In 2025, the Royal Logistic Corps Museum was delighted to receive funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to deliver Make Do and Mend, a project created to honour the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day.

The funding, awarded through the Museum Development South West Programme, enabled us to engage a wide and diverse range of local audiences with the often-overlooked story of Second World War logistics. The project began in primary schools across the county, where museum staff delivered interactive assemblies exploring themes of loss, conflict, peace and celebration. At the end of each session, every child decorated a piece of bunting inspired by these discussions.

These thoughtful creations were displayed in the museum where they were seen by more than 10,000 visitors over the course of 2025, creating a powerful visual reminder of how history continues to resonate with new generations.

During the summer, the project reached its peak with a four-day gala event commemorating War’s End. The museum was transformed into a vibrant living-history space, with singers, performers, reenactors and volunteers offering hands-on heritage experiences on a large scale. Corps and Army outreach teams joined us, helping the museum meet its core aim of connecting the public with the military and demystifying the modern day role of the armed forces.

The event proved a significant success, driving visitor numbers, shop sales and donations, and contributing to the museum’s most successful year to date across all three measures.

The project concluded by returning to where it began: the bunting created by schoolchildren. Two flags were made from the bunting and flown from the museum, and it is our intention to pass one to serving members of the Royal Logistic Corps to be flown in Estonia. The remaining bunting is being repurposed into a brand-new museum exhibit designed to engage new and diverse audiences with our collections and stories.

In March 2026, this final piece of the project’s legacy will go on display: a replica ATS driver’s uniform made from the colourful bunting. Designed as an eye-catching and thought-provoking talking point, the exhibit aims to connect with visitors who may not ordinarily see a military museum as their attraction of choice, while extending the life and impact of the Make Do and Mend project.

The museum’s volunteers, staff and trustees are immensely grateful for the opportunity to reach new audiences, honour a significant anniversary in British military history, and connect more people with our shared past that this funding has provided.