Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museums (IWM) has branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. Founded as the Imperial War Museum in 1917, and its focus is on recording civil and military war efforts and sacrifice of all conflicts in which British or Commonwealth forces have been involved since 1914.

The museum’s collections include archives of personal and official documents, audiovisual material, and oral history, an extensive library, an art collection, and examples of military equipment and technology.

Exhibits of the Imperial War Museum

These British 15 inches (381 mm) Naval Guns are from HMS Ramillies and HMS Resolution. The 15-inch gun design was the most widely used of any British models, and the most efficient heavy gun ever developed by the Royal Navy. It was deployed on battleships from 1915 until 1959 and was an essential Royal Navy gun in both World Wars.

Néry is a commune in northern France, where on 1 September 1914, the British 1st Cavalry Brigade and L Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery who had camped at Néry, were surprised by the advancing German Cavalry Division. The German attack devastated the British battery, however, this single 13 pounder gun was kept firing, and held off the Germans long enough for a counterattack to drive away the attackers. Three Victoria Crosses were awarded to L Battery and the “Néry Gun” is now preserved in the Imperial War Museum.