Our incredibly knowledgeable museum team are available to speak to your group or at special events. We charge £75 plus the cost of return travel to your venue. Call 01748 826561 to book.
Our talks
Sicily 1943: a regimental learning curve
Green Howards soldiers were among those involved in the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 – the initial stages of the fight to reclaim mainland Europe during the Second World War. It’s no coincidence that a year later, they would also be amongst the first to set foot on the beaches of Normandy in northern France.
2023 marks the 80th anniversary of Operation Husky; the invasion of Sicily. In this talk, Steve Erskine explores the role of the regiment’s soldiers in the action of the summer of 1943, and how it prepared them for the fight that was to follow. Steve will also share his experiences of walking in their bootsteps; having attended the official anniversary commemorations on the island in July.
Hostile Environment: The British in Russia 1918 – 1919
The 11th of November 1918 wasn’t the end. It really wasn’t the end at all. Instead of returning home following the armistice, thousands of British soldiers were deployed to northern Russia; part of a multi-national force tasked with turning the tide of revolution. We tell the little known story of how Britain played its part in the Russian Civil War, using personal archives from the museum’s collection to explore the complex positioning of ‘red’ versus ‘white’ at a time of enormous global social and political upheaval in the aftermath of the First World War.
This talk is also available online – see links below.
Caring for our Collection
Find out about the challenges and rewards of caring for a museum collection. With an ever-growing group of objects and archive, you will find out about how we look after the precious objects in our care, get a flavour for the range of items on display and in the sanctuary of our stores, and learn more about the some of the most precious and unique items entrusted to us.
Wounds, Weddings, Watchmaking
Museum researcher, Steve Erskine reveals the story of the men, who, deemed too badly wounded to rejoin the fighting were sent from Prisoner of War camps in Germany to an internment camp in Switzerland during the First World War.
The wounded soldiers became part of an incredible community, helping them prepare for a changed life in a post-war civilian world. Find out what went on at Murren in this fascinating talk.
Our forgotten war poet
Green Howards Officer, Herbert Read is commemorated in Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey. So why is this art critic, knight of the realm and writer so often overlooked in favour of the likes of Owen, Sassoon and Brooke? Was it because this intriguing Yorkshireman was also an anarchist? In this talk, we explore the military and cultural life and work of an extraordinary man.
This talk is also available online – see links below.
Richmond Castle: prison of conscience
Richmond was an integral part of the prison system into which those who would not fight on the grounds of political or religious conscience were put. Taken to France and condemned to be shot, the story of the ‘Absolutists’ – those who refused, absolutely, to do anything that might further the war – is a fascinating chapter in the story of Richmond Castle.
The quirks and pitfalls of family history research
The bizarre, humbling and truly awe inspiring stories that family history detective work has revealed. From seemingly harmless enquiries raising questions about parentage to revealing untold stories of service and sacrifice to tearful family members. Hear about the miracles expected of researchers on the basis of minimal evidence such as ‘my grandfather was short and missing a finger’, and the unexpected rewards when chance conversations lead to personal items being donated to the museum’s ever growing collection. Welcome to our own behind the scenes version of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’
Finding Private Parker
In October 2015 we were contacted by the Ministry of Defence. Human remains had been found in a field to the north-east of Martinpuich on the Somme. With the remains were three sets of Yorkshire regiment shoulder titles, and a very distinctive shoulder badge. Steve Erskine reveals an incredible story of history, science and a hundred years of mystery.
Sighing for a soldier: the lure of the scarlet coatee
“She saw all the glories of the camp; its tents stretched forth in beauteous uniformity of lines, crowded with the young and gay, and dazzling with scarlet; and to complete the view, she saw herself seated beneath a tent, tenderly flirting with at least six officers at once.” Jane Austen’s description of Lydia Bennet in ‘Pride and Prejudice’. The attentions of the local female population were just one of the attractions to men from local families serving with the North York Militia in the 1800s. In this talk we navigate the pleasures, opportunities and pitfalls of life in the North York Militia.
The Green Howards and the First World War
A fascinating insight into the role of the regiment during the First World War. 65,000 men served in the Yorkshire Regiment during the First World War. From 1914 to 1919 they fought in Belgium, France, Turkey, Italy and North Russia. By the end of the war 8,967 had been killed and 24,000 wounded – 12 had been awarded the Victoria Cross. During this talk we will outline the experiences of those who fought and fell, served and survived during this turning point in world history.
This talk is also available online – see links below.
Kaiserschlacht: two weeks which turned the war
The German offensive in the spring of 1918 so very nearly won them the war. In this talk, we look at the action of this strategically decisive period in world history, the role of Green Howards soldiers on the Western Front at that time, and how the Allies started the process of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss availability and book one of our speakers.
You can also enjoy an online Museum Talk.
Buying a ticket to these online talks means you are helping the museum from the comfort of home. Dip into our collection of personal papers, explore our special exhibition, meet a forgotten war poet, discover the role of a local soldier in shaping the Middle East, spot the clues revealing Richmond’s rich military heritage or savour the various sounds of conflict.
When you pay for your online talk, you will receive a link to watch it. Talks cost £5 each.
Choose from the following online Museum Talks:
Herbert Read: our forgotten war poet
The Yorkshireman who made the Middle East
The Green Howards and The Great War
Hostile Environment: The British in Russia