World War Two Identity Cards: Adult and Child

These World War Two Identity Cards are part of our War and Weaponry Collection.

Identity cards were introduced during the War under the National Registration Act 1939. Everyone, including children, had to carry an identity (ID) card at all times to show who they were and where they lived. Identification was necessary if families got separated from one another or their house was bombed, and if people were injured or killed. Inside the identity card was the owner's name and address, including changes of address. People had to carry identity cards where ever they went until seven years after the end of the war in 1952.

World War Two Girls Training Corps 5 Year Long Service Enamel Badge

This world War Two Girls Training Corps 5 Year Long Service Enamel Badge is part of our War and Weaponry Collection.

The first Girls Training Corps units were formed in 1941. The GTC's purpose, as with other cadet organisations at the time, was to prepare young people for service to their community and to support in the war effort upon reaching adulthood. For the Girls Training Corps this meant training in military drill in preparation for potentially serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. The GTC was open to girls aged 14 to 20, and its motto was "To serve and Train for Service".

Activities included learning to act as bicycle couriers, learning morse code, aircraft recognition, gymnastics, homemaking, craft-work, public affairs, land navigation, learning first aid, marksmanship, firefighting, and assisting with air warden duties. During the war and after GTC companies and members were active in volunteering in the community, such as volunteering as "sitter-ins" in hospitals.

Durham Light Infantry cap badge and original beret

This Durham Light Infantry cap badge and original beret is part of our War and Weaponry Collection.

The Durham Light Infantry was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the Militia and Volunteers of County Durham. During World War Two, the D.L.I. raised 15 battalions, two Regular, six 1st and 2nd line Territorial (one renamed and transferred to another regiment), and the remainder war formed (mostly so called 'Dunkirk' battalions), with 10 seeing active service overseas.


Official Programme of the Victory Celebrations 8th June 1946

This Official Programme of the Victory Celebrations 8th June 1946 is part of our War and Weaponry Collection.

The London Victory Celebrations of 1946 were British Commonwealth, Empire and Allied victory celebrations held after the defeat of Nazi Germany and Japan in World War II. The celebrations took place in London on 8 June 1946, and consisted mainly of a military parade through the city and a night time fireworks display.

World War Two RAF Air Ministry Lancaster Bomb Selector Switch Box

This World War Two RAF Air Ministry Lancaster Bomb Selector Switch Box is part of our War and Weaponry Collection.

The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined World War Two heavy bomber. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942;  it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed.This Bomb Selector Switch Box enabled the pilot to activate the bombs.

"Mighty Midget" World War Two Air Raid Shelter Books

We have two "Mighty Midgets" books in our War and Weaponry Collection. Our two books are called "Dogs in War" and "I'm a Parachutist".

The Mighty Midget range of books were produced for children spending time in Air Raid Shelters in World War Two. They were 32-page books which measured 3¾ inches by 2½ inches. They were sold at threepence, and subsidised by a full page advertisement on the back. Some of the books contained stories liked Tom Thumb and Oliver Twist , while others were specially written with patriotic titles like Munich for Tonight and I captured a U-Boat. They were printed in the East End of London by W Barton (Publishers) Ltd., of Central Street, EC1.

The scripts aimed to be uplifting, with positive endings and brave children playing an important part in many of the stories. The aim was to distract the reader from the drone of aircraft overhead. The small books fitted neatly into pockets so that they could be kept to hand in case the sirens sounded in the dead of night.


World War One Shell Base

We have the base of a 1916 World War One shell in our War and Weaponry Collection.

Shells are projectile weapons which contain explosives. They are usually cylindrical with a 'nose' at the end to aid their ability to travel through the air.They were first recorded as being used in the Republic of Venice in 1376.

Shrapnel shells used in World War One contained lots of little bits of metal or bullets. These were fired out at great speed when the shell burst. Shrapnel could inflict enormous damage to soldiers, animals and equipment. It is estimated that throughout 5,000,000 tons of shells were used by the Allies against enemy positions.

Soldiers who had been subjected to continual exposure to shell-fire were in danger of developing a condition called "shell shock". The symptoms included tiredness, irritability, giddiness, lack of concentration and headaches. Eventually many of these men suffered mental breakdowns, which made it impossible for them to remain in the front line. Between 1914 and 1918, 80,000 men in the British Army (2% of those who saw active service) were diagnosed as suffering from shell-shock.

World War Two Gas Mask

This is a 1939 Avon Gas Mask from our war and weaponry collection.

During World War I (1914-1918) many soldiers had been badly injured, or killed, when their enemies threw bombs at them which released poisonous fumes when they exploded. During World War II, Britain was very worried that these gas bombs would be dropped on the country during air raids and injure innocent civilians. So the authorities supplied everyone with gas masks so that they would be protected if this happened.

It was the responsibility of air raid wardens to ensure that everybody had been issued with a gas mask.

The gas masks had a filter near the mouth which prevented the gas from coming inside. The masks covered your whole face so your eyes were also protected.

Fortunately the gas masks were never used as no gas bombs were dropped in Britain during World War II.

World War Two Warden's Air Raid Whistle

This plated brass World War Two Warden's Air Raid whistle can be found in our War and Weaponry collection.

Air Raid Precautions (ARP) was an organisation in the United Kingdom dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids. It was created in 1924 as a response to the fears about the growing threat from the development of bomber aircraft.


Other duties included helping to police areas suffering bomb damage and helping bombed-out householders. ARP wardens were trained in basic fire-fighting and first aid, and could keep an emergency situation under control until official rescue services arrived.

Lithic Arrowhead

This arrowhead forms part of our wider collection of lithic tools. It dates to between 8000 and 4000 BC and comes from Southern Britain.

The earliest stone tools were recovered from modern Ethiopia and were dated to between two-million and three-million years old. They were made by hard rock being struck against the raw material in order to chip off large flakes and begin to shape the stone. After that, a soft hammer is used to chip away flakes with more precision.

This tool came from a period known as Mesolithic Britain. During this time, the climate was warming, and the Doggerland - a land bridge between Britain and Continental Europe - was being flooded by rising sea water. Tools were becoming more sophisticated, and the types of animals humans were eating were changing from reindeer and wild horse to pigs, red deer, wild boar and wild cattle, which required different hunting techniques.


Roman Onager Shot

This stone onager shot is part of our Roman and Weaponry collection. The shot would have been used by a Roman siege engine called an onager, which was a type of catapult. It used the force of twisted rope to store energy for the shot.

It was called after an onager (wild ass) because of the kicking action of the machine.


The onagers of the Roman Empire were mainly used for besieging forts or settlements. They would often be armed with large stones that could be covered with a combustible substance and set alight. They could be outranged by bows.

Princess Mary Tin

This 1914 Princess Mary Tin is part of our War and Weaponry Collection,

It was Princess Mary's express wish that 'every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front' should have the present. The gifts were devised in October 1914 and intended for distribution to all who were serving overseas or at sea, in time for Christmas 1914.

It was intended to contain one ounce of pipe tobacco, twenty cigarettes, a pipe, a tinder lighter, Christmas card and photograph. However, quite early on, the committee in charge received strong representations that an alternative gift should be made available for non-smokers. It was then agreed that non-smokers should receive a packet of acid tablets, a writing case containing pencil, paper and envelopes together with the Christmas card and photograph of the Princess.