The Story of Soldier Magazine opens at the NAM

The story of the official magazine of the British Army opened on 4 February at the Natiional Army Museum in London and runs until Sunday 6 July 2025.

Soldier Magazine celebrates its 80th birthday this year. Since its creation in March 1945, approved by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, its journalists have reported on every conflict and explored every aspect of service life.

The Story of Soldier Magazine at the National Army Museum is a new short documentary film charting the development of this unique publication. It describes how the magazine started out as a fortnightly news publication produced by the Army Welfare Service to inform troops of the British Liberation Army fighting Nazi forces across Europe. It then evolved into a glossy monthly magazine catering to every branch of the Army. The film provides fascinating insights into the production, distribution and reporting processes as well as recalling the milestones the publication has achieved across eight decades.

Some of the earliest editions of Soldier Magazine, including an original first edition (February 1945) and the celebratory VE Day edition (May 1945), are displayed alongside the short film, with magazine covers from across the decades.

Visitors will also be able to take home a free copy of the most recent edition of the magazine.

If you wish to visit the exhibition further details can be found here: https://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/story-soldier-magazine