Thousands of priceless documents charting the history of the Staffordshire Yeomanry are being rescued and professionally preserved. The historic military archive – featuring maps from the D-Day landings, photographs with Field Marshall Montgomery, and letters spanning centuries – is being transferred to the Staffordshire History Centre. A partnership between Staffordshire County Council and the Staffordshire Yeomanry Museum Trust will ensure these treasures are catalogued and ready for public viewing in 2025.
The Staffordshire Yeomanry holds a distinguished place in military history. Founded in 1794 as a 300-strong cavalry unit, the regiment became one of only two conventional tank units to land on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day in 1944. The Yeomanry fought across North Africa and Europe throughout World War 2, taking part in major campaigns at El Alamein and the Rhine Crossing.
The collection being transferred to Stafford spans far more than official military records. It includes personal diaries, postcards, and everyday documents that paint a vivid picture of both the battles fought and the lives of those who served. These varied sources offer a uniquely human perspective on Staffordshire's military heritage.
The preservation project has received backing from an £1,850 grant awarded by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust. This funding recognises the significance of protecting these irreplaceable documents for future generations of Stafford residents and researchers interested in local and national military history.