What’s on at The National Museum of the Royal Navy in
2014?
First World War Centenary
2014-2018 marks the centenary of the First World War. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and
The National Museum of the Royal Navy will be marking the centenary by leading a full
programme of activities across the site. A major highlight of 2014 will be the unveiling of
HMS Hear My Story; our brand new £4.5m permanent galleries covering 100 years of the
Royal Navy, and a major exhibition devoted to the outbreak of the First World War.
Permanent
Galleries
HMS Hear My Story
National Museum of the Royal Navy
From April 3rd 2014
The new £4.5m galleries, entitled HMS – Hear My Story, are the first of their
kind for the National Museum; telling the stories of the men and women in
Tickets available
the Royal Navy over 100 years. Following themes from War and Peace to
historicdockyard.co.uk Popular Culture; the collection draws from the National Museum’s
extensive archive and enduring relationships with Naval personnel over the
decades. A comprehensive interactive timeline and immersive spaces
feature, allowing visitors to explore stories and wider themes. An
atmospheric cinema showing specially commissioned films will evoke what
war at sea was like and provide a sense of the conditions faced by those
sent to fight.
With missiles hanging from above and torpedoes sunk into the floor,
visitors will be able to discover in detail the Changing Technology that
comes out of conflict. Highlights include the 4-inch gun from HMS Lance,
which fired the first British shot of the First World War on August 5th 1914
and a canoe made famous by the Cockleshell Heroes. Also featured are
letters, medals and even a bomb-damaged motorbike which sit alongside
photographs, contemporary art and film.
The exhibition is sure to rouse debate as you look at The Navy, Now and
Future and take the opportunity to sit, ask questions and talk to veterans
from a range of Naval conflicts. Take part and share your own family
military history and reflect as you pass though and explore the last 100
years of the Royal Navy’s rich history.
Press Previews on 18th and 25th March, to register interest contact
holly.westwood@historicdockyard.co.uk
Major New
Exhibition
Racing to War: The Royal Navy and 1914
National Museum of the Royal Navy
From April 3rd 2014 - Racing to War: The Royal Navy and 1914 will be the first temporary
January 2015
exhibition for the NMRN. It will tell the Royal Navy’s story during the last
years of peace and the opening months of the First World War.
Tickets available
The collection reveals little known stories leading up to the outbreak, with
historicdockyard.co.uk unique objects and art curated specifically for this new exhibition. Hanging
together for the first time, highlights include a rare collection of
nineteenth and twentieth century paintings, many borrowed from private
collections, depicting scenes of the Royal Navy in battle and the aftermath
of fierce fighting at sea. The Racing to War exhibition tells the story of the
service on which Britain pinned its hopes for survival and for victory. It will
take the visitor through the story of how the Navy were instrumental in the
century’s early years, into the naval arms race with Germany and the
building of the Grand Fleet.
It will examine the dramatic opening of the Navy’s war – seeing how far the
assumptions about the Navy’s role and its strength matched the reality. It
looks at the big personalities, like Winston Churchill and Sir John Fisher,
who argued fiercely with Lord Charles Beresford over naval strategy and
new technologies. The first 6 months of war, the loss of ships and men in
the early battle defeats and the months spent fighting across the globe, a
long way from home and the familiar shores of the North Sea.
Racing to War is the first of a series of special exhibitions between 2014
and 2019 that will tell the story of the Navy’s vital part in the War.
Press Previews on 18th and 25th March, to register interest contact
holly.westwood@historicdockyard.co.uk
Major Museum
Relaunch
From April 3rd 2014
Tickets available
submarinemuseum.co.uk
Relaunch of HMS Alliance
Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport
HMS Alliance; the only surviving WWII era submarine will be ready for her
‘relaunch’ after undergoing a major £7m conservation and restoration
project. The 281ft sub, based at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum
(RNSM) Gosport serves as a memorial to 5,300 British submariners. She has
been completely restored with new interpretation, state of the art lighting
and soundscapes which bring the submarine to life.
A visit on board begins with a commissioned film narrated by British
Hollywood star and HMS Alliance advocate Ian McShane. With faithfully
restored dressing, design and even smells inside the submarine, the visitor
can take a journey through every decade of the submarine’s service from
the 1940’s to the 1970’s. You can also peer through the working periscopes
to view Portsmouth Harbour and meet a veteran submariner who will tell
their own personal stories of working beneath the waves.
Designed during WWII for service in the Far East, HMS Alliance was
launched in 1945, as victory was achieved. She began a distinguished 28
year career during the Cold War until she retired and became the
centrepiece of the Submarine Museum on the Gosport waterfront.
A ticket to HMS Alliance also includes the Royal Navy’s first submarine
Holland 1 and the only surviving WW2 midget submarine X24.
Press Previews on 18th and 25th March, to register interest contact bill@submarinemuseum.co.uk
D-Day 70th Anniversary
Guided
Tour
D-Day at the Submarine Museum
Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport
4 June 2014
This is a rare opportunity to experience a full guided tour of Fort Blockhouse.
