Sam Jolley, Curator/Collections Manager, The Royal Logistic Corps Museum introduces their current exhibition exploring the changing face of maternity in the military.
The Royal Logistic Corps Museum’s latest exhibition, Rations for Two, tells the story of pregnancy and maternity in the British Army. From the famous fawn maternity smock to the modern MTP maternity uniform, thirty years of maternity uniforms are displayed next to the stories of mothers who serve. The exhibition was opened by Colonel Jacqueline Powell, the Corps Colonel of the Royal Logistic Corps, who features in the display.
Today, pregnant servicewomen are issued an expanding maternity uniform and serve in non-combat roles right up until their due date. They command regiments, plan operations and run medical centres. Breastfeeding women camo-up in foxholes, drive tank transporters and train troops. However, this was not always the case, and prior to August 1990 British servicewomen were discharged at 14 weeks pregnant.
When the MOD implemented maternity leave in 1990 it did so practically overnight, having been found in breach of the 1978 EU Directive which nullified any military exemptions to the Sex Discrimination Act (1975). It was a challenging new era for both servicewomen and the Chain of Command, navigating how pregnant and post-partum women could be soldiers.
Uniform has a considerable impact on a soldier’s sense of identity and can affect unit cohesion. Previous iterations of the maternity uniform, such as the fawn maternity smock that changed very little from 1997 to 2017, singled out pregnant servicewomen as different from their unit. The modern MTP maternity shirt and trousers maintain a soldier’s military identity, whilst also considering the needs of a growing bump. The exhibition also features the temporary uniform authorised for an RMP Sergeant to wear when she outgrew the MTP: an XL unit t-shirt with black gym leggings, which considered the mother’s comfort whilst also ensuring she still felt part of her unit’s identity.
Juggling parenthood and a career can bring challenges in any job, but the demands of military service often puts extra pressure on new parents. In recent years the Defence Breast Feeding Network has supported the implementation of breastfeeding rooms across 100 defence sites. Many Physical Training Instructors are now proficient in pre and post-natal exercise programmes, helping servicewomen return from maternity leave fighting fit in safe and sustainable ways. Wrap-around childcare funding, before and after school care for primary school children, helps soldiers commit to both career and family.
Rations for Two: Pregnancy and Maternity in the British Army runs until 31 August 2025. The Royal Logistic Corps Museum is open from 09.30 to 16.00, Tuesday to Saturday. Entrance is free.
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