I am a Rifleman

I am a Rifleman is a touring exhibition set up by Melanie Marsh, and now overseen by Christopher Gale, which tells the extraordinary story of Britain’s largest infantry Regiment; The Rifles. Opening at Cornwall’s Regimental Museum in March 2018, it provides a glimpse into the experiences and achievements of soldiers from the Regiment.

Displays being put together for the touring exhibition

In The Rifles, success is based on the four core values in their ethos: Innovation, Mutual Respect, Self-Discipline and Forward-Thinking. This exhibition enables visitors to immerse themselves in twelve stories that bring these four values to life from modern-day Riflemen. Using individual accounts, images and mementos, I am a Rifleman shows what it means to be a soldier in The Rifles today.

The phrase I am a Rifleman is used uniquely by The Rifles and means that the soldier is a member of this Regiment alone. It is used by all members of the Regiment, from a senior officer to a new recruit, to show their loyalty, pride and camaraderie to The Rifles. The importance of all soldiers in The Rifles as Riflemen is portrayed in the twelve individual stories in the exhibition as it features Riflemen from all different ranks and backgrounds.

The stories featured range from medal recipients to injured soldiers. Among the highlights of the exhibition will be a watch from an incident with a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross recipient, the body armour of a Military Cross recipient and the personal photographs from an injured Rifleman on his road to recovery.

The Rifles Regimental Museum is the first small military museum to release a touring exhibition, with support from the Army Museums Ogliby Trust.

Children’s zone in I am a Rifleman

For exhibition loan enquiries, or for more information, please contact museum@the-rifles.co.uk or download our information pack

I am a Rifleman has previously been displayed at the following museums:

  • The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum, 28 July 2018 to 8 September 2018
  • Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, 6 December 2018 to March 2019
  • Aldershot Military Museum, March 2019 to May 2019