Collection: Museum of the Royal Regiment of Scotland

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) is the senior line infantry regiment of the British Army. It was formed on 28th March 2006, on the fighting heritage of historic Scottish Infantry Regiments and represents over 390 years’ continuous service to the Crown. The Regiment is now made up of three regular battalions, one public duties company and two reserve battalions, with headquarters based in Edinburgh and battalions across Scotland and the north of England. Battalions and sub-units from the Regiment have been on constant operational deployment since 2006, including to Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and West Africa.

  The Museum of The Royal Regiment of Scotland was first established in 2013, opening to the public in May 2014. The collection began as a small number of items gathered by the staff of RHQ SCOTS but has since grown into a flourishing collection of Regimental and national significance, charting the experiences of SCOTS during operational service, daily life and all that occurs in between. It sits within the historic Edinburgh Castle and is currently co-located with the Royal Scots Museum.

  The varied collection now comprises over 750 objects including medals, uniform, artwork, weapons and archive material which date from formation in 2006 to present day. As a contemporary collection, collecting priorities are regularly being reassessed to ensure the objects in our care best reflect both the history and the currency of the Regiment. In 2017 the collection was awarded Nationally Recognised status as part of the Scottish Regimental Museums Collection cared for by the Association of Scottish Military Museums.

  The collection is managed by a full-time Museum Curator, responsible for its ongoing care and further development. A Learning Officer was employed in 2018 to lead the creation and development of a formal learning programme, designed to help people of all ages understand the current role of the Regiment and wider Infantry in Scotland, as well as its historical role in conflict and peacetime, at home and across the globe. The programme has adapted in the years since to provide in-person and online opportunities for learners to explore the museum collection, including formal museum visits and informal creative activities. This was furthered by the launch of the Regimental Museums Learning Hub in 2021, an online platform which features highlight objects from the museum collection, people and places of Regimental interest and a vast array of activities that learners worldwide can carry out at home.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2024

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The current collection of 750 items contains uniform, weapons, textiles (including flags, banners and other insignia), equipment, artwork, medals, presentation items and archive material (including physical and digital documents and photographs) used by and/or related to the Regiment and its members.

  A number of items from foreign units exist within the collection, including uniform, weapons, textiles, insignia and presentation items that have been acquired by or gifted to the Regiment and its members.

  The museum holds items on long-term loan from families of the Regiment. This includes a Military Cross medal group and personal items relating to SCOTS who have lost their lives in combat.

  A small handling collection also exists. The items in this collection belong to the museum but are not accessioned, therefore not bound by this policy.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2024

  Licence: CC BY-NC