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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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Collar badge, 14th (King's) Hussars, c1900

14th King’s Hussars

This British Army cavalry regiment was raised in 1715. It continued in service until 1922, when it amalgamated with the 20th Hussars to form the 14th/20th Hussars.

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Cap badge, 20th Hussars, c1902

20th Hussars

This cavalry regiment was raised as an East India Company unit in 1858. It soon transferred to British Army service and existed until 1922, when it was merged into the 14th/20th Hussars.

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Other ranks' cap badge, Queen's Royal Irish Hussars, c1958

The Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars

Formed in 1958, this armoured regiment served with the British Army until 1993, when it was merged into The Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish).

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Cap badge, other ranks, 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars, c1900

8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars

This British Army cavalry regiment was raised in Ireland in 1693. It went on to serve in many campaigns until 1958, when it merged into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars.

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Other ranks' cap badge, 4th (Queen's Own) Hussars, c1900

4th Queen’s Own Hussars

This British Army cavalry regiment was formed in 1685. It served in many campaigns until 1958, when it was merged into The Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars.

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Cap badge, 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars, c1900

7th Queen’s Own Hussars

This cavalry regiment was raised in 1689. It went on to serve with the British Army until 1958, when it merged with the 3rd Hussars to form The Queen’s Own Hussars.

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Cap badge, 3rd The King's Own Hussars, 1902

3rd The King’s Own Hussars

This cavalry regiment was formed in 1685. It went on to serve in many British Army campaigns until 1958, when it became part of The Queen’s Own Hussars.

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Other ranks' cap badge, The Queen's Own Hussars, c1960

The Queen’s Own Hussars

This armoured unit was formed in 1958 by amalgamating the 3rd Hussars and the 7th Hussars, both of which had existed since the 1680s. It was the senior light cavalry regiment of the British Army.

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Queen Elizabeth II views her old uniform at NAM, 2017

Inspired by a princess’s uniform

In 2018, British heritage brand Hawes & Curtis partnered with the National Army Museum to create a limited edition collection. It was inspired by a military uniform Queen Elizabeth II wore as a young princess.

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General Sir Charles Keightly, Commander in Chief Operation Muskateer, meets French paratroopers at Suez, 1956

Suez Crisis

In 1956, British and French forces invaded Egypt in collusion with Israel. Although the military operation was a success, the political storm it caused led to a humiliating withdrawal.

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Charge of the Light Brigade, 1854

Crimean War

The Crimean War was fought by Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia against Russia. For the British, the campaign was symbolised by military and logistical incompetence alongside the bravery and endurance of its soldiers.

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The Battle of Abu Klea, 17 January 1885

Egypt and the Sudan

British forces occupied Egypt in 1882 to safeguard the Suez Canal and British financial interests. This led to further intervention in the neighbouring Sudan, where two wars against rebellious Islamic tribesmen were fought in hostile desert conditions.

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Remembrance

The Royal Artillery Memorial, Hyde Park Corner, London, 1925
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Honouring the fallen

After the First World War, British society had to come to terms with the loss of huge numbers of its service personnel. Across the country, people found ways to commemorate the fallen at a local and national level.

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The coffin of the Unknown Warrior borne in a wagon with a guard of Allied soldiers, 10 November 1920
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The Unknown Warrior: A mystery solved

The grave of the Unknown Warrior contains the remains of an unidentified British serviceman, interred in 1920 to honour the fallen of the First World War. The secretive selection process remains shrouded in mystery.

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The Cenotaph in Whitehall, 1919
story

Peace and commemoration

After the Armistice in November 1918, millions of soldiers hoped they would soon go home. But demobilising so many troops was a huge task. How best to mark the Allied victory also became a subject for debate.

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National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HT
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