HorsePower, The Museum of The King's Royal Hussars

HorsePower, The Museum of The King's Royal Hussars Welcome to the Museum of The King's Royal Hussars in Wi******er.

Donate to our Museum Appeal https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/26274 #!/DonationDetails
01962 828539 Visit HorsePower, the Museum of The King’s Royal Hussars, with its stunning displays of life size models, inter-active exhibits, medals, swords, magnificent uniforms and fascinating photographs which show how the Cavalry of horse and sabre developed into the modern armoured regiment of today. Trace the

history of seven famous regiments over a period of 300 years and marvel at the great heroes who won the Victoria Cross for their valour. The dramatic exploits of men who fought in the Peninsular War, the Charge of the Light Brigade, the two World Wars are revealed and much more besides. Follow the story of the men and horses of the 10th Hussars, 11th Hussars, 14th Hussars, 20th Hussars, 14th/20th King's Hussars, Royal Hussars and the King's Royal Hussars! You will find all of this in Hampshire’s only museum of Cavalry, located within the grand setting of Peninsula Square, a site full of military heritage. Visitors to HorsePower Museum may wonder why there are no exhibits devoted to The 14th/20th King’s Hussars and its predecessor regiments. The 14th/20th collection used to be displayed in the Museum of Lancashire in Preston until it was closed. The collection was then moved to our store in Wi******er and we are working behind the scenes to display it as an integral part of the story of The King’s Royal Hussars. Once our re-design plans are confirmed and funding is available, we will post regular updates on our website and social media.

Behind every medal, photograph, and uniform is a person. We remember the human stories behind military history. Ordinary...
17/06/2026

Behind every medal, photograph, and uniform is a person.

We remember the human stories behind military history. Ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances.

Today's choice is Captain Alexander Gifford Ludford Astley, 14th Hussars. Astley originally enlisted as a Second Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers in 1900. He transferred into the 14th Hussars on 28th October 1903.

His initial stint with the 14th spanned ten years, and he spent much of his time in India. From newspaper and journal snippets we discovered that he was quite the competent polo player, being a fixed member of the 14th Hussars polo team whilst in India.

Between 1911 and 1914 he was seconded as an Adjutant with the Glamorgan Yeomanry. Altogether he would serve three years with them, before transferring back to the 14th Hussars just after the outbreak of the First World War. Astley would join the regiment in Mesopotamia in December 1914.

Little is known of his service, although regimental records show that he was Commander of "D" Squadron. Astley unfortunately was killed in action at the Battle of Lajje, on 5th March 1917.

The following is an obituary for Captain Astley, taken from The Atherstone News, Friday 6th April 1917.

'The death is announced, killed in action, in Mesopotamia, of Captain A.G.L. Astley, son of a clergyman and nephew of Lady Norton of Hams Hall. Deceased was in the Hussars, and had been in the Army over 16 years. He belonged to a very old Warwickshire family, who were formerly seated at Astley Castle and Ansley Hall. Deceased married daughter of the late Colonel George Arbuthnot.'

Astley died aged just 35, and was survived by his wife, Mary Christobel Ludford Astley. The pair had married in Spring 1914.

HorsePower Museum is unfortunately closed Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday this week. This is due to continued buil...
15/06/2026

HorsePower Museum is unfortunately closed Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday this week. This is due to continued building works from the Gurkha Museum refurbishment. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

We are open Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th. Please do pop in to say hello if you find yourself on site! ✨

This week, staff and volunteers have been working on improving the storage of our uniform collection. Whilst doing this ...
12/06/2026

This week, staff and volunteers have been working on improving the storage of our uniform collection. Whilst doing this we had the opportunity to take some updated photographs of this service dress jacket, owned by Brigadier Charles Barnet 'Roscoe' Harvey.

Harvey entered the 10th Hussars in 1920, quickly being appointed Riding Master for the regiment. He was an enthusiastic sportsman, participating in racing, hunting, pig-sticking, and polo.

Upon the mechanisation of his squadron in the late 1920s, it was reported that '[Harvey] shows absolutely no aptitude for mechanisation whatsoever'. In spite of this, he would go on to become a highly skilled tank commander. He would be promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, forming the 23rd Hussars in December 1940. By November 1941 he was in command of the 10th Hussars, joining them in North Africa.

Harvey distinguished himself for his skill at warfare, earning three DSOs between 1942-1945. As far as we are aware, he is the only 10th Hussar to have done so. After the war, in March 1952, he was appointed as Colonel of the 10th Hussars, a position he remained in for ten years.

If you wish to learn more about Brigadier 'Roscoe' Harvey's extensive military career, you can purchase copies of his biography 'Roscoe - The Bright Shiner' from the museum giftshop.

