The Mapping Museum research project was created to look at the increase in the number of museums in the UK. As part of this project, Melanie Marsh was interviewed about the Rifles Museum.

Explore more about the Mapping Museum project here and read Marsh's interview below:

Interview summary

Name of person being interviewed: Melanie Marsh

Location of interview: Rifles Regimental Headquarters, Winchester

Date of Recording: 22 November 2018

Recording Length: 00:57:01

Name of interviewer: Dr Toby Butler

Description: The Rifles Museum in Winchester is the regimental museum of The Rifles, the largest infantry regiment in the British Army formed from four regiments and established in 2007; the museum has a relatively modern focus, including recent campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan

Summary of main points in interview: Melanie Marsh is the curator and museum manager, first employed as collections curator in 2012. The exhibition space was made available following the move of the Light Infantry Museum to Cornwall in 2010.

She outlines the history of the regiment, forming in 2007 from four regiments with connections to the region, each of which has its own museum (which still exists). This means that their collections remit starts strictly in 2007, hence the contemporary feel of the space.

The curators were advised by a regimental heritage committee, and "wish lists" were sent to battalions on active service, requesting uniforms, equipment, and people willing to take part in oral history interviews about Iraq and Afghanistan. Once the museum was established it became easier as the regiment became more aware of the collection and the need for significant items.

Marsh discusses the five core audiences for military museums: regimental members, their families, military enthusiasts, family history researchers, and academic researchers. They are looking to engage with the local community, particularly families. This is helped by having six museums on or near the site [Winchester Military Museums]. She outlines the history of the site.

The museum gallery was designed to tell stories from individuals, alongside the information on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, so most objects are linked to personal stories, using quotations and oral history. A temporary exhibition space has new themed exhibitions every six months. Marsh discusses the regimental identity. Having worked for the National Trust, Marsh finds it exciting to work on a new museum for a young regiment, and says the regiment is good at sharing and promoting events for the museum.

A memorial cross made from wooden pallets from Afghanistan came over from Camp Bastion was offered by the MOD and she noticed people were leaving poppies and spending contemplative time near it, particularly around Remembrance day, so they provided chairs and developed the area with portraits of the fallen and personal items donated by families, including a Torah.

Marsh outlines the roles of various museum networks/support organisations: the Southern Army Museums Network (MOD-funded museums in the area); the Rifles Museum Network; Army Museums Ogilby Trust (all UK army museums); the National Army Museum. The museum was accredited in July 2018, and she found the process really useful in terms of considering museum development and resilience. This included discussing independence and finally establishing the museum as a charitable trust.

TRANSCRIPT ONLY; NO AUDIO FILE PROVIDED