July's Item of the Month

Important information for visitors

Until summer 2025, there is a new visitor route at the National Maritime Museum while we carry out essential improvements to the Museum's roof. Most galleries will still be open as normal, and special exhibitions are currently free for all visitors. However, the Great Map and AHOY! will be closed for the duration of the works. Find out more.

Essential Information

Location	National Maritime Museum

03 Jul 2014

July’s item of the month has just been posted and is a reminder that the hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the ‘war to end all wars’ is almost on us.

Of course no one knew this at the time and the Declaration of War in 1914 was more eventful for Lieutenant Dannreuther’s mother than it was for him. When he heard the announcement on board HMS Invincible he just rolled over in his hammock and went back to sleep. In the morning he wondered if he'd dreamt it. But his mother found herself frog marched off to the local police station for questioning, because of her Teutonic sounding last name. Take up the story of with the letters of Lt Hubert Dannreuther here