The Purple Poppies tour from Richmond is heading to the REME Museum.

The REME Museum in Lyneham, Wiltshire, is proud to announce that ‘The Purple Richmond Poppies’ will be displayed at the museum throughout Summer 2025 in tribute to the sacrifice of animals in war.

On show from 1 July – 7 September, the REME Museum invites visitors to see the display in their Remembrance Gallery, a fitting location to reflect upon the sacrifices of humans and animals, side-by-side, in wartime and peacetime operations. As well as the eye-catching purple poppies, the display includes objects and artefacts highlighting the roles of animals in military operations since the First World War. It will also include contributions from the museum’s collection telling the story of how animals have played a role in the lives of REME soldiers.

‘The Purple Richmond Poppies’ is a cascade of poppies carefully crafted by a group of makers from Richmond, North Yorkshire, in recognition of the sacrifices made by animals killed in conflicts. The poppies adorn camouflage netting kindly donated by Catterick Garrison. Originally displayed in J&H Meynells Garden Supplies and Pet Shop during the First World War centenary commemorations of 2018, this beautiful display was later gifted to the Northern Region of the Donkey Breed Society, who are kindly loaning it out to military museums. Their tour, that began in 2024, has been to York Army Museum, the Cumbrian Museum of Military Life, the Cheshire Military Museum and most recently, the Green Howards Museum in Richmond.

Sarah Booth from the Northern Region of the Donkey Breed Society said: ‘We are delighted to be touring The Poppies in the southern part of the country, bringing the message of remembering the vital roles played by animals in war, and our ethos of commemoration through crafting, to an even wider audience.’

Further supporting the display, there will be donkeys at The Museum!  DBS member Clare is taking her donkeys, Jake, Lottie and Dandy to the Museum on Sunday 13^th July and Island Farm Donkeys are visiting on August Bank Holiday Monday!

For families, there will be purple poppy and donkey related crafts in the museum’s ‘Creation Station’ crafts area, which will be open throughout the School Summer Holidays (29 July – 29 August).

The display will be available for viewing from Tuesday 1 July – Sunday 7 September. Entry to the display is included with admission to the museum.

The REME Museum, Lyneham, is open Tuesday to Sunday 10.00am – 4.30pm, with last entry at 3.00pm. Head to www.rememuseum.org.uk for further information on exhibitions, events and family activities.

More about the Museum:

The REME Museum exists to tell the story of the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). Formed in October 1942, wherever you find the British Army, there you will find REME. Whether it’s maintaining a helicopter, repairing a missile launcher or recovering a broken-down tank, REME will be on-hand, ensuring the Army is always ready for action.

Discover the people, equipment and stories behind the uniform at the REME Museum. Located just outside MOD Lyneham in Wiltshire, the museum features modern, interactive displays from rare World War Two vehicles to a tiny toothbrush made by a REME prisoner of war.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:30. Facilities include our not-for-profit café, Crown’s Café, an under 7s playpark and gardens around the grounds.

Website: www.rememuseum.org.uk