Tucked away in the Sparrow’s Nest Gardens in Lowestoft is a little gem of a museum. This is the home of the Royal Naval Patrol Service Museum, dedicated to preserving the memories and work of the ‘Sparrows’, who were engaged in keeping the shipping lanes clear in both World Wars on minesweeping and anti-submarine duty.

Formed initially by the vessels and men of the fishing fleets, by the end of hostilities in 1945, the RNPS had roughly 6000 ships and some 70,000 men, most of whom were trained at HMS Europa, the official Royal Navy name for the Sparrow’s Nest. Sobering facts are that more than 500 vessels were lost on active service – more than any other branch of the Navy – and 14,500 men were lost, 2,385 with no known grave but the sea.

The Royal Naval Patrol Service Association was founded in the 1970s to unite veterans and assist those of them and their dependents who might be in need. The Association also maintains and preserves a record of the work and experiences of the RNPS in its museum.

Although the Association occupies some of the original buildings of HMS Europa, the only records on-site are those donated by veterans and their families, and along with these visitors can enjoy photographs and models of many of the ships of RNPS, along with wartime memorabilia such as shields, uniforms, flags and personal possessions. The photographs illustrate many of the members of RNPS at work around the world as well as at various locations in Lowestoft.

Admission to the museum is free and opening is subject to the availability of volunteers –  on most days ex-RNPS personnel will be at the museum with first hand tales of their exploits.