Case Study Overview
Description: This exhibition describes the experiences of the tankmen and crews throughout WW2. Concentrating on the lesser well-known engagements, it includes personal stories of the men serving in the RTR throughout World War II, consisting of x18 different zones/battles.
Exhibition Space: Large exhibition hall – 3300sqm
Objective: Reposition x60 WW2 vehicles so they are seen in chronological order. Highlight lesser know battles and group vehicles into clear battlegroups.
Challenges: All of the vehicles had to be carefully removed and relocated. Once in position, walls and new features were built around vehicles. This left little room for error as none of the vehicles could be moved after they were placed in their final positions.
Custom Case design
WW2 Hall – Phase-1
The new World War II exhibition focuses on veterans’ personal stories and experiences during the war. The exhibition includes displays about various battles, personal artefacts, and interactive elements.
Notable features include the story of Peter Vaux and Robert Burroughs, the Matilda II tank, and the ‘Great Swarm’ advance. The exhibition also included live interviews with veterans and their families, sharing personal stories and experiences. His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, patron of the museum, delivered a formal opening address. The exhibition emphasises the human stories behind the technology, showcasing how personal items and individual experiences shaped the war effort.
Introduction & Back Story
The exhibition focuses on lesser-known battles like Arras and Operation Compass, showcasing stories of soldiers such as Alf Longstaff and Jock Watt, with the Matilda II tank, the ‘Queen of the Desert,’ prominently featured.
This project is the museum’s most significant vehicle move, necessitating careful planning to arrange the vehicles in designated zones since they were previously displayed out of chronological order.
Most vehicles are non-operational or non-runners, requiring towing for manoeuvrability and space. It’s akin to a massive game of Tetris. Once the vehicles are positioned, walls and interpretation displays are constructed around them, making accurate placement essential.
Richard Hale – First Vehicle Ride
Phase-1 – 3D Model Overview
Exhibition Introduction – Home Front House
Standards of wartime housing in Britain ranged from dilapidated tenement slums to stately homes. A high proportion of families still had outside lavatories and no bathroom. Children often shared beds with brothers and sisters or parents.
During the war, over 200,000 houses were destroyed by enemy bombing. Many children had to re-locate several times, often into prefabricated, emergency homes. In all, 34 million address changes took place during the war.
Life in Dorset differed from the major cities, with many children relocated to the rural Dorset county.
”There were soldiers billeted in the house next door. When the sirens went off, Mother didn’t think it would be too bad, so she put a blanket over the table and put the irons on either side to hold the blanket down, and we hid under there. If it was a bad raid, the soldiers from next door came and carried us down some steps to the shelter. We sat on two benches on either side. There were about 12-15 people in the shelter. We used to see the searchlights from Warmwell Airfield when there were raids.”
Home Front Cinema
During World War II, cinema was an essential entertainment and propaganda tool. It offered escapism from the war’s hardships, promoting hope and unity. Governments utilised films to foster patriotism and inform citizens. Popular comedies and musicals lifted spirits, while documentaries educated audiences on rationing and conservation. The collective experience of cinema helped strengthen community bonds and maintain morale during global conflict.
This representation of a local cinema plays extracts from the popular film Gone With The Wind, starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh.
Home Front Shop
During wartime rationing, home front shops played a crucial role in distributing limited resources fairly among the population. Rationing was implemented to ensure everyone had access to essential goods despite shortages. Shoppers were issued ration books containing coupons or stamps, which they used alongside money to purchase restricted items like food, clothing, and fuel.
Visitors and children are encouraged to dress up and try out selling goods. Learning whilst playing is essential for educators and plays a principal role in achieving STEM values for key-stage learning.
Home Front House
Families spend their spare time listening to wireless and gramophone records in the Home Front House living room and combined kitchen. The family also used this room to sew and knit, having to ‘Make do and Mend’ after clothes rationing was introduced in June 1941.
The difference between a modern and wartime kitchen is highlighted here, particularly storing food without a fridge and washing clothes without a washing machine. Food and fuel rationing also affected kitchen activity. Bacon, ham, butter, and sugar were the first foods to be rationed in January 1940, with meat going ‘on the ration’ from March 1940.
Testimonial – Education Officer
I have worked with Richard Hale on several exhibitions at The Tank Museum; he is a dream to work with.
Richard considers all your ideas and requirements and turns them into something spectacular. The main project I worked on with Richard was the Bovington street scene in the museum’s WW2 Hall. We had an old wartime house in the hall, but it was too small and did not fit the requirements of the schools that visited us. Richard designed a wonderful new World War Two House, Shop and Anderson shelter that can comfortably accommodate 20 to 25 children, which is the average school group size. He also incorporated many details from local sources to replicate the shop and cinema in Bovington during the war. These details link to the National Curriculum, which asks that schools teach “Significant historical events, people, and places in their locality.”
We also use the house and shop informally at weekends and school holidays. We run an activity called “Meet the 1940s Residents”, where Educators dress up as shopkeepers and housewives, and families can drop in and discover what life was like for people in wartime.
I would recommend Richard to anyone. He is very easy to work with, and his artistic flair is second to none.
Claire Cooper,
Senior Education Officer, The Tank Museum
Childrens Feedback
We use the street scene for formal and informal learning. Schools can book an educational workshop in the 1940s House and Shop.
