Our Collections

SOFO is an umbrella which looks after three collections that comprise the military heritage of the region.

These archives and objects are the property of three bodies: the Trustees of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, the Trustees of the Oxfordshire Yeomanry and Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust.

Oxfordshire's military heritage ranges from the Civil War to the present day, covering the Napoleonic War, the Boer War and the two World Wars, in which every village was involved.

The archives and objects are important tools in researching, explaining and understanding this history.

Collections Services

Archive Image Requests

To order an image, please use our eHive online catalogue search below and make a note of the object number (i.e. SOFO:1234). Visit our Shop section of the website, select your preferred image option, and enter the object number when ordering.

Images for personal use are £25 each, commercial use images are £50 each.

**Please Note** We are currently in the process of digitising our collections and are adding images as they are produced. If you are unable to find the image you are searching for, please email collections@sofo.org.uk with your request.

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OXFYT:2147; Photograph of Winston Churchill on horseback in Yeomanry uniform. Captioned 'At the German Army Manoeuvres' and dated 1909.

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OBLI:5144; Watercolour showing soldiers of the 95th and 43rd in Napoleonic uniforms

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OBLI:5118; Painting showing the 52nd at Aldershot in 1880

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OBLI:7647; Light Infantry

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OBLI:5112; Watercolour painting showing a sentry of the 52nd Light Infantry in 1881

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OBLI:5123; Caricature depicting the Earl of Buckingham of the Royal Bucks Militia

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OXFYT:2143; Photograph of Winston Churchill and Hugh Lygon

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OXFYT:136; Photograph of the Spencer-Churchill family in Yeomanry uniform c. early 1900's

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OBLI:5155; Caricature depicting an aged soldier in the 19th Century

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OBLI:5111; Watercolour depicting a Sergeant of the 43rd Light Infantry in 1815

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OXFYT:654; Photograph of officers from the QOOH and other regiments, featuring Winston Churchill.

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

OXFYT:2253; Photograph of Winston Churchill in the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars dress uniform.

From: Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

Archive Visits

Archive visits for research can be booked with the Collections Manager. Please email collections@sofo.org.uk with the reference numbers or description of objects you would like to see, and your reason for visiting the archive. Archive visits are charged at £25 for an hour to cover research time and object preparation.

Please note: No photography is allowed in the archive; scans and photographs are available on request.

Exhibition Loans

If you are a museum or heritage institution, we are always looking for new collaboration opportunities for events and exhibitions. Our Collaborations page shows how we have supported projects in the past.

We can also facilitate loans from our SOFO collection for your exhibition or display. Archive object loans are contingent on the second party having a lockable case available for display. 

Please contact collections@sofo.org.uk for further information.

Handling loan boxes are available for hire through our Learning and Outreach Officer, please contact education@sofo.org.uk for more information.