What do all British soldiers have in common?
- Mike Smith
- Jul 11
- 5 min read
Ask a group of British Army veterans what they remember most about their service and you'll get a remarkable variety of answers.
Some will immediately think about Germany or Northern Ireland, others about Afghanistan or Iraq. Many won't mention operations at all. Instead they'll remember the people, the places, the laughter, and perhaps one or two stories that become funnier every time they're told. Just try asking Mike about Albert Ross...
But for all the variations. almost everyone remembers the first few weeks...
For most people, joining the Army is the biggest shock to the system they've ever experienced. Overnight, somebody else decides when you get up, when you eat, where you're going and what you're doing next. The standards expected suddenly become much higher than you've ever known before and you quickly discover that there are dozens of different ways to fold a blanket the wrong way.
At the time, it doesn't always feel enjoyable, to put it mildly. Looking back years later, however, many veterans love to remember those early days. Somewhere between the early mornings, sore feet and trying to remember where every piece of kit was supposed to live, a group of complete strangers was gradually becoming a team.
Every Regiment and Corps has its own identity and traditions. Ask which is best and you'll almost certainly start a "lively" debate (aka a massive argument) that could last well past closing time. Yet despite all those differences, there are some things that seem to unite almost everyone who has served.
The banter
To an outsider, military banter can sound relentless. People acquire nicknames they never asked for, mistakes are remembered for years, and there always seems to be some smart***se ready with a quick remark at exactly the wrong moment.
What many civilians don't always appreciate is that this sort of humour usually grows out of trust rather than unkindness. Soldiers spend a great deal of time together, often in difficult conditions, and humour becomes part of everyday life. It's one of the ways friendships are built and morale is kept up when circumstances are less than ideal.
"The Brew"
There is probably no problem that can't be improved, at least temporarily, by somebody suggesting a brew. Whether you've just come in soaked after an exercise, finished a long journey or simply need five minutes to collect your thoughts, putting the kettle on has an almost magical ability to restore perspective. Veterans' breakfast clubs across the country are still built around exactly the same idea – a brew, a chat and good company.
The dark humour
Military humour isn't always easy to explain to people who haven't served. It can often be outrageous or sometimes so understated that civilians aren't quite sure whether anyone is joking. Like the banter, though, it serves a purpose. When people work under pressure, humour helps keep difficult situations in perspective. It doesn't make challenges disappear, but it often makes them easier to deal with.
"Hurry up and wait"
Some expressions seem to survive every generation of soldiers. "Hurry up and wait" is probably the best known. Technology has changed enormously over the years - equipment is better, communications are faster and today's Army would be almost unrecognisable in many ways to someone who served fifty years ago. Yet somehow there are still moments when everyone arrives exactly where they're supposed to be after an urgent call... only to discover they're now waiting for somebody else.
Trust
Perhaps the biggest thing that military service creates is trust.
People learn very quickly that they depend on one another. They solve problems together, look after each other and, in many cases, spend months or years sharing experiences that are difficult to describe to anyone else. Those friendships often outlast military careers by decades. It's one of the reasons veterans can meet somebody they haven't seen for twenty years and begin talking again as though they were only separated yesterday.
"Civvies don't get it"
Most veterans have said it at some point. It's simply an acknowledgement that some experiences are difficult to explain unless you've lived them yourself. Trying to describe why a brew can lift everyone's spirits, why "hurry up and wait" still raises a smile, or why people can laugh so easily in difficult circumstances isn't always straightforward.
Neither is explaining the strength of the friendships that military service creates.
The one thing every British soldier shares
For all the differences between Regiments, Corps, trades and careers, every British soldier begins their service in exactly the same way. Before they become Royal Engineers, signallers, infantry soldiers, REME artificers or members of any other Regiment or Corps, they stand and swear the British Army Oath of Allegiance.
It's a moment that every soldier shares. Many veterans remember surprisingly little about the number of press-ups they did during training, but they can still remember the day they first took the Oath. Perhaps that's because it marked something far more significant than simply completing another part of training. It marked the point at which they stopped being civilians and became soldiers.
For families, that moment is often just as important. Parents, husbands, wives and children may remember the passing out parade, but the Oath itself represents the beginning of an entire military career.
That's one of the reasons our personalised British Army Oath of Allegiance frames mean so much to the people who receive them. They don't simply display the words of the Oath. They preserve the moment when those words were first spoken, together with the recipient's Regiment or Corps, creating a lasting reminder of where their journey began.
FAQs
Does every British soldier take the Oath of Allegiance?
Yes. Every person joining the British Army takes the Oath of Allegiance at the beginning of their military service, regardless of the Regiment or Corps they later serve with. Although careers, trades and units differ enormously, the Oath is the one moment that every British soldier shares. For many veterans, it remains one of the most memorable milestones of their military career.
Which British Army Regiments and Corps can you personalise the Oath for?
We can personalise our British Army Oath of Allegiance frames for virtually every British Army Regiment and Corps, using the appropriate cap badge and stable belt colours. This includes the Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, Royal Signals, REME, Royal Logistic Corps, Army Air Corps, Intelligence Corps, the Parachute Regiment, the Infantry, the Household Division, the Guards and many historic Regiments. If you cannot see the Regiment or Corps you need, please get in touch as we can usually help.
Why do veterans often remember taking the Oath of Allegiance?
For many soldiers, taking the Oath marks the moment they stopped being a civilian and officially became part of the British Army. Although every military career is different, the Oath represents the beginning of that journey and is often remembered long after the details of basic training have faded. It's one reason why a personalised Oath of Allegiance frame makes such a meaningful keepsake for serving soldiers, veterans and their families.
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