A TREASURED museum telling the stories of soldiers from Berkshire and Wiltshire across almost 300 years has officially reopened after a major transformation.

The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum, based in Salisbury Cathedral Close, formally reopened on Saturday (16 May) following an ambitious 18-month refurbishment designed to bring military history to life for a new generation.

Gone are rows of traditional displays aimed mainly at military enthusiasts.

Instead, the revamped museum now takes a story-led approach, focusing on the lives, courage and experiences of individual soldiers from the 18th century to the modern day, with families and younger visitors firmly in mind.

At the heart of Saturday’s ceremony was a powerful reminder of the human cost of war.

A commemorative plaque, unveiled by the grandsons of decorated First World War officer Captain Mervyn Pugh, honours soldiers as “ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage, many of them never returned”.

Edward and Jonathan Pugh.

Captain Pugh’s grandsons, Edward and Jonathan, officially opened the museum.

Jonathan, a Salisbury-based cartoonist for the Daily Mail, cut the ceremonial tape, while Edward unveiled the plaque.

Edward Pugh unveils the plaque.

The plaque.

The brothers have also loaned deeply personal family artefacts to the museum including their grandfather’s steel helmet – still bearing a bullet hole through its rim.

Major Nigel Walker, chairman of the museum’s trustees, said: “If we do not present our history effectively, then the example, the service and the sacrifice of the soldiers of Berkshire and Wiltshire will simply be lost to the public consciousness. We did not want this for our forebears – nor for our comrades.”

The reopening marks the end of a three-year project involving extensive research, redesign and fundraising, led by managing trustee Andy Fontana and curator Bethany Joyce.

Guests included senior military leaders, Salisbury MP John Glen, Salisbury’s new mayor Cllr Jenny Bolwell and veterans, including the motorcycle-riding “Brandywine Bikers”.

Major Nigel Walker, chairman of the Trustees, with Salisbury MP John Glen.

Buglers Corporal Curtis Jones and Rifleman Tomasi Matakibau from 5 Rifles at Bulford also set the tone.

Bemedalled buglers from 5 Rifles announce the start of the ceremony.