What’s On

The RLC Museum is excited to welcome you to explore our collections in 2024. The Museum tells the story of how the army has been moved, supplied and sustained for over 300 years. With interactive activities, a cinema, a stunning display of medals and free entry, there has never been a better time to visit. Scroll down for more information on our plans for 2024, and stay up to date with new exhibitions, talks, tours and family-activities by following us on social media.

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Make your own paracord bracelet at the Royal Logistic Corps Museum this half-term. Join us on Thursday 31st October to choose your colour and make your bracelet. These excellent survival bracelets are an important piece of kit for anyone planning an outdoor adventure.

The small print:
£3 per bracelet, payable on the day by cash or card.
Available whilst stocks last.
This activity is recommended for children aged 8+. Younger children can join in but be prepared to help your child with their work.

A new exhibition exploring the changing face of maternity in the military is now open at The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) Museum in Worthy Down, Winchester.

‘Rations for Two’ was officially opened by The RLC Corps Colonel Jacqueline Powell during an evening reception at the Museum, attended by servicewomen whose stories feature.

“This is such an important, and previously untold story,” says Miss Sam Jolley, Collections Manager for the Museum and Curator of the exhibition. “Prior to 1990, pregnant servicewomen wishing to have their child had to leave the forces, and many women made difficult choices between parenthood and their profession.”

Between 1978 and 1990, some 5,700 women left the three services because they were pregnant.
Included in the exhibition is the story of Corporal Natasha Day who on falling pregnant, was told that her partner could not live with her in married quarters due to being unmarried. This was in 2019.

‘We need employers that are proactive and view mothers as an asset and not a hindrance and I am proud to say that the Armed Forces is a great champion.’ says Natasha, now parent to a four-year-old and still employed in the British Army as a medic.

Natasha went on to found the Defence Breastfeeding Network to support serving mothers, for which she received an MBE in 2023.

Following the introduction of maternity leave for servicewomen, the army has developed its maternity, shared parental and adoption leave polices, and redesigned its maternity wear several times.

“The British Army introduced maternity policy before fully considering maternity wear to suit the changing shape of pregnant soldiers.” says Sam. “Rations for Two illustrates the story of maternity in the military through the development of maternity uniform, with examples on display from the 1990s to the present day.”

From the famous fawn maternity smock to the new MTP maternity uniform, this exhibition uses the development of British Army maternity uniform to tell the stories of mothers who serve.

Visitors can view the exhibition during Museum opening hours – 9.30 to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

The Royal Logistic Corps Museum in Worthy Down, Winchester, is launching an updated digital archive website to make the history of the Corps accessible online and to replace the older, previous website.

The RLC Museum Online Archive allows professional and public researchers to purchase and view records including regimental journals, enlistment books, vehicle records and photographs.

The Royal Logistic Corps was founded in 1993 and builds on a long tradition of military logistics, dating back to 1794. The online archive encompasses records from the Royal Logistic Corps and its predecessors, the Royal Army Service Corps, the Royal Corps of Transport, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the Royal Pioneer Corps, the Army Catering Corps, the Postal and Courier Service of the Royal Engineers.

The new archive website has been created by Townsweb Archiving and is available to search online here.