Posted on January 30, 2026
Keepers by Rachael Jones
On the last day of February and the first day of March, an art festival called FLAMM will take place...
Blog
Posted on January 30, 2026
A Napoleonic Treasure
Perhaps the most valuable items stored within an archive are the first hand accounts of experiences endured. We are fortunate...
Posted on December 15, 2025
History Repeated: Aden in the Archives
The 1/4th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry were warned for active service on 8 January 1916 and...
Posted on October 24, 2025
Why we are here
I have been pondering the more poetic language used to describe the British Army. The Regiment is a ‘family’; the...
Posted on September 3, 2025
Cornwall’s Home Guard
Establishing the Home Guard On 14 May 1940, and only four days after Churchill had become Prime Minister, his Secretary...
Posted on August 4, 2025
A Testament to Friendship
At Bodmin Keep we have been entrusted to protect and care for thousands of artefacts that have held meaning to...
Posted on June 5, 2025
Victory in Europe Day
VE Day Rightly celebrates the end of a truly awful European war and those who celebrated in May 1945 knew...
Posted on April 9, 2025
April to early May: Pursuit through Germany and surrender
The opening entry in the War Diary for 5 DCLI – the Cornish battalion – for 1 April 1945 noted:...
Posted on April 9, 2025
March 1945 – Crossing The Rhine
Following the battles of the Reichwald, by 1 March 1945, the War Diary of the 5th Battalion of the Duke...
Posted on March 3, 2025
February 1945: The battles of the Reichwald
Between D Day on 6 June 1944 and VE Day on 8 May 1945 the Allied advance towards Germany saw...
Posted on March 3, 2025
5 DCLI January 1945: Gargling, Weasels, and Kangaroos
[i] The National Archive, WO171-5177, pp. 5-6. [ii] TNA, WO171-5177, p. 9. [iii] TNA, WO171-5177, p. 14. [iv] TNA, WO171-5177,...
Posted on December 20, 2024
Christmas 1944
In late December 1944, eighty years ago, the 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (5th DCLI) had spent the...
Posted on March 15, 2024
From the Archive: Visitors Books
One recent discovery from our archive is a collection of visitor books dating back to the time when the Keep was an operational base.
Posted on December 14, 2023
From the Archive: Christmas Greetings From History
Sending Christmas cards continues to be a popular tradition in the United Kingdom during the festive season, despite the advent of e-cards and social media. A tradition that is reflected within the military establishment and during times of war.
Posted on November 3, 2023
From the Archive: The First BAOR – 2nd Battalion DCLI in Germany 1922-1924
Many who grew up during the Cold War will be familiar with the term BAOR (British Army Of the Rhine). Perhaps less well known is that the British Army also occupied part of Germany after the end of the First World War.
Posted on September 22, 2023
Collection Highlights: Auxiliary Unit Badge
The Auxiliary Unit badge (pictured above) is a very small enamel badge issued to a small group of men who were prepared to pay the ultimate price for their country during wartime.
Posted on September 19, 2023
Unlocking the Light Infantry Archive: 1968 – 2007
Bodmin Keep is working on an oral history project to capture testimonials and experiences from Light Infantry veterans about deployments to Northern Ireland between 1969-1998.
Posted on July 6, 2023
Dealing With Disaster – New Exhibition!
Our new exhibition, Dealing with Disaster highlights the British Army’s role in natural disaster relief and delves into one of...