Young Victoria Gilkes had little idea of the life that lay ahead of her as the wife of a serving soldier with the British Army of the Rhine when she said “I do” to Capt David Coombes.
Now she’s turned her experiences, and those of other wives, into a book detailing the challenges and joys of life as a forces spouse in West Germany during the 1960s and 70s.
She said: “Accepting a marriage proposal from a military man involved embarking on the adventure of an uncertain lifestyle… a step into the unknown.”
Tor, a former editor of the Army Wives Journal, which became Army&You, chose the title Wife of… to reflect the army’s system at the time, defining women by their husband’s rank and name. It symbolises the identity struggle they faced.
Diverse aspects of military life are covered, including the rank system, the unique challenges of childbirth in army facilities, and the fellowship of wives’ clubs.
Wife of… is also a tribute to the women who, behind the scenes, played an essential and unsung role supporting their families and the military community under extraordinary circumstances.
The book is available on Amazon or via victoriacoombes.co.uk