Gay soldiers ww2

Gay and Lesbian soldiers faced extraordinary discrimination during World War II. Most found new communities of people and thrived despite the oppression. Discover the film Coming Out Under Fire that shares their story. Stephen Bourne reveals some of the varied experiences of homosexual men who served in the armed forces during the Second World War. In , the heroic Battle of Britain pilot Flight Lieutenant Ian Gleed published a memoir called Arise to Conquer.

Soldiers separated from their loved ones during World War II gazed at photographs of their sweethearts, and wrote love letters in the hopes that one day, they would be reunited and start a family. One soldier, Gilbert Bradley, wrote his letters, too, but he could never keep a photo of. With WWII’s massive human mobilization, the military shifted from its practice of jailing soldiers accused of homosexuality (which required time-consuming, expensive court-martials) to simply.

Still, hundreds of thousands of gay, lesbian, and bisexual men and women served in the armed forces during World War II. The massive manpower needs during the war created an ambiguous place for gay men and lesbians in military service. He exchanged hundreds of letters with his sweetheart - who merely signed with the initial "G". But more than 70 years later, it was discovered that G stood for Gordon, and Gilbert had been in love with a man.

At the time, not only was homosexuality illegal, but those in the armed forces could be shot for having gay sex. The letters, which emerged after Mr Bradley's death in , are therefore unusual and shed an important light on homosexual relationships during the war. Wednesday January 24th My darling,. I lie awake all night waiting for the postman in the early morning, and then when he does not bring anything from you I just exist, a mass of nerves All my love forever,.

Information gleaned from the letters indicate Mr Bradley was a reluctant soldier. He did not want to be in the Army, and even pretended to have epilepsy to avoid it.

His ruse did not work, though, and in he was stationed at Park Hall Camp in Oswestry, Shropshire, to train as an anti-aircraft gunner. He was already in love with Gordon Bowsher. The pair had met on a houseboat holiday in Devon in when Mr Bowsher was in a relationship with Mr Bradley's nephew. Mr Bowsher was from a well-to-do family.

His father ran a shipping company, and the Bowshers also owned tea plantations. When war broke out a year later he trained as an infantryman and was stationed at locations across the country. February 12 , Park Grange. My own darling boy,. There is nothing more than I desire in life but to have you with me constantly I can see or I imagine I can see, what your mother and father's reaction would be But life as a homosexual in the s was incredibly difficult.

Gay activity was a court-martial offence, jail sentences for so-called "gross indecency" were common, and much of society strongly disapproved of same-sex relationships. It was not until the Sexual Offences Act that consenting men aged 21 and over were legally allowed to have gay relationships - and being openly gay in the armed services was not allowed until The letters, which emerged after Mr Bradley's death in , are rare because most homosexual couples would get rid of anything so incriminating, says gay rights activist Peter Roscoe.

In one letter Mr Bowsher urges his lover to "do one thing for me in deadly seriousness. I want all my letters destroyed.

gay ww2 stories

Please darling do this for me. Til then and forever I worship you. Mr Roscoe says the letters are inspiring in their positivity. February 1st, K. Gloucester Regiment, Priors Road, Cheltenham. My darling boy,. For years I had it drummed into me that no love could last for life