Over 6,000 schoolchildren have taken part in this workshop. This is the feedback we have had from schools:
The children really enjoyed role playing in the shop, cinema and house displays. Also going in the Anderson shelter.
My favourite part of the day was when I was the shop assistant in the wartime shop
It was awesome to see how people lived during WW2.
My favourite part was the air raid shelter.
I really enjoyed learning about how people lived and shopped.
I loved the air raid shelter and the shop.
My favourite part of the day was when I was the shop assistant in the wartime shop
It was awesome to see how people lived during WW2.
My favourite part was the air raid shelter.
I really enjoyed learning about how people lived and shopped.
I loved the air raid shelter and the shop.
Battle of Arras and Operation Compass
The exhibition highlights lesser-known battles like Arras and Operation Compass, featuring stories of soldiers like Alf Longstaff and Jock Watt. The Matilda II tank, known as the ‘Queen of the Desert’, is prominently displayed.
The Battle of Arras was a counterattack launched by British and French forces against the advancing German army during the Battle of France in May 1940. The Allied forces aimed to disrupt the German blitzkrieg and delay their advance. The operation initially succeeded in surprising the Germans, particularly with British Matilda tanks proving effective against German anti-tank weapons.
The Normandy Campaign
‘After the success of D-Day, the next objective was to advance inland. The plan of General Bernard Montgomery was for British and Canadian forces in the east of the Allied positions to launch a series of large attacks.’
Displays include D-Day vehicles, the Churchill tank with petard mortar, and personal stories from veterans like Ian Hamilton. The exhibition emphasises the scale of tank battles during the Normandy campaign.
WW2 Hall – Phase-2
After the weeks stuck in the grinding battles of Normandy, the British and the Americans were rapidly advancing through France. For the British, bypassing the Channel ports still occupied by the Germans, the contrast was so great and the progress so easy that the thrust northwest was described as ‘swanning along’ – and the advance was nicknamed the ‘Great Swan’.
In March 1945, the Allies crossed the River Rhine and began their final assault on Germany. It was the last significant barrier to the Allies’ advance from the West and was both a physical and psychological line. It had to be crossed to the Allies, and to the Germans, it had to be held.
The exhibition concludes with a reflective zone. This is the area where we draw a conclusion and present visitors with a space to contemplate all they have learnt quietly.
3D Model Overview
The Great Swan
Having finally defeated German forces in the fierce and prolonged fighting in Normandy, British and Commonwealth troops could race across north-west France and Belgium in a couple of weeks. This period became known as the ‘Great Swan.’
Battle of Walcheren Causeway/Operation Infatuate
In autumn 1944, the Allies still had to bring most of their supplies many miles by road from the Normandy beaches due to the Germans destroying or holding the channel ports. The capture of the substantial Belgian port of Antwerp would have made this situation much more straightforward. However, the estuary leading to Antwerp (known as the Scheldt) and the island of Walcheren at the northern mouth – first had to be cleared of enemy forces and guns capable of sinking ships.
The area is furnished with rich interpretations and personal stories. Our favourite is the account of Jimmy and his dog Khan.
Corporal Jimmy Muldoon and Rifleman Khan
Jimmy Muldoon was an infantryman, and Khan was his pet Alsatian. Khan rescued Jimmy during the action at Walcheren and was awarded the Dickin medal.
PDSA Dickin Medel – ‘Conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units’
“In November 1944, the 6th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), were part of the effort to liberate Walcheren Island and South Beveland from the German invaders. Among them was Lance Corporal Jimmy Muldoon, handler of Rifleman Khan, a German Shepherd skilled in finding explosives. The soldiers’ craft crossed a stretch of water and came under heavy fire. Muldoon’s boat capsized. The dog managed to reach the shore, but Muldoon, unable to swim, struggled helplessly. As he was about to disappear from view, Khan plunged into the water and dragged him to safety as shells continued to fall.”
Visitor Evaluation
100% Apeal to diferent ages
71% - 9/10 out of 10
Overall Rating 9.1 out of 10
The Tank Museum completed an independent evaluation report on the qualitative feedback for the 102 visitors took part in the phase two survey between April 2021 and October 2021
Visitor Feedback
“Pay once -go back all year, you’ll need to!”
”We have been before, but this time was without grand kids, so you actually get time to see more! And there is plenty to see, you need to go several times to see it all. The WW1 exhibition is great, but the new WW2 exhibition is amazing.
As a woman I am not a tank lover, but enjoy the personal stories , so I was happy to read about those.The trails for kids are great and the shop always my favourite part was jammed pack with things to please everyone. Staff very pleasant and helpful.”
“Well worth a visit”
“If I am honest I was expecting to follow my husband and 12 year old son around for the day whilst they looked at tanks, however I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of the best museums we have visited. It is very interactive with plenty of informative exhibitions, our son even learned a few things which will stay with him. I really liked the WW2 section which has artefacts and diary extracts from those who were there. It was a real insight. The tank ride was reasonably priced, as was the food and drink – both the cafe and restaurant. We spent around 5 hours here and it was a thoroughly enjoyable day out. Very much recommended.”
“Great day out for the family”
“Lots do and see. Incredible amount of tanks woven into the history of WW1, WW2 and beyond. My young daughter was initially unimpressed at the prospect of trawling around a tank museum but there were plenty of interactive activities, dressing up and even video games interspersed amongst the tanks to keep her happy. The fact you could walk inside some of the tanks was a plus. The King Tiger tank was very impressive”