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Bullet extracted from Alfred Smith's lung in 1940

A Soldier's Life

The curious story of Alfred Smith

A chance discovery by a curator’s brother-in-law lifted the lid on a surprising story of service that now features in our refreshed Soldier gallery. A selection of unexceptional First World War medals proved the key to unlocking this series of extraordinary events.

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Glengarry badge, 50th (Queen’s Own) Regiment of Foot, c1874

50th (The Queen’s Own) Regiment of Foot

This infantry unit was raised in 1755. It served in many British Army campaigns until 1881, when it was amalgamated into The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).

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Glengarry badge, 97th (Earl of Ulster’s) Regiment of Foot, c1874

97th (The Earl of Ulster’s) Regiment of Foot

This infantry unit was raised in 1824. It continued in British Army service until the 1881 reforms, when it was merged into The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).

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The Queen’s Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment

This infantry regiment was formed in 1961. It had a brief existence until 1966, when it merged with three other units to form The Queen's Regiment.

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The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment

This infantry unit was formed in 1881. It continued in British Army service until 1961, when it was amalgamated into The Queen’s Own Buffs, Royal Kent Regiment.

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Army Air Corps

The Army Air Corps originated in the Second World War and is the aviation combat and reconnaissance arm of the British Army. Its members have served in most of the Army's major campaigns.

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Royal Army Dental Corps

Formed in 1921, the Royal Army Dental Corps took care of the British Army’s oral hygiene for over a century, both in barracks and on active operations. In 2024, it merged with two other corps to form the Royal Army Medical Service.

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Royal Army Pay Corps

This British Army unit was responsible for administering financial matters, such as pay and accounts. It was amalgamated into the Adjutant General's Corps in 1992.

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The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret’s Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment)

This Scottish infantry regiment was formed in 1959. It continued in British Army service until 2006, when it was merged into The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

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Cap badge, Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), c1914

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s)

This infantry unit was formed in 1881 and recruited in western and central Scotland. It served with the British Army until 2006, when it was amalgamated into The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

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Glengarry badge, 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders), c1876

93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot

This Scottish infantry regiment was raised in 1799. It served with the British Army until the 1881 reforms, when it was merged into Princess Louise’s (Argyll and Sutherland) Highlanders.

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Gurkhas open fire during an attack near Palel, April 1944

Battles of Imphal and Kohima

These battles formed the turning point of one of the most gruelling campaigns of the Second World War. The Japanese defeat in north-east India in 1944 became the springboard for the subsequent re-conquest of Burma.

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Breaking boundaries

During the Second World War, women took on increasingly diverse roles. But, like their First World War predecessors, they were still prevented from fighting.

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Remembrance

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