Afghanistan Artefacts donated to Museum

The following article was taken from todays (281010) Caernarfon Helald:

UNIFORMS, weapons and explosives brought back from the war in Afghanistan have been donated to the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum.

The regimental museum, located within Caernarfon Castle, played host to the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh last week, as artefacts from the regiment, and items captured from the Taliban, were handed over to museum curator Brian Owen.

Lt Colonel Nick Lock delivered the artefacts alongside other members of the regiment drawn from across Wales. He said it was important that the Royal Welch Fusiliers, who are now part of Wales’ infantry regiment The Royal Welsh, maintained their long standing connections to the museum.

Lt Col Block added: “This museum charts the story of the Royal Welch Fusiliers from its formation over 300 years ago and right up to the present day, so it’s only natural that we open this new chapter in our history.”



The numerous items which will go on display include Taliban produced improvised explosive devices (IED’s), through to Taliban training aides, Afghan army uniforms and a wide selection of the regiment’s uniforms and other equipment.
Museum curator Brian Owen thanked the Lt Col for the donation, he said: “We are very grateful to have been given these items. It really is an extensive collection, so much so that you could actually hold an exhibition entirely devoted to the regiments recent action in Afghanistan.”

Lt Col Lock spoke of the tour: “We were over there from last December to May this year, and we’ll be returning in April 2012. It was a tough tour, and unfortunately we did lose one man in Fusilier Jonathan Burgess of Swansea, with 28 further casualties.

“Ultimately though we fought hard and cleared our area of the enemy, setting up communications and infrastructure. Our second battalion are still there, hopefully these artefacts can help people understand what the regiment does in Afghanistan.”