The items below have been added to the museum’s collection in the last 12 months.

The museum regularly receives items connected to World War II and the early years of REME. This selection of recent additions commemorates events surrounding VE Day in 1945.

Dolls clothes, 1944-45

Dolls Clothes marked ‘Good Bye/ Liberator’. 2024.47.

These dolls clothes belonged to Thomas James Bussey (20240621) REME. Following the liberation of Belgium by Allied Troops, local people made and gifted such items as a token of thanks to soldiers.

Humidor, June 1945

Humidor presented to Joseph Barton. 2024.45.

The inscriptions on this humidor place ‘L’ Section 865 Brigade Workshop REME at Luneburg, Germany in June 1945. Just one month earlier, Germany surrendered to the Allied Forces in nearby Luneburg Heath resulting in VE Day.

Photograph, VE Day

Photograph taken on VE Sunday 1945. 2024.24.

This image of a REME and Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) workshop marks VE Sunday in May 1945.

Carving, 1939

Carving made by Sgt Badrick. 2024.48.

Sgt William Ernest Badrick transferred to REME on its formation in 1942. In 1939 he produced this carving and carried it with him for the duration of his service. He was among the troops that liberated Belsen concentration camp, Germany in April 1945.

LCpl James Dumbell, 1940-45

Identity Tag and a letter to LCpl Dumbell from his wife, Maisie. 2024.27.

A remarkable collection was gifted by the family of LCpl James Dumbell in 2024, giving a comprehensive insight into life as a Prisoner of War.

LCpl Dumbell originally served with the RAOC. He married his sweetheart, Maisie, in January 1940 shortly before being deployed to France. He was captured by German Forces in Calais in 1940 and imprisoned in Stalag XXA.

On 1 October 1942, LCpl Dumbell transferred to REME as a founder member while still incarcerated.

James’ ordeal as a prisoner of war came to an end on 12 April 1945 when he was liberated by American troops. Within a large collection of sentimental letters between James and his wife was a final letter from Maisie, dated Saturday 21 April 1945. Little did she know that ‘Jim’ had written a letter on 17 April detailing his freedom and imminent return home. They were reunited after five and a half years apart on 24 April 1945.

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Find out more about REME in the North-West Europe campaign of 1944-45 in our D-Day to VE Day Campaign. Follow along on Facebook or X (Twitter). Take a look at posts we've shared.