[C]umbria’s Museum of Military Life in Carlisle Castle will be posing the question at their Autumn Exhibition “Lest we Forget” which opens at the Museum on Saturday 8 September.
As the nation turns its thoughts to remembering with the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice on 11th November 1918 fast approaching this exhibition has been created to look at “Remembrance” in its broadest sense. The exhibition will focus on people and what they have done, our servicemen and women, the dead, those who have been injured, those who have served and came home, their families and all those affected by conflict and related events.
The South African or Second Boer War (1899-1902) hugely influenced remembrance. Soldiers from every Regiment and Corps in the Army served in the largest deployment since the Napoleonic Wars. Included in the exhibition is a Roll of Honour from that war made by Ramsden and Carr in 1904 featuring the men from Carlisle and Cumberland that served in the Imperial Yeomanry Cavalry. The bronze panel has never before been seen on public display and was previously located at the Old Drill Hall, Strand Road, opposite Trinity School in Carlisle.
The exhibition explores the First World War and the huge impact it had on society that changed how we remember and commemorate. It still has an influence on how we remember today. Many bereaved families who had no grave as a focus for their grief formed committees to create a monument for commemoration. Some chose a functional memorial such as a school, sports pavilion, community hall such as Dalston Victory Hall, or hospital like Brampton War Hospital or garden such as the Memorial Park in Aspatria. The Fell and Rock Climbing Club plaque at the summit of Great Gable, remembers Club Members who died in the war.
Stuart Eastwood, Curator of the Exhibition said: “Remembrance today is as significant as it was 100 years ago. The Lest we Forget Exhibition is an opportunity to use our extensive collections includes medals, personal portraits, items and documents, letters, books and illustrations and remind people of the relevance of remembrance today.”
Alongside the exhibition the Museum will be running a series of events including a Tuesday Talks programme. A Family Research Day offering advice and information on how to start researching your family tree will be held on Saturday 6 October and the launch of Thursday Movie Night at the Museum with a licensed bar on 20 September (A Bridge too Far), 18 October (Mrs Miniver) and 22 November (Journey’s End).
For further information on the Exhibition and associated events please contact Jules Wooding at Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life on (01228) 532774 or email Jules.wooding@cmoml.org.
