The Museum website is presently averaging 1,560 visitors a month with around 150 having previously visited the website earlier in the month. The immediate aim is to double that number by adding to the interest and appeal of the site and publicising its existence and use more widely.

DIGITIZATION PROJECT COMPLETE

 A £40,000 project to computer-catalogue the Museum’s archive collection, including scanning 25,000 photographs digitally, which began in May 2007, was completed on 23 January 2009. This has greatly increased the ease and speed with which material can be accessed for use by researchers and represents a major step forward in improving the Museum’s standards of documentation – a key requirement to retaining the status of an accredited museum. 50% of the cost was funded by the Museum and 50% from non-public grants, legacies and other contributions.

REAL VISITORS DOWN 3% BUT RECORD ATTENDANCE AT EVENING TALKS

The Museum welcomed 11,926 visitors through its doors in 2008, a 3.5% fall on visitor numbers in 2007 (12,354). However, a record attendance of 480 people at the Museum’s ever-popular evening talks more than made up the shortfall. See “What’s On” for details of this year’s programme of evening talks.

LIGHT INFANTRY MUSEUM CLOSES

The Light Infantry Museum adjoining the RGJ Museum has closed. The Museum collection is being moved for display at the DCLI Museum, Bodmin, in Cornwall. The space vacated is presently being prepared for use by The Rifles as an Information Display area with a scheduled completion date in mid-2009.

HINES MEDAL APPEAL SUCCESS LEADS TO NEW MUSEUM DISPLAY ABOUT EL ALAMEIN AND THE PART PLAYED BY THE SNIPE (KIDNEY RIDGE) ACTION

The success of the Hines’ medal appeal and the subsequent successful purchase at auction on 24 October 2008 of the MM & Bar medal group awarded to Sgt Hines, including for his gallantry in 2 RB’s heroic action at Kidney Ridge (‘Snipe’) on 27 October 1942 during the Battle of El Alamein, has prompted others to donate ‘Snipe’ gallantry awards to the Museum. The Museum Trustees are especially grateful to the family of the late Sgt Swann for donating his DCM medal group to the Museum. Major Tom Bird has also pledged to donate his DSO and MC medal group, and the Museum is hoping to receive further medal groups from others. A new Museum display, including new graphics and a medals display case with detailed information about the events leading up to and during the Battle of El Alamein including the ‘Snipe’ action, is due to be unveiled in mid-May 2009.