In the 19th century the British Empire was at its height.
Between 1837 and 1901, not a single year went by without British troops being involved in conflict somewhere in the world.
Scottish soldiers played a prominent role in building and expanding the Empire.
This display is about souvenirs of conflict. Souvenirs brought back by Soldiers who wanted to show how close to the action they had been.
Very little was recorded about why these things were important. At the time, these were souvenirs of exploits that everyone was familiar with. The stories connected with them are now lost.
Today we can look at these things and hear different stories. They reflect not just our history, but a shared history of conflict with other cultures.
- How much do we know of what our ancestors did in these countries?
- What was life like for the soldiers who found themselves in extreme conditions and dangerous situations?
- What is the lasting legacy of their actions?