulul’aspect d’un personnage aux brasarqués au-dessus de la tête. Cetteidentification anthropomorphe ne faitcependant pas l’unanimité auprès deschercheurs. Des chevrons sont gravéstout le long de l'arête centrale et lelong de la courbe intérieure de l’arc decercle.

EuropeLe château de Mariemont, construitpeu après 1830 comportait une « salled’armes ».

Parmi cette incroyable collectiond’armes européennes, nous avonschoisi de mettre en avant cinq piècesreprésentatives de la diversité qui lacaractérise.

De nombreuses armes à feuétaient exposées dans la salled’armes, ainsi cette paire de pistoletsà silex anglais datant du 18e siècle etmunis de leur baguette écouvillon.L’exemplaire III.I.196 provient de cette

paire. Mesurant 64 cm de long, ilprésente un canon d’acier de sectionronde (diam. 1,8 cm) sur les troisquarts de sa longueur totale, ledernier quart, côté crosse, étant desection octogonale. La platine de miseà feu en acier porte, du côté du chien,l’inscription Beckwith surmontéed'une couronne impériale. La crosseest entourée d’un enroulement de fild’argent torsadé, les garnitures decrosse et les capucines sont en tôled’argent repoussée de motifs végétauxstylisés. La crosse et l’affût sont enchêne teinté. La baguette dechargement est une tige d’acier (L.40,2 cm) à garnitures d'argent.

Les épées, rapières et autresfleurets constituaient le noyau descollections présentées. L’un des plusbeaux exemplaires est sans contestela schiavone III.I.75 datant du 16e ou17e siècle et provenant d’Italie (Venise?). La lame en acier, de 91,5 cm, estdroite et à deux tranchants. Un légerricasso est présent sous la garde etune gouttière d’allègement courtdepuis ce ricasso jusqu’au quart de lalame. La poignée de bois estentièrement recouverte d’un fil de fertorsadé alternant avec un fil de ferbrut. La garde et le pommeau sontornés d’une virole de fer. Le pommeauoffre la forme caractéristique d’uneschiavone, c’est-à-dire s’évasantcomme un pavillon de trompette etmuni, en finale, d’une pièce de métaltrilobée. La garde en métal,enveloppant toute la main, estconstituée de nombreux quillons luidonnant la forme d’un panier. Lalongueur totale de cette pièce est de

n° H.90.16

n° H.90.19

n° III.I.196


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106 cm. Le fourreau amalheureusement disparu.

D’autres armes, provenant desquatre coins de l’Europe, constituaientégalement une partie importante decette collection. C’est le cas d’unétonnant dirk écossais du 19e siècle,inventorié III.I.138 et composé dequatre parties. Tout d’abord unfourreau de bois recouvert de cuir noir(32,5 cm de long). Celui-ci se divise entrois compartiments distincts etsuperposés de tiers en tiers.L’embouchure du fourreau est cercléed’une large virole d’argent ornée d'une

croix trilobée et d’un écusson (vide) aucentre. Les embouchures des autrescompartiments portent de semblablesviroles, décorées de même, maisl’écusson est remplacé par un damiercirculaire. Le dard de fourreau estorné à l’identique et se termine enboule. Vient ensuite une dague enacier chromé de 29,5 cm, à lametriangulaire à tranchants, le reste dudos de la lame étant cranté. Elleprésente une gorge longitudinale, delongueur égale à la partie crantée, surchaque face. La poignée est en boissculpté de fins sillons entrecroisés. Lagarde est remplacée par une viroled’argent gravée d’ellipses contenantune croix trilobée. Le pommeau estcerclé d’une virole d’argent ornée d’unmotif en zigzag. Un cabochoncirculaire en verroterie blanche coiffeson sommet. Les deux dernierséléments composant cet ensemblesont une fourchette à deux dents et unpetit couteau dont la lame, crantée,est brisée. Tous deux sont en boissculpté comme celui de la dague etcoiffé d’un cabochon identique.

