Ely Museum to become “fitting home” for conserved King’s Colour as part of centenary display
The recently conserved King’s Colour of the First World War will be on display at Ely Museum from November 3. Picture: Cambridgeshire Regiment - Credit: Archant
A wartime standard that was presented to a battalion of the Suffolk Regiment will be on display in Ely Museum to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.
The recently conserved King’s Colour of the First World War ‘Cambs Suffolks’ – the 11th (Service) Battalion - Suffolk Regiment, will be on display from November 3.
It comes as part of a new temporary exhibition of wartime items, including medals and details of some of the local Ely men who served during the war.
The King’s Colour, which was presented to the battalion in January 1919, has been in Ely since it was placed in Ely Cathedral in May 1922.
In 2016, due to the rapidly deteriorating condition of the delicate silk, it was removed and it was agreed that the unique item, which represents all those who served in the battalion, should be conserved and saved.
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The museum say that they aim to provide a “fitting home for this important item from our county’s past”.
Also on Sunday November 3 there will be a First World War family history day at the museum from 11am to 4pm.
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A team of researchers, including experts on local regiments such as the Cambridgeshire Regiment, Hunts Cyclists and the Suffolk Regiment, will be on hand to help any visitors that would like to find out more about the wartime service of their relatives.
Visitors are also welcome to bring along any wartime photographs, postcards, medals, badges or items that they would like to find out more about.
The event will also include our pop-up exhibition, which details the 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment’s part in the fighting of 1918 – a year that saw the heaviest losses for the battalion for any year of the war.
Alongside this there will be a display of medals and biographies of some of the Cambs men involved in the 1918 fighting.
Ely Museum will also be open for free during Remembrance Weekend on Saturday November 10 10.30 to 4pm and Sunday November 11 1pm to 4pm.
