THE KEEP - DORSET'S MILITARY MUSEUM by Lt.Col. Dick Leonard.

 

At our meeting on 12th February, the Curator of the museum in Dorchester gave us an excellent talk on some aspects of the military history of Dorset. As the Curator, he has made a detailed study of the Dorset Regiment and it's museum housed in the well-known Keep on the Bridport Road. In 1702 the force was known as Coutt's Regiment of Foot, named after it's commanding officer, and took part in many campaigns including the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimea and the American War of Independence. After it became the Dorset Regiment, it's battle honours continued with the First & Second World Wars, and more recently with the fighting in Korea & Bosnia. The original barracks were built by the County in 1854, but a few years later a military inspection was highly critical of the premises, and the barracks were rebuilt in 1877 by the Royal Engineers. The regiment occupied the buildings until 1958, when it amalgamated with the Devonshires, and became the Devon & Dorset Regiment with Exeter as its depot. The Dorchester buildings therefore became redundant and were sold for commercial development, with the exception of the Keep which formed the basis of the present museum. This structure, which is now partly listed for preservation, contains many historical displays, including a tribute to Col. H Jones , V.C. of the Falklands Campaign, who was originally commissioned into the Dorsets. Dick Leonard emphasized that he welcomed enquiries and memorabilia relating to the regiment, but enquiries concerning individual soldiers should be addressed to the Public Record Office, whose location he would be happy to provide.

 

Tony Johnson