THE Royal Artillery Museum in Larkhill is on a mission to save the stories of soldiers before they are lost forever and is looking for volunteers to help.
The museum is expanding its Oral History Project, which records first-hand accounts from members of the Gunner family, from wartime operations and military training to everyday life in service.
The aim is simple but important: preserve memories that might otherwise disappear.
Some of the stories already captured have proved invaluable.
In 2019, the museum interviewed Captain Leslie Gosling who shared his memories of the Battle of El Alamein.
Part of that recording later featured in the Master Gunner’s El Alamein Day Broadcast, showing how powerful these personal accounts can be.
Over the years, interviews have explored experiences from Normandy, Korea and Bosnia to National Service and post-war military life in Germany.
More recent recordings include members of King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery who reflected on their role in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
The museum has also documented stories from people like Francis Goode, who served with 4 (Durham) Survey Regiment in Normandy, and Molly Clarke and Grace Taylor, who worked alongside the Royal Artillery through the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) during the Second World War.
Some of those interviewed have since died making the project even more urgent.
With funding support from the Royal Artillery Institution, the museum is now recruiting volunteer interviewers and camera operators to help record more stories.
No previous experience is needed, as training will be provided in interview skills and filming equipment.
While interviews will take place across the UK, equipment is based in Larkhill, meaning local volunteers are especially welcome.
The museum hopes the growing archive will eventually support education, research and future exhibitions while ensuring the voices of generations of Gunners are never forgotten.
For details on volunteering, visit www.royalartillerymuseum.com/support-us/volunteer
I’m more interested in finding out my own families backgrounds in the military. Dad was an electrician in the Fleet Air Arm and my mum was in the Wrens. Previous to that my mum had been married to an RAF man who sadly was killed after less than a year. Do you just cover army personnel or all military?