Published: Thursday, 27th March 2025
Published on behalf of Norfolk Museums Service
On Friday 21 March His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester, was welcomed to Stories of Lynn, based next to King’s Lynn Town Hall, to open a new exhibition, Surviving the Railway: Memories of Far East Prisoners of War. The exhibition marks the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on 15 August this year.
His Royal Highness was formally welcomed to the Town Hall by HM Lord-Lieutenant, Lady Dannatt. The welcoming party also included General The Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army; Mr David Flux, High Sheriff of Norfolk; Councillor Stuart Dark MBE, Chairman of Norfolk County Council; Councillor Paul Bland, the Mayor of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk and Mr Peter Black, Chairman of Trustees, The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum.
His Royal Highness was then shown round the ‘Surviving the Railway’ exhibition in the company of Ms Kate Thaxton, Curator of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum and Mr Charles Barratt, DL, the Chairman of the Far East Prisoners of War.
The display explores the experiences and legacy of Royal Norfolk Regiment soldiers who became prisoners of war following the fall of Singapore in 1942 and were subsequently put to work on the notorious Thai-Burma railway, otherwise known as the ‘Railway of Death’. Among the objects and photographs shown to His Royal Highness was a new Roll of Honour, commemorating all who served in the Far East in the 4th, 5th and 6th battalions of the Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Also in attendance were Mr Tom McCabe, Chief Executive of Norfolk County Council and Mr Steve Miller, Director of Culture and Heritage, Norfolk County Council.
After viewing the exhibition, His Royal Highness attended a special reception in the Assembly Room in the Town Hall where he met families of Far East Prisoners of War soldiers and their supporters, museum staff and volunteers, museum supporters and members of the Norfolk Regimental Association.
At the reception, Mr Black formally thanked His Royal Highness for the visit and presented him with a Royal Norfolk Regiment Tie.
Following the reception, His Royal Highness took time to sign the Town Hall Visitors book before concluding his visit with lunch in the Mayor’s Parlour.
Peter Black, Chairman Trustees, The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum said:
“In this 80th anniversary year of the defeat of Japan, the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum are proud to put on a commemorative exhibition. We are honoured that HRH The Duke of Gloucester has graciously agreed to open it. The men who died, and those lucky enough to survive, deserve to be remembered. This small iconic display centres on a Nominal Roll: families are invited to fill in any missing details. Remembrance is the least we owe those Norfolk soldiers: ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today’.”
Cllr Paul Bland, Mayor of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, said:
“It was an honour to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to Stories of Lynn to view and open the poignant Royal Norfolk Museum’s Far East Prisoners of War Exhibition. It is an eye-opening display, and a wonderful way to commemorate this significant anniversary of VJ day. I recommend residents and visitors alike to come see the exhibition for themselves.”
Afterwards the Royal party went on to visit Ancient House Museum, Thetford, to view new displays relating to the Maharajah Duleep Singh, the last Sikh ruler of the Punjab - please see separate media release for details.
Surviving the Railway: Memories of Far East Prisoners of War opened to the public on 22 March and is on show at Stories of Lynn until 21 September 2025.
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester is shown a display in the ‘Surviving the Railway’ exhibition by Ms Kate Thaxton, Curator of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum, while (left) Mr Tom McCabe, Chief Executive of Norfolk County Council and Mr Steve Miller, Director of Culture and Heritage, Norfolk County Council, look on. In the foreground is Mr Peter Black, Chairman of Trustees, The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum.
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester is shown a display in the ‘Surviving the Railway’ exhibition by Ms Kate Thaxton, Curator of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum, while (left) Mr Tom McCabe, Chief Executive of Norfolk County Council and Mr Steve Miller, Director of Culture and Heritage, Norfolk County Council, look on. In the foreground is Mr Peter Black, Chairman of Trustees, The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum.
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, discusses the Commemorative Roll with Ms Kate Thaxton, Curator of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum while Mr Peter Black, Chairman of Trustees, The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum, looks on.
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, signs the Visitor Book at King’s Lynn Town Hall while Mr Peter Black, Chairman of Trustees, The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum looks on.