Le kindjal est une armetraditionnelle du Caucase. Le motvient d’ailleurs du russe et sert àdésigner un poignard, quel qu’en soitle type. Utilisé à la fois comme armeet comme outil, il constitue unélément majeur du costumetraditionnel des hommes de cetterégion. Dans le cas qui nous occupe,ce poignard typique présente une lamedroite à deux tranchants, comportantune gouttière d’allègement,emmanchée dans une poignée en os

ou en bois. C’est en ce sens que lekindjal III.I.148 (longueur totale 34,5cm), provenant vraisemblablement deGéorgie, est caractéristique de cetterégion. Sa lame (22 cm) est droite etprésente deux tranchants. Deuxgorges longitudinales sont aménagéesau centre de la lame, sur chacune desfaces. La lame est également décoréede motifs végétaux damasquinés. Lapoignée, la garde et le pommeau sontfaits d’un seul tenant constitué deplaques d’os rivés directement sur lasoie de la pièce. Le fourreau (long de23 cm) qui accompagne la pièce est enbois, recouvert sur le tiers central desa longueur de velours violet. Un tiersdu fourreau est cerclé d’une longuevirole de cuivre gravée d’un côté d'unmédaillon en losange renfermant uneinscription. Le dard de fourreau,également en cuivre, occupe le derniertiers de la pièce. Il est orné surchaque face d’un médaillon enlosange renfermant un trèfle.

C’est donc une grande variétéd’origines, de formes et d’usages quicaractérise la collection d’armesléguée par Raoul Warocqué. Celle-citémoigne, à qui en douterait encore,de la curiosité et de l’intérêt portéspar ce grand mécène aux cultures etpatrimoines des différentescivilisations mondiales.

Mentions légales : toutes les imagessont © Musée royal de Mariemontsauf laphotographique qui appartient à unecollection privée

n° III.I.75

n° III.I.75

n° III.I.148

n° III.I.138


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Arms and armour in Shropshire museums

Robert Smith, Ruth Brown and Guy Wilson

In the last issue of the MAGAZINE,Guy Wilson wrote a short tribute to

Jeremy Hall who died last year.Jeremy was the photographer at theRoyal Armouries for many years andproduced many iconic images of thecollections. He retired from theArmouries in 1996 and he and hisfamily moved back to their familyhome just outside Ludlow in

Shropshire, England. During hisretirement he and his wife Jane,started to catalogue the collection ofarms and armour in the museum inLudlow. Over the next few yearsJeremy photographed many of thepieces and, together, they started togather together the information ofeach piece that would form the basisfor a catalogue. Unfortunately

Jeremy’s untimely death led to theproject coming to a halt. However,while travelling to his funeral, wedecided to offer to continue the workand publish the catalogue in memoryof Jeremy and the work he did at theArmouries and in his home town overmany years. We returned to Ludlow inautumn 2011 and put our plan to Janeand the staff at Ludlow Museum. Theidea was enthusiastically approved andwe are now planning a catalogue andpublication of the arms and armourcollections not only in Ludlow but inShrewsbury Museum as well. Sincelate 2011 we have visited the collectionand have completed the remainingphotography and started documentingthe pieces.

The collections come from the twomain museums in Shropshire, Ludlowand Shrewsbury. Both towns aremedieval in origin and both havemuseums which were founded in the19th century. Their collections of armsand armour are primarily theaccumulations of materials, mainlydonations and gifts, over the pastcentury and a half and there with littlecoherent collecting policy. The resultis a mixture of important piecestogether with the more mundane andplain with a small number of orientalpieces.

The collection is varied and rangesin date from the Bronze Age to theSecond World War. There are a fewinteresting pieces of armour, two fineWrexham bucklers , some good 17thcentury fighting swords, a variedcollection of spurs, some 17th centuryEnglish crossbows and a number ofinteresting firearms. The guns includea mid-17th century English dog lockmusket, a shotgun by AlexanderForsyth with his percussion scentbottle lock, a fine flintlock shotgun byManton, a rare single barrelledshotgun by Ezekiel Baker with twolocks that work simultaneously to firethe charge in the barrel, and a finecased Adams self-cocking revolver.

We are now working, together witha number of colleagues, on thecollection and hope to produce thecatalogue in late 2013.

Working on the collection in Ludlow Resource Centre.


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Mid-15th century rowel spur. Late 15th century pollaxe.

Early 17th century English sportingcrossbow.

We returned to Ludlow in autumn 2011 and put ourplan to Jane and the staff at Ludlow Museum. Theidea was enthusiastically approved and we are nowplanning a catalogue and publication of the armsand armour collections not only in Ludlow but inShrewsbury Museum as well.


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Shotgun made by Alexander Forsyth withhis percussion scent bottle lock.


