A grand life for a Scotsman

Why did thousands of individual Scots willingly spend much of their lives as sailors, soldiers or airmen?

What motivated Scots to join up? How did military service affect them? What influence did they have on the organisations they joined?

There is a long history of Scots serving in the British armed forces and this gallery explores what daily life was like for Scots servicemen.

Service aboard ship or in the garrisons of the British Empire often meant long periods of separation from home and family. Communication was difficult and the prospect of ever returning home was uncertain.

Things to see

In this gallery you can explore military life, as experienced by the individual, from recruitment to retirement. See posters designed to attract people to join the armed forces and understand how they've changed throughout the years. Discover uniform, souvenirs, personal possessions and letters home, which help tell the story of life in the armed forces.

Click on the images below to see larger versions of objects in the gallery.