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A soldier writing home while leaning against a ruined wall, Liévin, c1917

A Soldier's Life

In Their Own Words: Stories from the Archive

The National Army Museum's Archive and Library are full of personal stories. Captured in letters, diaries, memoirs and oral histories, these narratives provide valuable insights into the experiences of soldiers and the history of the Army.

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The war on glamour

During the Second World War, the Army relied on women to perform essential military roles. But some of the tactics used to recruit new members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service proved highly controversial.

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Abram Games and the power of the poster

Abram Games was 'Official War Poster Artist' during the Second World War. Always direct, and occasionally controversial, his posters have left a legacy that continues to influence the art of persuasion used by visual designers today.

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Lord Strathcona’s Horse on the march, 1918

Beauty in desolation: Munnings and the First World War

In 1918, the artist Alfred Munnings was tasked with recording the wartime contribution of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade and Forestry Corps. His paintings highlight the military role of horses, capturing their beauty in the war-affected landscapes of France.

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Queen Elizabeth II views her old uniform at NAM, 2017

Inspired by a princess’s uniform

In 2018, British heritage brand Hawes & Curtis partnered with the National Army Museum to create a limited edition collection. It was inspired by a military uniform Queen Elizabeth II wore as a young princess.

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Samovar taken from Napoleon’s baggage after the Battle of Waterloo, 1815

The Emperor’s samovars

Two samovars that belonged to French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte shed light on his disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. They also show how practices like tea drinking spread through different cultures.

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An unidentified officer of Fencible Cavalry, c1800

Paintings in little

Recent research on the Museum's collection of portrait miniatures has revealed new information about artists and untold stories about some of the subjects they portrayed.

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Model of a London and North Eastern Railway engine, c1943

A prisoner’s model masterpiece

A British prisoner of war’s model train, painstakingly made from scraps of rubbish, sheds light on the experiences of soldiers incarcerated in Germany during the Second World War.

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Christmas greetings from the front line

Here we look at some of the Christmas cards sent by soldiers during the First World War, and how they helped ease the pressures of life on the front line.

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A First World War Christmas

Soldiers throughout the First World War found ways to maintain morale and mark the festive season while separated from their loved ones.

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Parliamentarian soldiers at a tavern, c1645

The war on Christmas

In 1647, Christmas was almost cancelled as the Long Parliament and its army tried to banish all festivities that smacked against the sober Puritan values of the period.

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15 words with Indian origins

Discover how the cultural relationship between Britain and India has influenced our language.

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Battle, Afghanistan, 2010. Oil on linen by Jules George, 2010

Painting in the line of fire

Operating as non-combatants in some of the most dangerous environments in the world, war artists face a variety of challenges. Here, we take a look at how they overcome these difficulties.

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