How our collection grows

The Museum's collections can only develop with your generosity.

The vast majority of the 130,000 items that the Museum cares for were donated to us.

Many items are from current and former REME personnel and their families, but we are excited to hear from anyone who may have something of interest.

A presentation piece gifted to Brigadier B D Heelis MBE ADC, acquired by the Museum in 2020. Read more about this donation on our Blog where we regularly feature new artefacts. 2020.44.4.

What we add to our collection

The Museum is keen to collect all types of artefacts related to REME history.

We are interested in everything from medals to manuals, film to fuel cans, so long as it relates to the Corps or someone who served with them.

We love items that shed light on REME's early years in World War Two, but we are also very interested in recording recent operations and activities.

How to make a donation

If you have items you would like to donate, Contact us by email with the following information:

• Your name and contact details
• A description or list of the items you would like to donate
• Information about the items that helps us understand its importance, e.g. family stories
• Details of how you came to own the items
• Photographs or scans, if possible

We assess all potential donations at quarterly meetings of our Acquisitions Panel. All potential donations are discussed with reference to our Collections Development Policy (available to view on request).

Successful donors will be contacted to arrange delivery and completion of paperwork for our records. Once acquired, items become part of our permanent collection.

Please do not send or deliver potential donations directly to the Museum unless asked to do so. Staff are not available to take receipt of items without prior notice. Unsolicited postal donations are returned to senders. If we cannot return items they will be held for six months and may be disposed if not claimed.

Please be aware that the REME Museum is unable to cover the return postage of items deposited at the Museum that are unsolicited donations, and/or declined by our Acquisitions Panel. The donor will be notified if the items are not accepted by the Museum, and it will be their responsibility to arrange for the material’s return. Items not claimed within four months may be subject to disposal as outlined on the object entry form provided to the donor.

If your donation is successful

When you are asked to send items to the Museum, please see our top tips for packing your items to ensure they get to us safe and secure.

We may ask that you sign a copyright agreement, please see our Copyright Statement for further information.

Before you get in touch

Please read our Donation Guide (pdf, 0.4MB). Please also be aware that:

• We can rarely accept hazardous material, e.g. firearms, items that contain asbestos and those with radioactive components
• Not all items donated to the Museum can be displayed
• Proposed long-term loans are rarely accepted
• Decisions about what is accepted to the collection can sometimes take up to three months, due to quarterly scheduling of Acquisitions Panel meetings