Medal Ribbons (L-R):
Distinguished Service Order (2 Bars), 1939-45 Star, Africa Star (8th Army Clasp), France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal (with Mention-in-Despatches), Commander of the Order of Leopold II w/ Palm, Croix de Guerre (Belgium) w/ Palm

Saturday 6th June saw the conclusion of 'Walking the South Downs Way', with our museum chair, Miles Wade.✨Having started...
10/06/2026

Saturday 6th June saw the conclusion of 'Walking the South Downs Way', with our museum chair, Miles Wade.✨

Having started the walk to ‘Sussex by the sea’, on the final day Miles was joined by four serving King’s Royal Hussars, including the Regimental Sergeant Major, as well as two former Commanding Officers and Colonels of the Regiment, General Sir Richard Shirreff KCB CBE and General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB OBE.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported Miles and helped raise over £4,000 for the Museum. If you have not yet had the opportunity to contribute and would like to support the Miles and the Museum, please visit our website here:-

🔗https://horsepowermuseum.co.uk/walking-the-south-downs-way-for-the-kings-royal-hussars-museum/

Uniforms tell stories without saying a word. From cavalry traditions to modern military operations, the evolution of uni...
09/06/2026

Uniforms tell stories without saying a word.

From cavalry traditions to modern military operations, the evolution of uniforms reflects changing warfare, technology, and identity.

Past - 1828 Pattern 14th Light Dragoons Shako, made from black beaver fur with silver embroidery and gold thread. It proved unpopular with soldiers due to its weight and the little protection it provided in battle and from the weather.

Present - The King's Royal Hussars Virtus Helmet, adopted in 2016. It provides more protection than the Mk7 and is significantly lighter. It can be easily fitted with night-vision goggles, a mandible guard, and a visor. The latter provides extra protection for soldiers in open-topped vehicles.

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. On this day in 1944, Allied forces landed in Normandy in one of the most sign...
06/06/2026

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.

On this day in 1944, Allied forces landed in Normandy in one of the most significant military operations of the Second World War. Today we remember the courage of those who served, the lives lost, and the extraordinary determination shown on the day.

We also want to explore the role the 11th Hussars played in the operation. With the 10th in Italy and the 14th/20th in Iraq & Persia, the 11th are the closest connection we can get to D-Day in our archives. 3 days after D-Day, the Regiment landed on Juno beach. The men were forced to wait aboard their transport ship, later resorting to hailing landing craft to take their vehicles ashore.

The photograph here shows men of the 11th loading a Daimler Armoured Car onto a landing craft, June 1944.

The story of The King's Royal Hussars began long before modern warfare. The Hussars built a reputation for speed, courag...
02/06/2026

The story of The King's Royal Hussars began long before modern warfare.

The Hussars built a reputation for speed, courage, and adaptability, evolving over centuries from cavalry traditions into a modern armoured regiment.

Every regiment carries history. Ours carries generations of stories, service, and sacrifice.

🗺️Walking the South Downs Way🗺️Starting from tomorrow our Chair, Miles Wade CBE, will begin his week-long walk of the So...
29/05/2026

🗺️Walking the South Downs Way🗺️

Starting from tomorrow our Chair, Miles Wade CBE, will begin his week-long walk of the South Downs Way. In the morning he shall start the first leg of this 100 mile journey, beginning in Eastbourne.

On 6th June we will be welcoming him into Wi******er, where his journey will end here at HorsePower, The Museum of The King's Royal Hussars. If you wish to join us here, or join Miles for any stretch of his journey, please contact the Museum.

You have smashed the initial goal of £1,000, and so Miles has raised his target to £2,500. If you wish to donate to his fundraiser, or find out further information, please visit our website here:- https://horsepowermuseum.co.uk/walking-the-south-downs-way-for-the-kings-royal-hussars-museum/

What's an object on display that you might not expect to see? 🤔How about this tiny silver cigarette case, made to look l...
27/05/2026

What's an object on display that you might not expect to see? 🤔

How about this tiny silver cigarette case, made to look like a sentry box! This belonged to Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Brocklehurst, 10th Hussars, and was a Christmas present from his mother. The front of the box is engraved with his initials, 'H.C.B' and the date 'Xmas 1911'.

This style of box was popularised by the silversmith Sampson Mordan, who created a limited series of sentry box vesta cases (to hold waterproof matches) in 1886/7 for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The motif proved so popular that its use expanded, with cigarette cases, ink wells, and even name card holders being made with the image.

Mordan was originally believed to have showcased 12 regiments in his designs, but there are now over 30 regiments recorded across the various different sentry box objects.

The cigarette case is currently on display in the Museum. If you wish to see it for yourself we are open every week, Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm!

Address

Peninsula Barracks
Wi******er
SO238TS

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+441962828541

Website

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