• 10.00am - 5.30pm
  • FREE
  • Chelsea, London
  • 10.00am - 5.30pm
  • FREE
  • Chelsea, London

Global Role

Exploring the age of empire in Global Role gallery
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Global Role gallery

This gallery looks at the deployment of Britain’s armies around the world, from the age of empire to the modern day. Many of the objects on display were collected by soldiers and reflect their interactions with different cultures and customs.

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Explore Global Role stories

Bengal Army Troops, 1785

Armies of the East India Company

Originally formed to trade in Asia, the East India Company came to rule large areas of the Indian subcontinent, exercising military power through its formidable armed forces.

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The 3rd Light Dragoons at Ferozeshah, 21 December 1845

First Sikh War

In 1845-46, the British fought a war against the Sikh Empire in the Punjab. After several bitterly fought battles, the conflict ended with the British taking partial control of the Sikh territories.

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The Battle of Chillianwala, 13 January 1849

Second Sikh War

In 1848-49, British-Indian forces were once again at war with the Sikh Empire. The campaign that raged across the Punjab eventually led to the region's full annexation by the British and the removal of one of the last Indian powers able to challenge British control of the subcontinent.

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Operation Barras, September 2000

Operation Barras

In September 2000, British troops undertook a daring hostage rescue operation in the war-torn West African country of Sierra Leone. They successfully freed five British soldiers who had recently been captured and around 20 civilian prisoners.

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Levison Wood (left) with his dad Lev Wood Senior

Levison Wood: My Grandfather’s War

Author and explorer Levison Wood discovers the story of his grandfather's wartime service in Burma through family memorabilia and National Army Museum archives.

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Japanese flag captured by 6th Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 1945

Japanese good luck flags

A collection of flags captured during the Second World War sheds light on the tough close-quarter combat of the Burma campaign and provides some rare insights about soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army.

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2nd Battalion 5th Gurkha Rifles at Ahnai Tangi in Waziristan, 14 January 1920

The North-West Frontier

Between 1849 and 1947, British and Indian soldiers undertook a series of punitive expeditions against the fiercely independent tribesmen of this wild and mountainous region.

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Helmet plate, officer, 1st West India Regiment, c1880

The West India Regiments

Raised in the 1790s to defend Britain's Caribbean colonies, the West India Regiments fought as infantry in several campaigns. They remained a part of the British Army until disbandment in 1927.

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Members of 3 Para celebrate victory, 1982

The British Army and the Falklands War

In April 1982, British soldiers joined a naval task force sent to re-take the Falkland Islands after their surprise capture by the Argentine military. They went on to play a key part in the land campaign that helped secure victory in the war.

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Tipu Sultan's war turban taken during the capture of Seringapatam in 1799

Tipu Sultan’s war turban

A rare helmet belonging to one of India's greatest warrior princes sheds light on the relatively unknown Mysore Wars, a series of conflicts in the late 18th century that helped decide the political future of southern India.

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Saving the guns at Colenso, 15 December 1899

Boer War

Between 1899 and 1902, the British Army fought a bitter colonial war against the Boers in South Africa. After initial setbacks and a long period of guerrilla warfare, the British eventually prevailed, but not without adopting controversial tactics.

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Saving the guns at Maiwand, 1880

Second Afghan War

Between 1878 and 1880, British-Indian forces fought a war to ensure that Afghanistan remained free from Russian interference. Although eventually successful, the British suffered several setbacks in their struggle to control the volatile country.

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Explore Global Role events

'Black Redcoats' book cover
Talk At Museum

6 April 2024, 2.00pm

£8.00

Black Redcoats: The Corps of Colonial Marines

Matthew Taylor reveals the untold story of the Colonial Marines, formerly enslaved African Americans who fought for, and found freedom with, British forces in the War of 1812.

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Battle of Alexandria, 21 March 1801
Talk At Museum / Online

12 April 2024, 12.00pm

FREE

Tourism, Collecting and Foreign Encounters in Egypt

Dr Simon Quinn reveals how soldiers serving during the Egyptian Campaign of 1801 experienced their new surroundings and used their free time.

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Sold Out
Talk At Museum

20 April 2024, 11.00am

FREE

The 2nd Dorset Regiment at the Battle of Kohima

Christopher Jary discusses the role of the 2nd Dorset Regiment at the Battle of Kohima in 1944.

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A graphical composite image representing the event
Talk At Museum

20 April 2024, 12.00pm

FREE

The Transformation of the Indian Army

Dr Alan Jeffreys examines the transformation of the Indian Army over the course of the Second World War.

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A graphical composite image representing the event
Talk At Museum

20 April 2024, 12.00pm

FREE

The Jungle War

Hannah Watson speaks to Robert Lyman about her new book for young readers set in the jungles of Burma in 1942-43.

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A graphical composite image representing the event
Talk At Museum

20 April 2024, 2.00pm

£12.50

Operation Ha-Go: Britain’s First Victory in Asia

James Holland sheds light on the bloody Battle of the Admin Box, which was fought in Burma in February 1944.

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Talk At Museum

20 April 2024, 3.15pm

FREE

Medical Support at the Siege of Kohima

Colonel (Retd) Soundararajan Jagdish recounts the extraordinary performance of the medical personnel who served during the Battle of Kohima.

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Talk At Museum

20 April 2024, 4.00pm

£12.50

Kohima: Britain’s Greatest Battle

Dr Robert Lyman outlines his case for why Kohima should be considered Britain’s greatest battle.

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Talk At Museum

20 April 2024, 6.00pm

£12.50

My Grandfather’s War: Field Marshal Slim

Mark and Mary Ann Slim share memories of their famous grandfather, Field Marshal William Slim, with Dr Robert Lyman.

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Talk At Museum

21 April 2024, 11.15am

FREE

Armoured Warfare in the Burma Campaign

Robert Palmer examines the role of armoured cars and tanks during the Burma campaign.

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A graphical composite image representing the event
Talk At Museum

21 April 2024, 12.00pm

£12.50

The Epic Siege of Kohima

Journalist Fergal Keane recounts the harrowing events at Kohima in 1944 and considers the impact on the defeated soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army.

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A graphical composite image representing the event
Talk At Museum

21 April 2024, 2.00pm

£12.50

Slim: Britain’s Greatest General

Dr Robert Lyman reveals how Field Marshal William Slim was able to turn the tide of the Burma campaign.

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Explore Global Role learning resources

Army and Empire: Gallery Trail
Trail

KS4-KS5 (Ages 14 to 16+)

Army and Empire: Gallery Trail

Follow this gallery trail to find out more about the Army’s role in the British Empire.

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"First time @NAM_London today. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thought the presentation & interpretation made the subject accessible..."