On-line exhibitions

On-line or ‘virtual’ exhibitions perform a variety of roles. They can help to publicise a ‘real’ display or special exhibition that is currently available at the Museum. And if a special exhibition has finished, the related ‘virtual’ exhibition can fulfil a legacy role. ‘Virtual’ exhibitions can also include material that is additional to a particular display, thus drawing attention to items that form part of the study collections. Above all, ‘virtual’ exhibitions help to make the Museum’s collections available to the widest possible audience.

There are currently two ‘virtual’ exhibitions on the Museum’s website. They can be found by clicking on ‘Marines’ and then ‘Research and Collections’. The ‘virtual’ exhibition about the liberation of Walcheren in November 1944 not only reveals the interesting material on this topic at the Royal Marines Museum but also highlights material that is preserved at the Polderhouse Museum which is located in the small town of Westkapelle on the Dutch island of Walcheren. It was at Westkapelle that Royal Marines Commandos came ashore and then moved out to capture German strong points against fierce opposition. Unfortunately, the liberation of Westkapelle resulted in many civilian casualties. The story told in the ‘virtual’ exhibition features historic photos taken by British, German and Dutch photographers. Oral history interviews also feature strongly.

If you enjoy our ‘virtual’ exhibitions, please let us know what other topics you would like to see covered. Perhaps we should produce a ‘virtual’ exhibition about the Falklands War to coincide with the 30^th anniversary in 2012?