‘Helmand: The Soldiers’ Story’, National Army Museum, London

to ensure that the remarkable story of this, the first tour of Helmand, would not go untold.

The NAM's role is to explain to a British public who is no longer familiar with the British Army how the actions of our Army are relevant to the world we live in today; how the Army has shaped our world in the past, in the present and into the future.
In planning the exhibition, the aim was to show visitors how soldiers live and support themselves in the combat zone, to explore the soldiers' (as opposed to government's, or media's) perspective of the conflict and to promote a sense of empathy.

The exhibition has been the outcome of a unique collaborative project with soldiers. All of the structures within the exhibition were built by soldiers, using their own methods and materials; all of the objects, film and photographs, were provided by soldiers; and it was the first time mobile phone footage of the front line has ever been shown in a museum context.

Following a brief from the exhibition team, soldiers from over fifteen Army units came up with their own suggestions for objects, displays, and immersive structural content; raided their quartermasters' stores for materials which could be used to support the build, and checked information panels for factual accuracy. A team of Royal Engineers built a series of structures in the same way in which they would build or adapt defensive structures in Helmand.

Helmand is unique as an exhibition which explores conflict as it is happening and attempts to explain it without the benefit of hindsight and historical analysis. The exhibition interpretation is also ongoing, introducing new elements to convey immediacy and relevance. When the Brigade is redeployed to Helmand, nominated representatives will write an online blog about their experiences, and send back objects to support a new display area within the exhibition providing an update on the progress of the campaign.

The final section of the exhibition invites visitors to complete and pin up a response card entitled ‘They've had their say. Now have yours’. The response to this has been remarkable. It illustrates the huge diversity of visitors, with comments coming from children as young as 4 and veterans from National Service, and in multiple languages. They show an overwhelming emotional and intellectual response to the exhibition, and demonstrate that the exhibition provoked public debate – not only about the role of the Museum, but also about the role of Britain's army in society.

Some of your comments:

Helmand is the most magnificent exhibition. It captures all the grit, perseverance and stoicism required by a modern soldier operating in extremely harsh conditions.
Bill Justice, London

An exhibition much more relevant to what is happening in the world today, than many others. Nations neglect such matters at their peril.
Philip Francis, Weston super Mare

What a unique exhibition!  Fantastic to see a museum dealing so confidently with current affairs. I had been so distracted by all the politics that I had forgotten what a great job the soldiers are doing on the ground, this exhibition reminded me. Honest and compelling, great job.
Paul Rodgers, Brighton

Fantastic. My seven year old son has visited NAM three times within two months!
First with a school trip focusing on the Crimean War, then he and I spent the whole day there in the February half-term holidays, and then in early March, my son wanted Daddy to go, so all three of us went!  We really enjoyed the way the exhibits are set out. Lots to see, try (on) and talk about throughout the museum - and the Kidszone is great!   The Helmand exhibition is particularly interesting because it is happening now, and we could touch the equipment, hold the guns and listen to the troops talking about their work, conditions and experiences. I found the use of technology particularly fascinating. Yet at the same time we could see footage of incidents, and the ever-present danger. I pointed out the list of people who died there, and my son acknowledged this, whilst admitting that he 'didn't want to look for too long because it made him sad'. A well balanced exhibition - but, for me, what made it really poignant, was that during the evening after our visit in February, the news reported that one soldier had died and another had been seriously injured in Helmand. Having been to the exhibition, I felt better informed as to what the troops are trying to achieve in extremely unforgiving territory (though in reality, only those there can really comprehend that environment). If you can get there - go, you won't be disappointed.
Ruth Dent, Sevenoaks

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