Happy Mothers' Day

Looking after a military collection conjures images of weapons, uniforms and medals. Don't get me wrong, we do have these items in our collections but our collections are much more than this. They get behind the object and show the people behind the objects. The human story.

Part of this human story is the soldier's family. It seemed appropriate today on Mother's Day to highlight this. Mother's looked after the children, ensuring that there was some form of normality in a lifestyle that often saw them regularly moving house or living in some out-flung station of the World. Mothers coped with tropical diseases, settling their children into new schools, providing a home and safe space for their families. 

The illustrations incorporated into this blog highlight the differences. The black and white photograph shows two Border Regiment soldiers plus a mother and her children in China in 1927. The snapshot from the primitive painting shows Martha Dollery, with her husband and son, in the early part of the 19th Century. Their experiences as a military wife and mother would have been very different due to the social changes introduced by the Army throughout this period. However, their experiences would also be similar as both these mothers attempted to ensure some sort of normality for their families.

For a slightly more modern approach, I decided to take a look on social media to see what comments or groups were out there in the virtual world that related the mothers connected to the military. During my search, I came across a facebook page entitled 'Army Mums UK' which asks:

Do you have a child serving in the British Armed Forces? If so, we know how it feels!

Sometimes we all need a shoulder to lean on. It can be hard to find someone who can relate to the highs and lows and the ups and downs that come when your son or daughter is serving Queen and Country, at home or abroad.

This gives a slightly different perspective of mothers whose children are serving in the Armed Forces. Those mothers who remain at home whilst their offspring serve anywhere in the world, sometimes in difficult and dangerous conditions. An online support group for mothers who may be scattered across the UK but share the experience of having a child in the Forces.

But what is obvious from the painting, photograph and online support group is the role that mothers play in offering some sort of stability, providing a place to call home. Their experiences may be different but like all mothers, they played an important role. Our collections reflect their contribution. So to all mothers everywhere we send a huge thank you. Happy Mothers' Day.