Formally known at HMS Dolphin, this 18th Century Fort was the home to
the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service for most of the first 100 years of the
RN submarine service from 1904-1999. Hosted by a submariner, you’ll tour
their former base and hear how they prepared for D-Day. You’ll visit the
SETT Tower where all submariners had to learn to escape through 100 feet
of water, the Submarine Memorial Chapel and the Harold Wylie paintings
in the Officer’s Mess. You’ll also have the opportunity to go onboard HMS
Alliance, the only surviving WWII era submarine. Your D-Day visit is topped
off by seeing X24 the only surviving midget submarine from WW2 – sister
ship of X23 which saw action on D-day.
Tickets £16.
submarinemuseum.co.uk
Major Events
Children’s
Event
WW1 Museums at Night
National Museum of the Royal Navy and Action Stations
16 May 2014
Join us for an evening of Naval themed activities and the hugely
popular big sleepover as part of our annual ‘Museums at Night’
event. To coincide with the centenary, WW1 history will provide the
From 6.30pm
Contact
families@nmrn.org.uk
inspiration. Get arty with hat making, enjoy giant battle ship games
and Laser Quest. Don’t miss out on this entertaining evening
culminating with a fun movie and sleepover in Action Stations.
It’s £20 for each child, and accompanying adults are free.
Suitable for ages 5 -12. Booking is essential for this event.
Family
Event
28 June 2014
Free Event
Schools/Family
Event
School Groups
7 -11 June
(Additional
charge applies)
Contact
nmrn.org.uk
General Access
12 June
Free
Armed Forces Day
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and Victory Arena
With HMS Victory providing the spectacular backdrop, the arena
alongside will be transformed. This popular annual event at the
Historic Dockyard will be keeping tradition strong, celebrating the
British Armed Forces throughout the years. It’s a fun day out for the
family, full of Naval themed activities.
World at War: Arena Event
National Museum of the Royal Navy
Come and enjoy a full day of activities in Victory Arena, led by
professional artists and historical interpreters. Learn all about the
geography of the First and Second World Wars and the involvement
of different communities and their contributions.
Enjoy drama, object-handling, storytelling, music and live
demonstrations. Also take part in the ‘World at War’ activity area
which includes a Wartime World Kitchen and Make Do and Mend
crafting. You can also meet veterans from WWII to the present day.
Please note – General access on 12th June Only.
WW1 Centenary
Event
The Starting Gun: Arena Event
National Museum of the Royal Navy
The National Museum of the Royal Navy will be hosting a very special
event in the Arena to commemorate the firing of the first shot fired
at sea on 5th August 1914. The 4” gun from HMS Lance which fired
the shot is situated in the NMRN’s new HMS Hear My Story Galleries.
More information will follow in the coming months.
5 August 2014
Free
Lecture Series
The National Museum of the Royal Navy will be hosting a series of Public Lectures as part of
their comprehensive Lecture Programme. Hosted by acclaimed historians, scholars and
authors, they cover areas of special interest from the Royal Navy’s heritage and history.
All lectures start at 3pm and are FREE to attend.
5 April
The Knight Who Saved England – William Marshall & The French
Invasion 1217 (and book launch)
Presented by Author, Mr Richard Brooks.
3 May
Nelson’s Swords.
Lecture by Mr Mark Barton.
7 June
A History of the Royal Navy: The Napoleonic War (and book signing)
Presented by Naval and Maritime Historian, Dr Martin Robson.
2 August
A History of the Royal Navy: WW1 (and book signing)
Presented by Naval Historian and Surgeon Rear-Admiral, Dr Michael
FarquharsonRoberts.
30 August
A History of the Royal Navy: WW2 (& book signing)
Presented by Naval Historian, Dr Duncan Redford.
16 - 18 July 2014
The Anglo German Arms Race and the First World War at Sea
Conference
National Museum of the Royal Navy
Additional charge
applies
duncan.redford@
nmrn.org.uk
Enjoy this very special event held over three days. As conference
delegates, you’ll enjoy a selection of 25 specialist speakers, three
keynote speakers including Professor Nicholas Roger, Rear Admiral
James Goldrick (Royal Australian Navy, retired) and author and naval
analyst, Professor Norman Friedman.
Delegates will be able to attend a wine reception and private viewing
of the new HMS - Hear My Story Galleries and a dinner on the lower
gun deck of HMS Victory. This conference will explore the AngloGerman naval arms race during the early twentieth century and the
Great War at sea before the Battle of Jutland. Speakers will cover:
• The arms race and popular culture
• Imperial defence
• Use of intelligence
• Naval operations, strategy, and tactics
• Economic warfare in war and peace
• Naval leadership, education, command and control
• Technological and ship design developments
• The arms race from British, German and South American
perspectives
END
Notes for Editors:
Images – All to be credited to The National Museum of the Royal Navy
1.HMS Alliance, Bow Side.
2.HMS - Hear My Story – ‘ Ships Searchlights’ a specially created images for the galleries.
3.HMS - Hear My Story – Submariner Captain Frederic ‘Johnnie’ Walker. The groups he commanded
sank 21 German U-boats during the Second World War. His story is featured in the new galleries.
For further press information, interviews and images please contact:
Holly Westwood, Press & PR
Tel: 023 9289 4558 or Email: holly.westwood@historicdockyard.co.uk