SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING ON FACEBOOK

Amgueddfa Llandudno Museum

2 weeks ago

📢 Internal Maintenance at Llandudno Museum

Here’s one of our amazing volunteers hard at work, preparing the museum for our grand reopening on 25 February 2025! 🎉

💡 Want to volunteer with us? We’d love to have you on the team! Sign up here: llandudnomuseum.co.uk/volunteer-form/

🙌 Thank you to our volunteers for making this possible. See you all soon!

#LlandudnoMuseum #VolunteerOpportunity #GrandReopening ... See MoreSee Less

Amgueddfa Llandudno Museum

4 weeks ago

On this day, 81 years ago, one of WWII's most decisive ship-to-ship engagements took place—the Battle of North Cape.
In the icy waters off Norway, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser devised a bold plan to destroy the German battleship Scharnhorst, which had been harrying vital Allied convoys to the Soviet Union. Fraser used Convoy JW 55B as bait, luring the Scharnhorst out of its fjord stronghold, while also relying on the harsh Arctic weather and the presence of Convoy RA 55A, returning from the Soviet Union, to trap the German battleship.

The British fleet involved in the battle included:

>HMS Duke of York, the flagship, a King George V-class battleship, which led the charge against the Scharnhorst.

>HMS Belfast, a light cruiser, which provided critical radar and fire support, helping guide the fleet through treacherous conditions.

>HMS Sheffield and HMS Jamaica, both cruisers, that tracked and engaged the Scharnhorst.

>HMS Achates, HMS Onslow, and HMS Opportune, destroyers, which launched torpedo attacks that ultimately helped cripple the Scharnhorst.

>HNoMS Stord, a Norwegian destroyer, which played an essential role in the battle. The HNoMS Stord fired torpedoes and provided additional fire support, demonstrating the vital cooperation between British and Norwegian forces in this Arctic campaign.

After hours of intense combat, the Scharnhorst was sunk, with only 36 survivors from its 1,968 crew. This victory crippled Germany’s naval presence in the Arctic, ensuring the safe passage of crucial convoys to the Soviet Union.
In a tribute to the bravery of the German crew, Admiral Fraser later remarked: “I hope that if any of you are ever called upon to lead a ship into action against an opponent many times superior, you will command your ship as gallantly as Scharnhorst was commanded today.”
The Battle of North Cape remains one of the final major naval battles of WWII, marking a decisive moment in the Allied struggle for control of the Arctic and highlighting the courage and teamwork of all those involved—on both sides.
#BattleOfNorthCape #WWII #HMSDukeOfYork #HMSBelfast #HNoMSStord #NavalHistory #ArcticConvoys ... See MoreSee Less

Amgueddfa Llandudno Museum

4 weeks ago

On this day, 110 years ago, amid the Great War, with no end in sight and morale plummeting due to the brutal conditions of trench warfare, something extraordinary happened. Soldiers on both sides, worn down by the horrors of battle, began to lay down their arms in a series of unofficial truces across the front lines. This unspoken understanding reflected the limits of war and the toll it took on their humanity.
The first sign of a ceasefire came when German soldiers appeared from their trenches, hands raised, signalling a desire to care for the wounded and bury the dead. The British agreed, and for a brief moment, the battlefield fell silent as men passed each other without firing a shot.
On Christmas Eve, both sides set up small Christmas trees, lit candles, and sang carols—Silent Night, The First Noel, and O Come All Ye Faithful. For many devout Christians, Christmas was the holiest day of the year, and the celebration of Christ's birth stood in stark contrast to the brutality of war.
On Christmas morning, instead of the crack of rifles, the soldiers heard the peaceful chirping of birds. Wondering what would happen next, a few men cautiously emerged from their trenches, and an informal agreement was made: no one would fire. Soldiers exchanged gifts and even played a friendly football match in no-man’s land. As Robert Graves of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers recalled:
"No man’s land had seemed 10 miles across when we were crawling out on night patrol, but now we found it no wider than two football pitches. We provided the ball and set up stretchers as goalposts, with our jolly Padre acting as referee. They beat us 3-2."
As darkness fell, both sides shook hands and returned to their trenches. The Christmas Truce of 1914 remains a rare and unique moment in history—a brief but powerful reminder that even in the darkest times, humanity can find a way to connect. 🌍❤️⚽
#ChristmasTruce #WWI #OTD #llandudnomuseum ... See MoreSee Less

Amgueddfa Llandudno Museum is feeling positive in Wales.

1 month ago

Delighted to see so many cheerful house sparrows outside Llandudno Museum today—a little dose of nature’s charm even while we’re closed for the season. 🐦✨

#HouseSparrows #LlandudnoMuseum #NatureInWales #WildlifeSpotting ... See MoreSee Less