The Combined Military Services museum in Maldon is a true gem in the extensive horde of military museums in the UK. It is a treasure trove of unique, rare artefacts and weapons from different time periods and military campaigns that have shaped the world as we know it today – it has to be on the must visit list for military museum lovers.

As you walk through the museum, you will be transported back in time to significant moments in history. You’ll discover military relics from the the Tudor era, the Napoleonic Wars, the Second World War, and even the Falklands War. It is a fantastic place to learn about the sacrifices and challenges experienced by military personnel throughout history.

One of the most notable attractions at the museum is the Maldon Viking Sword which is believed to be over a thousand years old and actually used at the battle of Maldon. Another item that really stands out is one of the Folbot canoes used by SBS operatives in the “Cockleshell Heroes” raid in the Second World War. However, there are so many rare and extraordinary artefacts to see it almost seems unfair to focus on these two exhibits.

The museum also has an extensive collection of military uniforms and Special Forces items including an SAS assault outfit, as was used in the famous Iranian Embassy siege in 1982. Another particular display that is sure to arouse your curiosity is the collection of Military Intelligence equipment a display that focuses on the intelligence and counter-intelligence efforts undertaken during the Second World War and beyond.

If this isn’t enough to to make you immediately set off for a visit then also consider that the museum is also home to the Donnington Collection. This exhibit is one of the most extensive ranges of captured firearms from the Second World War onwards anywhere in the world and is truly extraordinary. These weapons tell a story of their own, and when considered with the other displays, you can witness the development of armaments used by the soldiers from the middle ages right through to the sheer firepower and accuracy of modern weaponry.

As you leave the museum, you’ll realise that the experience was not just about the artefacts or the stories behind them, but rather about the people behind the objects. The faces of war and the struggles they faced, whether out on the frontline or behind the scenes, are what make the Combined Military Services Museum such a thoughtful place to visit and one of the finest independent military museums in Britain.