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 - and don't
forget to say hello to Bob the dog!
Click on the images below to see larger versions of objects in
the gallery.