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Cased Adams Model 1851 self-cocking revolver byDeane Adams & Deane, about 1854

A rare single barrelled flintlock shotgunwith two locks by Ezekiel Baker


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Matchlock jezail, Afghan, 19th century

Kris, probably from Java

British basket-hilted sword,early 17th century

The Camel: Oman’s secret weapon

Ruth Rhynas Brown

With its 1,700 kilometre longcoastline, mountains and deserts

and its varied climate – the drier northand the monsoon south – Oman is richin animal, bird and marine life; one ofour most delightful memories ofOman is of crabs scuttling along thestrand while dolphins bobbed in thesea behind on coast near Salala.Oman has a number of importantconservation initiatives for endangeredspecies such as the Arabian leopardand the white oryx. You will be lucky tobe able to see any of these rarebeasts, but one of the most impressiveanimals you are very likely to meet is

Camels are well equipped by nature tocope with life in the hostile environmentof the desert; their bodies are able towithstand severe changes in bodytemperature which would kill othercreatures, while their thick coats shieldthem from the heat and they can losemuch of their body weight and stillsurvive. Their long eyelashes and thehairs round their ears and nostrils helpkeep out sand and that distinctive gaitand their wide hooves enable them towalk across sands without sinking. Theirmouths are strong enough to chewthorny desert plants and they can drawmoisture from greenery. Their averagelife expectancy is 40 to 50 years.

Camels were domesticated fortravel and transportation of people andgoods. The Queen of Sheba is said tohave travelled by camel from her landsin southern Oman to the court of King


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the camel, walking with its distinctivestately gait or nibbling fastidiously onsome roadside bush. Camel herds aremore common in the south but theycan still be found in the north, nearMuscat and Nizwa, too. Omani camelsare of medium size; the camels of thesouthern region of Dhofar are usuallyblack while camels from the north arelighter in colour.

The Omani camel is the one-humpdromedary, first domesticated in thesouthern part of the Arabia about 4,000years ago. It is a myth that the camelstores water in its hump; instead this isa useful reservoir of fatty tissue.


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Solomon. For much of Oman’s terrain,particularly the Rub' al Khali (the EmptyQuarter) in the interior, camels are stilla practical transport, both for humansand for goods and the possession ofcamel herds were a source of statusand wealth. Camels also supply food:camel milk, rich in vitamins, is a stapleof the Bedu diet and can also be madeinto a yoghurt drink, while the carcassalso provides a variety of halal meatsand cuts for nomads.

The camel is often associated withthe Bedu, nomads who live in theArabian Deserts. Wilfred Thesiger inhis classic, Arabian Sands, describesthe mutual love between the Bedu andtheir camels, noting how they couldidentify not only types, but evenindividual camels from their tracks inthe sand. In the evenings his guidesoften talked for hours round the fireabout favourite camels and theirhabits and pedigrees.

Here every man knew theindividual tracks of his own camels,and some of them could rememberthe tracks of nearly every camel theyhad seen. They could tell at a glancefrom the depth of the footprintswhether a camel was ridden or free,and whether it was in calf. By studyingstrange tracks they could tell the areafrom which the camel came. (Thesiger2007: 66)

Camels were used in war; warriorswielded spears, bows or guns from

their backs, better adapted to thesandy terrain than horses, once themilitary saddled had been developed.They were deployed as early as 853 BCin the Battle of Qargar and continuedin use in Arabian warfare through thecenturies. They could also be used totransport stores; even in the 20thcentury, camel trains were being usedto smuggle in weapons.

Camel racing is still a popularsport in Oman. They can reach speedsof up 64 kilometres per hour onspecially built tracks where races areheld regularly. In Oman, the RoyalCamels Unit is responsible for allaspects related to the breeding, care,nutrition, health, training, and tamingof camels belonging to His Majesty.

In the museums you will also see

items connected with the camel.These include colourfully woven andembroidered saddle cloths and bags,saddles and specially developed gunsfor shooting from atop camels.

Finally you will be able to takehome your own souvenir of Oman’scamel culture. Even today you will stillOmani drivers with car keys decoratedwith elaborately woven straps andsparkling fringes and tassels, thedescendents of the colourfultraditional trappings of the camel.They are still made and sold by Beduwomen; every time you unlock yourcar you will be reminded of the camelsof Oman.Wilfred Thesiger: Arabian Sands.2007(Penguin Classics).

Camels are well equippedby nature to cope with lifein the hostile environmentof the desert; their bodiesare able to withstandsevere changes in bodytemperature which wouldkill other creatures

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