Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and The National Museum of the Royal Navy will be marking the centenary of the First World War (2014-2018) with a full programme of activities across the site.
A major highlight of this year’s events will be the unveiling of HMS Hear My Story where £4.5million has been spent on new galleries covering 100 years of the Royal Navy. Following themes from War and Peace to Popular Culture, the collection, which opens on 3rd April, draws from the National Museum’s extensive archive and an atmospheric cinema will show specially commissioned films to evoke what war at sea was like.
From 3rd April to January 2015, Racing to War: The Royal Navy and 1914 will tell the Royal Navy’s story during the last years of peace and the opening of the First World War.
Also, from 3rs April, HMS Alliance, the only surviving WWII era submarine will be ready for her ‘relaunch’ after undergoing a major £7million conservation and restoration project.
A D-Day 70th Anniversary guided tour takes place on 4th June when visitors have the rare opportunity to experience a full guided tour of Fort Blockhouse. Formally known as HMS Dolphin, the 18th Century fort was home to the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service for most of the first 100 years of the RN Submarine Service.
There will also be a number of events aimed at families and children including Armed Forces Day in June and the World at War Arena Event, also in June, when a full day of activities will be staged in Victory Arena, plus the chance to meet veterans from the Second World War to the present day.
The NMRN will also host a special event in the Arena on 5th August to commemorate the firing of the first shot fired at sea on 5th August 1914.
For more details and the full programme of events visit www.historicdockyard.co.uk
