The Tank Museum is the museum of both the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) and The Royal Tank Regiment.
We proudly tell the stories of British soldiers who have served in armoured fighting vehicles.
The museum is a place of memorial and commemoration, where visitors are invited to remember the sacrifice which is an inevitable consequence of conflict.
Memorial to the Fallen
The memorial opposite the museum’s entrance bears the names of over 300 RAC personnel who have died on active service since 1945.
Inside the Museum, visitors will find the RAC Roll of Honour on display in our Memorial Room.
This holds the details of almost 13,000 soldiers of the RAC who have died since the formation of the Corps in 1939.
This has been digitised and is available to search below.
This digitisation was funded by the Royal Armoured Corps Memorial Trust. Find out more about the Trust and its work below HERE.
Roll of Honour
| NAME | ARMY No. | REGT | DIED | DATE | BOOK No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wycherley Beranrd F | 322285 | The Cheshire Yeomanry (Earl of Chester's) | MIDDLE EAST | 30 June 1940 | 2 |
| Wyatt Mervyn G | 7882983 | Royal Armoured Corps | MIDDLE EAST | 2 November 1942 | 2 |
| Wyatt Hugh N | 7917738 | 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars | W EUROPE CAMPAIGN 44/45 | 10 August 1944 | 2 |
| Wyatt Arthur | 7906383 | Royal Armoured Corps | INDIA | 13 May 1943 | 2 |
| Wroe James B | 3454164 | Reconnaissance Corps | W EUROPE CAMPAIGN 44/45 | 15 July 1945 | 2 |
| Wrigley Arthur EL | 91766 | Royal Tank Regiment | ITALY | 20 September 1944 | 2 |
| Wrighton Leonard | 14992892 | Royal Tank Regiment | W EUROPE CAMPAIGN 44/45 | 17 December 1945 | 2 |
| Wright WP | 22207701 | 4th Royal Tank Regiment | UNITED KINGDOM | 11 December 1955 | 3 |
| Wright William | 4463874 | Royal Tank Regiment | W EUROPE CAMPAIGN 44/45 | 11 August 1944 | 2 |
| Wright Sydney F | 6351977 | Reconnaissance Corps | AT SEA | 24 June 1944 | 2 |
| Wright Robert Paul | 25155924 | The King's Royal Hussars | 29 February 2004 | 3 | |
| Wright Robert H | 7947144 | North Irish Horse | NORTH AFRICA | 21 July 1943 | 2 |
| Wright Robert D | 7948338 | Royal Tank Regiment | ITALY | 6 August 1945 | 2 |
| Wright Robert | 3456805 | Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry | W EUROPE CAMPAIGN 44/45 | 16 August 1944 | 2 |
| Wright Richard JM | 56743 | Royal Tank Regiment | EUROPE | 23 December 1944 | 2 |
| Wright Richard | 3771824 | The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars | MIDDLE EAST | 15 July 1942 | 2 |
| Wright Rh | 3856820 | 18th Reconnaissance Regiment | FAR EAST | 2 June 1943 | 3 |
| Wright Mackinder H | 148723 | 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) | BURMA | 24 December 1944 | 2 |
| Wright Leslie J | 7887577 | Royal Tank Regiment | MIDDLE EAST | 2 February 1944 | 2 |
| Wright Leslie GF | 7915374 | Royal Tank Regiment | MIDDLE EAST | 22 July 1942 | 2 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
You can find out more about soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, including where they are buried or commemorated.
RAC Memorial Trust
The RAC Memorial Trust was formed originally as the Royal Armoured Corps War Memorial Benevolent Fund, in 1946 following the end of the Second World War, by veterans of that conflict.
It was established for three purposes:
- To maintain the military efficiency and esprit de corps of the Royal Armoured Corps
- To help care for those that had survived and their families, when in time of need.
- To honour the memory of all members of the Royal Armoured Corps who have died in the service of their country
So important was the contribution of the Royal Armoured Corps in securing final victory in World War II that both Sir Winston Churchill and Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, two of its first patrons, were willing to put their names to a letter endorsing the creation of this Benevolent Fund.
Currently, the Trust is honoured to enjoy the support of HRH The Duke of Kent as its patron. The Duke himself served with the Royal Scots Greys for over 20 years.
