Collection: Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The Regimental Museum of the Royal Highland Fusiliers was formed by the amalgamation of the collections of The Royal Scots Fusiliers and The Highland Light Infantry, when those two regiments amalgamated to form The Royal Highland Fusiliers in 1959.

  The Museum opened to the public in 1960 and underwent a major refurbishment in 1988.

  Military museums and their associated collections originated from items donated to or collected by the Regimental Headquarters in a more or less ad hoc way until the arrangements became form formal and eventually, towards the middle of the twentieth century, were officially recognised by the Ministry of Defence.

  The current collection is composed largely from donations, which explains the somewhat eclectic nature of the items; however, there have been some purchases, mainly of uniforms to fill gaps in the collection.

  Historically, the curatorial duties of military museums have been the remit of the incumbent Regimental Secretary with the aid of their respective Trusts and Museum Committees. As noted above, The Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum collection has been mainly determined by donations, along with some minor purchases – it is, therefore, not really possible to single out any one person who has had a significant effect on the shape or content of the collection.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2016

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The collections are made up of items relating to the history and development of the Regiment and associated personalities. The term ‘Regiment’ includes: The 21st of Foot, The Royal Scots Fusiliers; the 71st Highlanders, later the 1st Battalion The Highland Light Infantry; The 74th Highlanders, later the 2nd Battalion The Highland Light Infantry; The Royal Highland Fusiliers; The Volunteer and Territorial Battalions; The Militia, Service Battalions and their successors.

  The Collections Include:

  • Accessioned objects which comprise medals (1,500), textiles, uniforms, silver (1,200), paintings, prints and drawings (520), weapons (60), personalia and photographs (5,500).
  • A documents archive which is not accessioned but listed under a separate numbering system.
  • A library of books which is not accessioned.
  • Items on loan to the Museum, which comprise approximately 1% of the collections. Loan agreements are in place.
  • Items on loan from the Museum, which comprise approximately5% of the collections. A new Loans Policy was developed in 2012 to ensure closer management of these items.

  The period of time to which the collection relates will be from the raising of the antecedent military units of the Regiment through to its present day successors.

  The collecting area is not defined geographically, but may encompass all regions with which the Regiment has been associated throughout its history.

  At present, there are no collections that will not be subject to further acquisition.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2016

  Licence: CC BY-NC