Postcard, L’hotel des postes, boulogne-sur-mer, about 1914

A postcard showing a black and white image of L'hotel des postes at boulogne-sur-mer, From "Jim"? who was " Just off now had a grand crossing". It is not dated but Jim's hand written note "On Active Service" and being stamped with 'passed field censor' shows that it was sent during World War 1. It is addressed to Bell Farm, Clewer Hill, Windsor. Boulogue-sur-mer was one of the main ports for Briti

Letter to Doris Mellor during WW1, paper, 1917.

A letter from a German Prisoner of War camp, from T.R.Kirkpatrick to Miss Doris Mellor, dated 3rd July 1917. The letter has been heavily censored, with one whole page missing. We do not know who Kirkpatrick was or what happened to him. During her final years, she was Secretary of the Landscape sub-committee of the Windsor and Eton Society, and was a tireless campaigner against insensitive developm

Buckle, Royal Household Cavalry, between 1910-1952

A buckle in the shape of a royal coat of arms, worn on the white buckskin belt of Royal Household Cavalry with No.2 Dress uniform. Thought to be early to mid 20th century, 1910-1952,as the crown on top is male, not a female crown and so would have been worn during the reign of George V and/or George VI.

Helmet, Maidenhead Cavalry, about 1815

This black Tarleton helmet with the red and white plumage belonged to a member of The Maidenhead Cavalry: a voluntary cavalry regiment raised as part of a home-defence unit during the Napoleonic Wars. Of course, Napoleon never crossed the English Channel so the Maidenhead Cavalry never actually had to do any proper fighting, as such. They did, however, patrol the notorious Maidenhead Thicket area;

French Cockade, about 1815

Picked up on the battlefied of Waterloo, three weeks after the battle on the 18th June 1815. the site became a tourist destination the day after the battle. In 1820, King William I of the Netherlands ordered the construction of a monument, a large mound called The Lion's Hillock. George IV of England visited the battlefield and was shown around the site by the Duke of Wellington.

Helmet, Royal Berkshire Yeomanry. dated about 1900

The Helmet has a detachable plume of hair and was stored in a tin which is also in the museum collection. The tin is painted with the name of the soldier who owned it 'Percy Simpson. Royal Berkshire Yeomanry' (see 1178.93.3) . Simpson was a vet from Maidenhead who was in Egypt during WW1. the helmet is thought to be dated about 1900.

Helmet tin, dated about 1900

Brown painted helmet tin painted 'Percy Simpson. Royal Berkshire Yeomanry'. We also have the helmet in the Museum collection (see 1178.93.1-2) Simpson was a vet from Maidenhead who was in Egypt during WW1. the tin and helmet are thought to be dated about 1900.

Carte-de-viste, circa 1860

Portrait photograph, in its own marroon leather case, of a young Prince Alfred, Second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Duke of Edinburgh and later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He is wearing naval uniform and also two large medals or brooches on his uniform on his left, A star shaped medal, similar to the (Order of the) Garter Star which might be The Ernestine Order of Saxe-Coberg-Gotha(

Commorative medallion, about 1919

Given to the parents of Henry Douglas Ashman, one of two bronze memorial medallions awarded for the deaths of brothers Henry Douglas Ashman and Cyril Arthur Ashman. Design on front is of Britannia standing and lion, inscribed He died for freedom and honour, and the name of the person to whom awarded posthumously. These medallions were nicknamed 'The Dead Man's Penny'

Commorative medallion, about 1919

Bronze medallion awarded to the parents of Cyril Arthur Ashman, one of two bronze memorial medallions awarded after World War 1 for the deaths of their sons Henry Douglas Ashman died and Cyril Arthur Ashman. Design on front is of Britannia standing and lion, inscribed 'He died for freedom and honour', with the name of the person for whom it was awarded. These medallions were nicknamed 'The Dead Ma

Part of Dornier Aeroplane (German) about 1941

Crushed remains of part of a Dornier German aeroplane which crashed in Maidenhead in 1941. The Dornier was designed in the early 30s and along with the Heinkel was the main bomber type used by the German air force (Luftwaffe) during World War II from 1939-45. The surviving part is an oxygen regulating valve, probably from a Dornier DO17 Z-3. Because of its narrow shape and distinctive nose cone

Order of service, Armistice Memorial Service, 1919

Booklet of order of service for the memorial service at County Boys School, Windsor. local man Cyril Ashman, who's commemorative medallion is held in the museum collection, had been a pupil there and his name was read out at the service.

Framed medals, 1855-1897

Five medals arranged in a circular frame, inscribed 'Coldstream Guards, Nulli Secundus'. Jubilee Medal 1897; Army Meritorious Service Medal; Crimean War (1853 - 1856) Medal with 4 clasps: Sebastapol, Inkerman, Balaklava and Alma; Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal and the Turkish Crimea Medal, 1855. Sgt. Green was a gatekeeper at the Double Gates, Long Walk, Windsor Great Park

Painting, oil, of Sgt. Green, about 1860

Sergeant Green is wearing his Crimean War Medals. The miniature painting, painted over a photograph. Sgt.Green served with the Coldstream Guards in the Crimea. Sgt. Green was a gatekeeper at the Double Gates, Long Walk, Windsor Great Park

Bayonet, 1853-1856

Bayonet from the Crimean War period 1853-1856. It can be attached to the barrel of a gun so that the gun and the bayonet could be used like a spear during battle. We do not have the gun that this would have attached to in our museum collection.

Sabre, circa 1800s

A cavalryman’s curved steel sabre with incised military decoration, including the Royal Coat of Arms, a Dragoon, and a display of drums, flags, hatchets and helmets. It is likely that this sabre was a ceremonial piece, on account of its decoration, and can be dated to just after the 1800s. We can infer the date from the Royal Arms, which is missing the once familiar fleur-de-lis. George III remo

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