Gallery Decant – Part 6

Deinstalling the Worcestershire Soldier Gallery…

One key theme of the former Worcestershire Soldier Gallery was the development of soldiers’ clothing/equipment from the regiments’ inception to modern day, and how uniforms have adapted for different campaigns. By looking at Officers’ and Other Ranks’ uniforms, we can discern the climate and conditions of a campaign, as well as the rank and status of the wearer.

During the final days of deconstructing the exhibition, our museum team removed all mannequins from their cases, stripped them of their uniform and equipment, and carefully tagged and catalogued every item down to the shoes and tie. Everything was then wrapped in acid free paper and packaged in an archive box or Tyvek garment bag.

The process of cleaning and condition checking every item of uniform before storage provided the opportunity to inspect the collections’ textiles and fabrics for any damage or deterioration. It also allowed our museum team to take a look at any particularly interesting items; some for the first time. This further led to a handful of new discoveries!

Some additional objects were uncovered which had been secured to some uniforms or left in equipment belts, never before seen or catalogued…

A shovel and entrenching tool were found in the equipment belt of the museum’s WWII Officer’s Battledress Jacket. This had not been seen since the gallery was originally installed in 2003. Once found, our Collections Manager tagged, condition checked and accessioned the item to ensure its location and state were recorded for future knowledge.

A small compass was also located in the equipment pocket of the WWI Officers’ Jacket. It has creased the leather of the pouch and discoloured a ring in the fabric, which led to one of our team curiously inspecting the pocket in the first place.

In several uniforms, names and service numbers were sown into collars for identification purposes which have proven immensely useful for connecting our informs to soldiers and their stories. Seeing a name written into a jacket also brings a sombre reality to the uniform and what it and its wearer may have experienced.

To ensure every uniform had space to breathe whilst in storage and prevent risk of damage or creasing, a separate Tyvek garment bag has been used for each jacket/shirt/trousers. Whilst more robust elements such as shoes and equipment holsters/belts have been packaged into individual archive boxes. Great importance was placed on correctly tagging every item and making sure clothing was not mixed up or mispackaged.

The act of removing each garment from its mannequin involved detaching all external fixtures first such as utility belts, sashes and pouches. Then larger pieces were undone and removed, like shirts, jackets, ties, body armour and trousers. In some cases, delicate buttons and hook-and-eye fasteners needed to be undone slowly and carefully before any items could be removed.

This is the final timelapse video documenting our time deinstalling the Worcestershire Soldier Gallery ahead of its redesign and relocation to The Commandery in Worcester.