Service Children Support Network - RAF Benevolent Fund

Army Childhood
by Clare Gibson
Those who work alongside service children and,
of course, their parents and families, are well
aware of the ways in which these youngsters’
lives differ from those of children in civilian
communities, and of the challenges that they
face. Another group of people also has an
innate understanding of today’s service
children: those who were themselves once
army, air-force or navy ‘brats’. And not only do
they have personal experience of how service
life impacts on children, but the benefit of
hindsight also gives them a unique perspective
on the ways in which growing up as a forces’
child can continue to have a profound influence
later in life.
As the daughter, granddaughter and greatgranddaughter
of regular soldiers, I have always
been intrigued by the differences and
similarities in the experiences of army children
across the generations. It is a subject that has
been poorly documented and studied, however,
which is why I set up The Army Children Archive
(TACA) website (www.archhistory.co.uk) to
chronicle British army children’s history. As well
as looking back into the past, TACA also has an
eye on the present and future and tries to raise
awareness of the issues affecting today’s service
children, and to help them where it can.
Last year, I was commissioned by Shire Books to
write Army Childhood: British Army Children’s
Lives and Times. An illustrated outline of the
‘army-child experience’, Army Childhood
encompasses over three hundred years of army
children’s history, covering such areas as the
army’s changing attitude to its soldiers’ young
dependants; how they have been transported
to postings all over the world; and how and
where they have been housed, educated and
entertained. I hope that readers will find the
book interesting, and that it will provide them
with some informative and illuminating food for
thought.
Clare Gibson
Army Childhood: British Army Children’s Lives
and Times, by Clare Gibson, is a 64pp
paperback, published as part of Shire
Publications’ Shire Library series in May 2012.
RRP £6.99.
http://www.shirebooks.co.uk/store/Army-
Childhood_9780747810995
Child Bereavement Charity
Conference
2012
‘Grief and
bereavement in
schools – Let’s talk
about it’
Thursday 20 th September 2012 - University of
Warwick. A unique opportunity to learn directly
from bereaved young people and professionals.
Schools have a vital role to play in the lives of
bereaved children – up to 70% of schools have a
bereaved pupil on their role at any one time.
The programme will include presentations,
discussions and workshops.
If you are interested in finding out more or
booking a place please contact:
conferences@childbereavement.org.uk or
phone 01494 568910 at the Child Bereavement
Charity .