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Delve deeper into stories of the Army and its soldiers, exploring events across the globe and down the centuries.

Coloured daguerreotype of Captain John Nicholson, c1855

Faces of the Victorian Army

Queen Victoria’s reign coincided with the rapid development of photography. This new medium helped shape attitudes towards military heroism, imperial power and the British soldier.
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Coloured daguerreotype of Captain John Nicholson, c1855

Faces of the Victorian Army

Queen Victoria’s reign coincided with the rapid development of photography. This new medium helped shape attitudes towards military heroism, imperial power and the British soldier.

George Cross awarded to Bombardier Henry Herbert Reed, Royal Artillery, 1941

The George Cross

Alongside the Victoria Cross, the George Cross is Britain’s highest award for gallantry. It recognises acts of extraordinary courage by civilians and members of the armed forces, often where individuals risk their own lives to save others.

King Thibaw talking to the British chief political officer in the garden of his palace in Mandalay, 1885

A timeline of Burma and the Army

Britain’s armies had an enduring and decisive role in Burma from the early 19th century until the country’s independence in 1948.

Photograph portrait of Colonel Charles Melliss VC, c1910

In Their Own Words: Major General Sir Charles Melliss VC

Charles Melliss was awarded the Victoria Cross for his service during the Fifth Ashanti War. He later played an important role in the opening phase of the First World War campaign in Mesopotamia, where he experienced both victory and defeat.

Members of the Home Guard marching alongside a riverbank

On This Day: December 1945

In December 1945, British soldiers enjoyed the seasonal festivities and reflected upon the momentous events of the last 12 months. But the ongoing challenges of ‘winning the peace’ inspired as much anxiety as they did hope.

Replacement VC group awarded to Private Francis FitzPatrick, 94th Regiment, 1879-1900

Lost and found: A tale of two VCs

The medals of Private Francis Fitzpatrick, an Irish-born Victoria Cross hero, have recently been reunited at the National Army Museum after more than a century of separation.

Crimean War Victoria Cross recovered from the River Thames foreshore in 2015

The unsolved mystery of the Thames VC

A Victoria Cross found on the shores of the River Thames in 2015 is the subject of an ongoing mystery. Research has since narrowed down the list of possible owners to two heroic soldiers of the Crimean War.

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is Britain’s joint-highest award for gallantry. Granted for acts of extreme bravery in the presence of the enemy, it has achieved almost mythical status, with each award accompanied by an inspiring story of courage.

Captain John Grant Malcolmson VC, 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry, c1860

John Grant Malcolmson VC: Hero of the Persian War

A remarkable collection of objects, including a rare Victoria Cross, tells the heroic story of Lieutenant John Grant Malcolmson, who served during the Persian War (1856-57).

Portrait of George Fulton

In Their Own Words: Captain George Fulton

George Fulton played a crucial role in the Siege of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion (1857-59). His diary reveals him to be an officer of great courage and skill, who successfully fought a grim subterranean battle against enemy sappers and miners.

Fabric installation inspired by military medal ribbons

Medal ribbons

The colours of medal ribbons carry symbolic meanings, drawing on deep-rooted traditions in military history and heraldry. This symbolism is an important part of medal design.

British Indian operations against Indonesian nationalists in Java, c1945

On This Day: November 1945

In November 1945, British soldiers were still engaged in fierce fighting across parts of Asia. Meanwhile, the complex legacies of the Second World War came to the fore in two historic series of trials.

Stories of remembrance

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Peace and commemoration

After the Armistice in November 1918, millions of soldiers hoped they would soon go home. But demobilising so many troops was a huge task. How best to mark the Allied victory also became a subject for debate.

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Honouring the fallen

After the First World War, British society had to come to terms with the loss of huge numbers of its service personnel. Across the country, people found ways to commemorate the fallen at a local and national level.

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The Unknown Warrior

The grave of the Unknown Warrior contains the remains of an unidentified British serviceman, interred in 1920 to honour the fallen of the First World War. The secretive selection process remains shrouded in mystery.