Museum funding crisis puts Rorke’s Drift memories at risk

[Bob Bacon]

It is the tattered Union Jack that symbolises the British Army’s defiance in the face of overwhelming odds.


But defence cuts mean a regimental museum in Brecon, south Wales, which houses the flag that flew over Rorke’s Drift, the battle immortalised by the 1964 film Zulu, is threatened with closure.


A leaked document seen by The Sunday Times reveals how the army is planning to axe funding for 15 of its regimental museums.


Funding will be withdrawn from either the Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum in Caernarfon, north Wales, or the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh in Brecon, home to the flag and other artefacts from the 1879 Zulu War, including the Victoria Cross won by Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead

[jones20]

The Brecon museum is a fantastic little museum would be a shame to see it close down though lack of funding

[LarsA]

The alternatives are both horrifying.

If I understand correctly the museum in Brecob is smaller, although with iconic items for the Zulu War.

In Caernarfon, the museum is larger.

In my mind, with some knowledge of the cut nitwits, what would they decide? I'd say it's time to get worried and mobilize on a very broad front with the obvious spearhrads starting today, if Caernarfon shall remain.

I may be alarmist, but with the other half being an archaeologist and regional manager within our state museum organisation, I know what possible alternatives are.
ATB,

lars

[Derek Adams]

No need to man the barricades at present. The Museum in Caernarfon is in a very good state, and has a good lease with the Castle.
The Museum in Brecon is awaiting a 30 year lease from the MOD, which will hopefully be through soon. The cuts talked about is the withdrawal of civil servants (Brecon) or Grant in Aid in lieu of civil servants (Caernarfon), which at present is in place until 2030. The document that is being reported on is 'dead in the water'.

[sixties]

Thanks for that info.