One essential way in which the Memorial Trust meets these original objectives has been to compile a comprehensive Roll of Honour, recording the details of all 12,619 officers and soldiers who have died whilst serving in the Royal Armoured Corps, since its formation in 1939 right through to the present day.
This Roll of Honour is contained in four Books of Remembrance, which are displayed in the RAC Memorial Room, located in the WW2: War Stories exhibition.
These Books of Remembrance form the very soul of the Royal Armoured Corps. By safeguarding them and exhibiting them in this way, the Trust continues to honour the original intent of the Fund, which, as the first patrons’ letter clearly stated, was to “provide a visible memorial where the names of all the Fallen of the Corps shall be recorded.”
Although many of the Corps’ original units no longer exist, the benevolence goals enshrined within the Trust’s original objectives are still as relevant today as they were when the Fund was first created.
The RAC Memorial Trust continues to support retired and serving soldiers, their spouses and families, and the spouses and families of those who have died in service, when in need.
The Trust is able to pledge a sum up to the amount offered by the individual regiment or, if that regiment no longer exists, the Trust may take on full responsibility for supporting the individual. Further support is regularly made available from the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), the Royal British Legion (RBL), or other military and civilian charities, co-ordinated by the individual’s case worker.
Requests are many and varied. Sadly not all demands can always be met and we are unable to assist in resolving debt issues. However, for instance, the Trust has proudly supported the purchase of mobility aids, the replacement of household items, the provision of special educational needs as well as individual health care treatments not fully covered by the NHS.
In order to ensure we can, where appropriate, provide support quickly, please do NOT contact the Trust directly in the first instance, as this will only slow the immediate response.
If you are a:
- Serving soldier or the dependant of a serving soldier please contact your Unit Welfare Officer, Personnel Recovery Officer, Resettlement Officer, or the Army Welfare Service.
- Veteran, or the dependant of a veteran, or a widow or widower please contact your local SSAFA office or your Royal British Legion office or, if you are in Scotland, Poppy Scotland. You can find your nearest branch by clicking on the links above.
- Caseworker please use the guidance and contact numbers provided on your Casework Management System.
Please note that in order for the Trust to provide support, each request needs to be accompanied by a written confidential report. Either SSAFA or RBL provides the Trust with this essential background information to the case. Therefore, it is important to contact SSAFA or RBL in the first instance, in order to speed up the Trust’s ability to provide appropriate assistance.
In this vital work the Trust continues to honour the clearly defined aims of the original Fund, as stated by its first patrons:
“The ultimate intention is that no officer or man who at any time serves in the Royal Armoured Corps, or his dependants, shall go without help if in need.”
The RAC Memorial Trust is also able to honour the intentions of its original founders by encouraging and supporting individuals, or groups of soldiers, serving in the Corps to undertake activities which will make a positive contribution to their military efficiency.
Our Purpose and What We Will Fund
The Trust wants to make a difference, so that current RAC serving members are better trained and properly prepared for operations, by promoting activities or experiences that enhance the military efficiency of the RAC.
Examples are:
- Improving technical, academic, and professional knowledge.
- Improving mental and physical fitness through the provision of sporting facilities, equipment and competitions that improve the health, wellbeing, and cohesion of the RAC. Please note, legally we are barred from funding anyone who earns their living by playing sport professionally.
- The provision of supplementary experiences that widen the mind such as adventure expeditions that develop knowledge, confidence and leadership skills.
- Promoting and strengthening the bonds between the RAC and allied units.
- Research and the publication of military history specific to the RAC.
Who Can Apply
Only current serving members of the RAC may apply. The Trust cannot fund persons who are not serving members of the RAC unless the project or activity could not take place without their involvement. (e.g. Consultants, specialist leaders, trainers, mentors, referees, umpires etc).
Note that applicants are expected to provide match funding of 25% of the total gross cost from other sources, but 100% grants may be awarded.
Our funds are limited and the total sum available for military efficiency grants will vary from year to year due to the demand for benevolent grants, which will always take priority.
The Trustees’ decision is final.
How to Apply
In the first instance, contact the Benevolence Coordinator of the RAC Memorial Trust at [email protected]
You will then be asked to complete an application form, in which you will be required to outline the nature of your project, state clearly how this will impact positively on members of the Corps and provide a clear breakdown of funding required.
