The Afghanistan display located in the Museum’s temporary exhibition space will be closing on 3rd November 2025. A new Cold War display is set to be installed in the gallery in early 2026 as part of a rotating programme of temporary exhibitions.
The Afghanistan display covers the Operation Herrick deployment 2002-2014. It includes a look at specialist roles, the first tour of Helmand, Campaign Signal Regiments and the withdrawal from combat operations. Various pieces of kit - from a Bowman headset to MA1310G GPS Band Mobile Antenna, uniform and weaponry also feature alongside footage and personal accounts.
One such account is from Cpl Paul Findlay.
In early summer 2009, Paul was part of a series of operations in central Helmand that were to culminate in Operation Panchai Palang. On 21 May 2009, the Brigade Reconnaissance Force moved from Camp Bastion to FOB Price and the following day, moved to assault and capture a Taliban stronghold in the Babajai region.
Paul was top cover for his call sign, operating a grenade machine gun weapons system. He expected to be engaged in a number of contacts. As they moved towards their target location, Paul’s vehicle was hit by one of hundreds of improvised explosive devices the Taliban had buried in the area.
“The rest of the situation is rather a blur, other than the CASEVAC by a US Blackhawk that was operating in our area,” he told the Museum. “Later that day, when in intensive care, I was made aware that another Royal Signals soldier with BRF was wounded in a similar incident. After a lengthy rehab phase, which included learning to walk with the aid of a prosthetic limb, I was medically discharged from the military. I have been very fortunate to carve out a second and third career since leaving the service, but I will always remain a Royal Signals soldier. Certa Cito.”
The next two weeks is the final chance to come in and see the exhibition and read and hear more accounts like Paul Findlay’s. The Museum retains an Afghanistan display in the permanent galleries in the form of a recreated Forward Operating Base.
