National Army Museum marks Remembrance with projects to support mental health and memory

Tuesday, 4 November 2025

A display of work from the Behind the Mask art engagement project and a new digital partnership with House of Memories form part of a wider Remembrance programme championing veterans' wellbeing.

To mark this year’s Remembrance, the National Army Museum will present Behind the Mask, a powerful display of mask artworks created by military veterans to explore their emotions and often traumatic experiences of military service, identity and mental health.

Behind the Mask was developed in partnership with the US Embassy’s Office of Cultural Heritage and the veteran charity The Not Forgotten, which support veterans and serving military personnel living with injury, illness or isolation.

The project brought veterans from across the UK to a week-long retreat in Devon and invited them to paint and decorate masks to externalise emotional histories, reflect on life after service, and begin a journey of healing through creativity.

The masks will be on display for the first time in a museum setting in the National Army Museum’s Atrium from Tuesday 4 November 2025 to Wednesday 19 November 2025.

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting veterans and their wellbeing, the Museum will also launch a new app in partnership with House of Memories, an award-winning dementia awareness programme created by National Museums Liverpool. This new digital resource will connect veterans living with dementia to the Museum’s collection, using familiar military objects to spark memories and conversations.

Featuring just under 100 objects and images from the National Army Museum’s collection — including webbing, roll mats, boot brushes and rifle cleaning kits — the package draws on the everyday items that formed the fabric of soldiers’ lives. These objects are designed to evoke personal memories of service, from the daily polishing of boots and intense physical training to the simple act of making a brew in the field.

The app is free and can be used by healthcare professionals, loved ones, carers or veterans themselves as a resource to encourage conversations and connection with an individual's military past.

The National Army Museum will commemorate Remembrance with a programme of live talks and screenings, and will mark Remembrance Sunday with a two-minute silence led by a military bugler from the Band of the Scots Guards.

Remembrance Programme of Events

Poppy Embroidery Course

• Saturday, 1 and Sunday, 2 November 2025
• 10.00am - 4.30pm
• Ticketed event | £100.00 | Book online here

A special weekend course by London’s premier embroidery house, Hand & Lock, will take inspiration from the historic poppies in the National Army Museum's collection. Attendees will have the chance to develop their own embroidery skills under the specialist supervision of Lucy Martin from Hand & Lock.

The Last Burma Star

• Thursday, 6 November 2025
• 6.00pm - 8.00pm
• Ticketed event | £20.00 | Book online here

The National Army Museum invites the public to the world premiere of The Last Burma Star, a new documentary from Sky HISTORY following veteran explorer Levison Wood and historian Alex Bescoby as they seek out the last surviving veterans of the Burma campaign. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the film’s creators, reflecting on one of the most significant yet lesser-known theatres of the Second World War.

Behind the Mask: Healing, Mental Health and Art

• Friday, 7 November 2025
• 12.00pm - 1.00pm
• Ticketed event | Free | Booking online here

Hear from Dr Tony Woods as he highlights why arts-based initiatives such as the Behind the Mask project are fantastic tools to support veterans’ mental health. He will explore the challenges and benefits of running such schemes, talk about the benefits felt by veterans and finally explore what the future might hold for similar projects.

Karl Tearney, a veteran from the Behind the Mask project, said:

'It was incredible to listen to the stories of life that was being told by the voice behind the mask. We all felt the unity of not only our pain but also that of human kindness, a belonging, a harmony of hope. I am so honoured to have been involved in this hugely beneficial project. I do believe that by helping others witness how service has affected us, both physically and mentally, connects us once again as human beings.'

Mel O’Brien-Price, a curator at the National Army Museum, said:

'When selecting objects for the app, we wanted to ensure they would resonate with most soldiers, no matter their regiment or length of service. Though some items may seem mundane, they were part of daily life and hold great power to help veterans recall their experiences and to inspire conversations between them, their families, and carers.'

Colonel (Retd) Richard Walker OBE, Chief Executive of The Not Forgotten, said:

'We’re absolutely thrilled that Behind the Mask is being showcased at the National Army Museum during this poignant period of remembrance. It’s a deeply fitting venue for these powerful works, created by veterans exploring their inner journeys and engaging in 'remembrance' of their own. Displaying the masks here not only honours their stories, but also invites reflection on the unseen battles many continue to face.'

Lizzie Ward, programme manager at House of Memories, said:

'The National Army Museum has a rich collection of items that will resonate with the dementia community, and veterans who have memories to share from their lives as a soldier. Working in partnership with the National Army Museum, we have been able to create an app package that covers a wide range of military events, equipment and much more. Through this app package and alongside our in-museum training sessions, we hope to spread dementia awareness across the armed forces sector, to support veterans living with dementia and their loved ones.'