Museum exhibition pays tribute to Rifles (From Salisbury Journal)

Museum exhibition pays tribute to Rifles

12:59pm Thursday 13th May 2010 in Entertainments By Anne Morris

CONFLICT in Afghanistan is nothing new, and the Rifles Regiment’s involvement has been traced from 1880 and the Battle of Maiwand to present day in a fascinating exhibition at The Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum in The Close.

The exhibition, entitled quite simply, Afghanistan, has been lovingly curated by Jackie Dryden, who has meticulously collected together the museum’s various artefacts and photographs to put on the display as you enter the museum.

Film footage of life on the frontline in present day Afghanistan for C Company, 1st Battalion, The Rifles, can be seen on a ten minute loop, and you can also see examples of weapons used in the 19th century as well as today.

One of the most popular exhibits is of Bobbie, the little mongrel dog who was wounded during the Battle of Maiwand. The British were defeated by Afghan tribesmen and the whole of the Berkshire Regiment who took part in the battle were killed, except for Bobbie, who later received a medal from Queen Victoria at Osborne House. You can read Bobbie’s story in full at the museum.

The mayor of Salisbury, Bobbie Chettleburgh, opened the exhibition on Thursday.

This exhibition is a fitting tribute to the soldiers of the Rifles Regiment and their antecedent regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire, who have fought in battles past and present in the country, and will appeal to all ages and is thoroughly recommended.

The Rifles Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm and the exhibition runs until next year.