Oxford Open Doors – The Regimental Chapel at Christ Church Cathedral Unfortunately the ongoing Covid-19 situation meant that this year, the usual tours of the Regimental Chapel at Christ Church Cathedral didn’t go ahead during Oxford Open Doors. As an alternative we’re updating the blog with some background information on the Chapel, along with a few images, from A brief guide to the Regimental Chapel Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. The…
Operation Dynamo – 80 years ago in May Shortly after the first Blitzkreig strike on 10 May 1940, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was in disorganised withdrawal before the tide of German Panzers, and Operation Dynamo jolted into action. A 60 mile escape corridor was organised to buy time for the BEF to evacuate from Dunkirk. The 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion and the 4th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, the…
At 6.20pm on the 4th May 1945 in a tent on Luneberg Heath in Northern Germany a German delegation signed the instrument of surrender of all German forces in Holland, Denmark and North Western Germany. The surrender was taken by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery commanding the 21st Army Group comprising the British Second Army and the First Canadian Army. The cease fire in the British and Canadian sector was to…
OBLI:5356 – unattributed print of an Officer of the 52nd Foot c.1815
Telescopic sights were used to increase the accuracy of aiming with various rifles and guns during both the First and Second World Wars. The user would look through the sight which would magnify their target, and would often use a superimposed image of a cross called a reticle to pinpoint their aim. This sight would have been attached to a Lee Enfield rifle, an example of which can be seen…
‘Pte Henry Fisher’ World War 1 Dog Tag – 2/4th. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry An eight-sided green tag with two holes was strung through one hole. A much shorter cord was strung through the second hole with a round red tag on it. In the event of death the red tag was cut off, leaving the green tag on the body. Others finding a body with only the green…
19th Century Indian silver bowl, decorated with dancers, court and hunting scenes. Cups like this often awarded to officers during inter-regimental competitions in areas such as hunting and shooting. The cup measures 10 inches at the rim and weighs 76 ounces.
