As part of our museum refurbishment project, Update25, we are bringing the stories and histories of those who served in our regiments to life. We are offering a unique opportunity for individuals to have their picture and brief service history, or personal memories featured on the Supporters Wall (working title).
This prominent display will showcase real-life profiles on wooden tiles, which rotate to reveal a summary of each person’s service. Visitors will be able to interact with the wall, and we are also offering the chance to include additional service details, reflections, and photographs in a commemorative book, of which you will receive a copy.
The attached PDF brochure provides further details about the project, the Supporters Wall, and the package we are offering. To secure one of the 62 spaces, individuals are asked to make a fixed-price donation, with all proceeds going directly toward the redevelopment. This is a valuable way to support the project and ensure its completion to the highest standard.
This is a lasting opportunity to be part of our history and to help preserve it for future generations. It is available to all who have served with or been attached to our antecedent regular or reserve regiments, including The Rifles.
Please review the attached brochure for more information. Spaces are limited, and with over 30 tiles already reserved, we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment. To secure your space, please follow the instructions in the brochure and pay your £49 initial deposit.
New ‘Team Tile’ Option
We are introducing a Team Tile option—a slightly larger tile that can feature up to four people. This option can be used for themes like Father and Son/Grandson, Brothers in Arms, Best Mates, a Married Couple, or Then and Now. It offers a way to share the donation (cost) among several people. We also offer payment plans by instalment if needed.
The only requirement is that someone featured on the tile must be linked to one of our former regiments. For example, if you have two brothers who served in another regiment or a father who was in the Royal Navy, they can still be included, alongside you as the eligible party.
You can select this option on the application form. We do require a lead applicant to coordinate with the others!
Museum Redevelopment Progress
The outline design for our redevelopment was completed in September, and we are now working on the detailed internal layout of cases, objects, and accompanying text. The museum is currently closed as we remove and condition artifacts for storage or redisplay.
In November, we will remove all the cases, make infrastructure upgrades to heating and lighting, and begin decorating, laying new flooring, and repositioning cases. Afterward, the designers will install mounts, labels, and set dressing and we will put our objects back out. This will be followed by an audio-visual fit-out, and we plan to reopen in early March.
Formal Opening
The museum’s official opening will take place on Saturday, 10th May 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with a ‘Victory’ special exhibition. Please save the date—we hope you can attend. Further details will follow. We are also hoping for a Royal visit during the spring or summer.
Completing your Application Form for the Supporters Wall FAQs
What do you need to do right now?
- Complete the Application Form
- If you are a UK taxpayer, please also complete the attached Gift Aid Form. Please ensure you do so as it allows us to claim a further amount from HMRC
- All forms (Application Form and Gift Aid) have been created and sent in MSWord so you can complete them on your PC. Please save them under their current file title and add your surname and initial(s) to the file name
- Email the forms to: Update25@thewardrobe.org.uk
- Title your email with “Supporters Wall” followed by your Surname and initial(s)
- Pay your deposit donation of £49 by BACS (ideal) or by cheque. See the section on Payment Details in the Application Form for exactly how to do this, so we can track all of your donation payments
- Alternatively send the completed forms and/or payment to:
Supporters Wall
Trust Manager RWMT
The Wardrobe
58 The Close
Salisbury
SP1 2EX
How does the process work?
- You complete the forms, send them to us and pay your deposit donation. Your place on the wall and all the other associated benefits are now secure!
- We send you a full instruction pack with details on what information and photographs we need for the wall and the manuscript
- You supply the required information for your tile
- We edit it appropriately, format and lay it out, and return it to you for proofing
- You approve the content and pay your donation balance of £450
- We produce your Supporters Wall tile and draft entry for the manuscript for approval
- We send your VIP tickets and details of the opening event, planned for Spring 2025
- You come to the opening event, see the redeveloped museum and the Supporters Wall, collect your manuscript and enjoy the day and the hospitality
- We record all your information in our digital archives for future generations
When should I apply?
As soon as possible. We have a limited space and can only fit 62 tiles on the wall, on a first come first served basis.
How will you decide where my information goes on the wall?
Once we are ready for production there will be a draw to place people in positions. It is not done alphabetically or by rank. All positions on the wall are just as good as each other – at a good height and clearly visible.
Who is eligible to apply for a place on the Supporters Wall?
Applications are open to anyone who has served in our antecedent regular or reserve regiments, up to and including the Rifles, or who has been attached to any of those regiments.
Can I be put on the wall next to my brother?
If you are part of a family or friendship group, then when the first member is drawn the rest will be allocated adjacent positions, if you so wish. Simply make your request in the relevant part of the required information, which will be contained in the full instruction pack.
What happens if I change my mind and want to cancel my place?
This depends on where we are in the preparation, design and production process. We will, of course, try to refund donations where we can.
How do I apply for someone else or “in memoriam”?
Complete an Application Form with your details (so we can liaise with you) and make the reservation donation payment using their name as the payment reference (see payment instructions on the Application Form for how to create this reference). Complete the second table in the Application Form “for someone else” with the details of the person you wish to apply for/commemorate.
We appreciate comrades may wish to join together for funding, but we ask that there is a lead applicant who coordinates you all and pays the deposit and later the balance of the donation. If you are joining together to fund a place for someone else, please DO NOT submit a Gift Aid form for that application, as you may collect donations from a number of people.
If you are also applying for yourself, please submit your own (separate) form, with a Gift Aid form if you are currently a UK taxpayer.
How do I apply for a “Group Tile”?
Complete an application form, selecting the “Group Tile option”. Pay the standard donation deposit. We will send you the necessary forms to complete. As the lead you will need to gather all the information, photographs and make payment for the tile – liaising with the others as necessary. We do need a lead applicant to coordinate the others contributing to the tile.
What if I don’t want my details to be available online?
That is no problem. Just let us know when you complete your instruction pack and we will not upload the service details you have supplied, we will just use them for this discreet project.
Can I pay by instalments?
This payment method creates additional administration for you and us. Please pay the deposit to secure your place and then you will have time to make provision for the remaining payment. If you do want to send us money each month – minimum of £50 – then let us know and use the same payment reference and we will track the nine months of post deposit donations.
When will the final donation of £450 be required?
We need to receive your final donation payment within 30 days of making the request to you (unless we have agreed to take instalments). This will fund the production of your tile, construction of the wall and printing of the manuscript. We expect to request the final amount of your donation in January 2025.
