Victoria Cross D-Day Experience

Your experience begins with a relaxed meander through our museum, taking in 300 years of history and heroism of The Green Howards Regiment.

We will then welcome you to our Normanby Room, which is steeped in history, not only due to its location within the 500 year old decommissioned church but also because of the artefacts that surround you.

Afternoon tea will be served on our vintage regimental crockery, whilst our specialist museum researcher, Steve Erskine, will explain the significance of the medal group you are about to see. He will describe actions that led to the award of the Victoria Cross and tell a little about the man that was Stanley Hollis.

The only Victoria Cross (the equivalent of the US Congressional Medal of Honour) awarded at the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944 was made to Company Sergeant-Major Stanley Hollis. This unique medal and the other medals awarded to Hollis (8 in total) are part of the Green Howards Museum collection.

Once you have enjoyed a taste of Yorkshire hospitality, the session will culminate in you being able to handle, under supervision, the very precious Hollis Victoria Cross Medal group. No other museum with an equivalent collection allows this kind of public access to such a prestigious medal.

Leonard Currie and the American Civil War Experience

Your experience begins with a relaxed meander through our museum, taking in 300 years of history and heroism of The Green Howards Regiment.

We will then welcome you to our Normanby Room, which is steeped in history, not only due to its location within the 500 year old decommissioned church but also because of the artefacts that surround you.

Afternoon tea will be served on our vintage regimental crockery, whilst our specialist museum researcher, Steve Erskine, will explore the life and career of Currie further whilst you enjoy a taste of Yorkshire hospitality.

Leonard Douglas Hay Currie fought with the Green Howards during the Crimean War of 1853-6. He was severely wounded, and the British Army declared that he was no longer fit for military service. Undeterred, Currie left for America, where he ended up in command of the 133rd New York Infantry Regiment at the assault on Fort Hudson, where he was wounded again, and later he accompanied Sheridan during the operations in the Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1862.

The Green Howards museum collection has on permanent display a number of personal items used by Currie during his various military campaigns. It also holds, in our extensive stores, the sword which Currie carried during his American exploits, including the attack on Fort Hudson.

This exclusive and unique experience culminates with getting the chance to hold the sword which Currie carried with him through such iconic actions of the American Civil War. A special experience not available to the general public or on display in the museum.

The Green Howards and their connection to Royalty Experience

Your experience begins with a relaxed meander through our museum, taking in 300 years of history and heroism of The Green Howards Regiment.

We will then welcome you to our Normanby Room, which is steeped in history, not only due to its location within the 500 year old decommissioned church but also because of the artefacts that surround you.

Afternoon tea will be served on our vintage regimental crockery, whilst our specialist museum researcher, Steve Erskine, will explore and describe the Green Howards’ royal connections.

Everything from the chairs which King George IV and Queen Elizabeth sat in when they came to tea in 1940 to the desk set used by Alexandra, the Princess of Wales, from whom the Regiment got one of its titles, and through her the regiments’ connections to the royal families of Denmark and Norway, we can tell a potted history of many of the royal families of Europe!

Let us demystify the various links and tell the story of how royalty has traditionally been connected to army regiments and of the historic links that still echo to this day. Steve will even tell guests about Nils Olav, an emperor penguin that lives at Edinburgh Zoo, who is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Kings Guard in Norway, a sister regiment of the Green Howards. If that does get you interested, nothing will!

Richmond’s Military History

Your experience begins with a relaxed meander through our museum, taking in 300 years of history and heroism of The Green Howards Regiment.

We will then welcome you to our Normanby Room, which is steeped in history, not only due to its location within the 500 year old decommissioned church but also because of the artefacts that surround you.

Afternoon tea will be served on our vintage regimental crockery, whilst our specialist museum researcher, Steve Erskine, will explore and describe the Green Howards Richmond connections.

Following your indulgent Yorkshire afternoon tea, Steve will then take you on a short guided tour around Richmond’s military memorials, explaining the significance to the town and those that lost their lives in service.