By way of introduction, and to put the body of this paper in context, it may be helpful to say a few words about the National Army Museum and its Collections.

The Museum received its Royal Charter in 1960 when it was established at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and moved to its present location in Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, where it opened to the public in 1971. Under the terms of its Charter, the Museum is responsible for collecting, preserving and interpreting items relating to the the history of the British Army from 1485 to the present day, the Indian Army until 1947, and the land forces of Britain's overseas possessions until their respective dates of independence.