Courtship and Engagement

Courtship and Engagement

Soldiers, like the rest of us, fall in love.

Throughout history and according to the conventions of the time, soldiers have flirted with, dated, or courted a partner.

In some ways, it can be much easier to meet a sweetheart as a soldier than a civilian; soldiers travel across the globe and meet all sorts of people.

In other ways, being a soldier can make meeting and settling down with someone much harder. Frequent moving, or a posting to an isolated barracks can all take their toll on a soldier’s love life and marriage plans. In addition, a relationship with a serving soldier naturally brings concern for their safety.

Despite the difficulties, however, and as these examples show, relationships will always flourish; some casual, some ultimately leading to an engagement, marriage and a life together.

‘Freddie, Millie, Jacko and Brenda’; two members of the 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) and their sweethearts, 1939

NAM. 1975-03-63-1-234