Royal Naval Patrol Service Association

The Museum is located in 'The Stannard Room' on the first floor (the floor above the ground floor, access only via a flight of stairs) and includes the 'slops' shop; and 'The Europa Room' (on the ground floor behind the War Memorial Museum); both are in some of the few remaining original buildings in Sparrow's Nest, Lowestoft.

Lining the walls of the Europa Room are the 17 boards listing the 850 or thereabouts honours won by members of the R.N.P.S. during WW2, including a VC, along with a list of over 200 'Mentioned in Despatches'.

The VC was awarded to an ex-Merchant Navy officer, Lieut. Richard Stannard, of the Hull trawler Arab, during the Narvik campaign. He steamed his ship into Namsos harbour on August 16th, 1940, to fight a fire on the pier which threatened to blow up an ammunition dump. His junior officer, Sub-Lieut. E. T. Lees, R.N.V.R., was awarded the D.S.O. and three other members of his crew received decorations. There is also a record of the C.B.E. awarded to Commodore Daniel de Pass for his services at the Nest.

In addition to a mock-up of a wheelhouse there are numerous small exhibits including photographs and models of many of the ships of RNPS and much war memorablilia such as shields, uniforms, flags and personal possessions. The photographs illustrate many of the members of RNPS at their various duties, in many parts of the world and at various locations in Lowestoft. Many include unidentified members and so if you visit and can recognise anyone we have not identified please let us know.

Additional material not able to be displayed is also available for research purposes and there is a small reference library.

Admission to the Museum is free and it is generally open throughout the year on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings until noon but......

...Museum opening is subject to the availability of volunteers to man it. As with all volunteer run enterprises the planned opening times cannot always be relied on, so if you are travelling a long distance to visit it will be worthwhile checking in advance whether or not the museum will be open and if possible arranging an appointment.

Donations to assist in the maintenance of the Museum will be gratefully received.