The Department's collections include over 80,000 items of uniform and other garments dating from the mid-17th century to the present day, comprising not only one of the world's largest collections of male costume, but also a significant assemblage of female military attire. The many highlights include the blood-stained ruff of King William III’s coat, worn at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, and a fine helmet taken from Tipu Sultan's palace after the capture of Seringapatam in 1799.
In addition, the Department holds approximately 800 colours, guidons and flags and 200 shabraques. There are over 250,000 badges, and 20,000 medals, including 38 Victoria Crosses and one of the earliest VC castings.
Address: National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HT
Head of Department: Gill Brewer
gbrewer@national-army-museum.ac.uk
Department Email: ubm@national-army-museum.ac.uk
Researching Medals
The following books will provide background information about the medals which your ancestor was awarded:
‘British Battles and Medals’ by J Hayward, D Birch and R Bishop
Spink, London (2006), ISBN 1 902040 77 5
‘Ribbons and Medals’ by H Taprell Dorling
Osprey, London (1983), ISBN 0 85045 516 2
The Medal Yearbook, edited by James Mackay and published annually by Token Publishing is a useful source of information.
Enquiries
The National Army Museum will try to answer specific questions relating to its Collections. If you are researching the military career of a relative please visit our Research Tips page.
General enquiries about the Collections can be sent by e-mail to info@national-army-museum.ac.uk. Please remember to include your postal address on all e-mail enquiries to allow for the prompt dispatch of material, if appropriate. Please also bear in mind that the Museum receives a large number of enquiries, so it may not be possible to respond to e-mails immediately. All enquiries, in whatever form, are dealt with by the departments in the order of their receipt.
Museum staff are not permitted to give valuations: these may be obtained instead from an auction house or a specialist dealer.
The Museum may lend artefacts only to Registered (or the equivalent) museums for Special Exhibitions, for a maximum period of a year and subject to specific Conditions of Loan.
Ordering copy photographs from the National Army Museum
Copy photographs of items in the Collections can be supplied, providing that copyright of the image is held by the Museum. Please note that, under current EU legislation, copyright remains with the artist or photographer of a work for 70 years after their death and that, in these cases, the Museum cannot supply any reproductions, for any reason.
For more information about ordering copy photographs, please contact the Museum’s Photographic Department by e-mail to photo@national-army-museum.ac.uk, by telephone on 020 7730 0717 extension 2324, or by fax on 020 7823 6573.
