Aldershot military Museum

I’m sure it’s completely normal to use a free afternoon in Hampshire to visit Aldershot Military Museum.
It tucked away next to the barracks that are still in use and had the added bonus of being warm!
It’s only a small place diligently run by a few unpaid volunteers, including several who served at Aldershot, but very interesting none the less.
It was just a village surrounded by heathland until the army chose to hold training and royal reviews there in the 19th century. There were exhibitions about the history of he camp and the people who lived and worked there. You could try out a Victorian army bunk (it was quite a firm mattress!).

This photo is looking down the barrel of a Lee Enfield rifle that is on display on a tripod used in the 1930s to train soldiers on aiming and firing without having to go on a firing range. I imagine it played it’s own small part in preparing them for the coming war...