Our collection holds nearly 4,000 items of clothing associated with the Royal Artillery, from full uniforms to the individual accessories that make the uniform both functional and distinctive, the earliest being over 200 years old. There are many ornate and colourful uniforms, a sign of status on early battlefields that remains a centrepiece of ceremonial events today. However, from the early twentieth century the desire to reduce visibility led first to the introduction of khaki uniforms and then, from WW2 onwards, the increasing use of camouflage patterned battledress.
Our collection includes examples of the standard issue uniforms familiar to generations of Gunners, as well as individual uniforms that were worn by Gunner Field Marshalls and Generals. There are examples of most types of belts and webbing worn by the Royal Artillery, accessories such as swagger sticks and ammunition pouches, and a vast collection of cap badges, buttons and Regimental ties.
