Historic military exhibits abound at a fascinating Isle of Wight museum. The collection’s Steve Taylor profiles what there is to see.
Situated on the picturesque Isle of Wight, the museum holds an interesting mix of tanks, military vehicles, small arms, artefacts and a range of uniforms from the 19th century to the present day. It’s a great place to learn about life in wartime and about those who contributed so much to the war effort.
Additionally, the centre is a hub for former service personnel and wider members of society to meet and socialise, while providing important volunteer opportunities. Revenue and donations to the museum go towards furthering these aims, and any profits after expenses are distributed among service charities.
The museum’s exhibits are predominantly privately owned and the museum staff are constantly rotating the displays and upgrading the exhibition area, so there’s always something fresh to see. There is a large permanent display of military vehicles, ranging from a World War Two police car to three Centurion tanks from the post-war era. It also has a missile from the Cold War, a one-man submarine and a World War Two German area with weapons, equipment and uniforms, as wel…
