These items have been added to the museum’s collection in the last 12 months. The museum regularly receives items relating to the service, but also the home lives of soldiers whilst they are away. This selection of recent additions to the collection includes the items related to relationships that REME soldiers have to leave behind whilst they serve.

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Although soldiers face relationship challenges of distance especially during wartime, in 2025 we had an influx of donations that revolved around love. From letters, to wedding photos, to sweetheart brooches. The objects in this year’s display show how REME soldiers maintain their relationships with partners and family throughout history. Staying connected with their words and sentimental tokens.

Sweetheart brooches come in all shapes and usually small sizes. Given by soldiers as a token of love, they usually depict the cap badge or military insignia of those giving the item to the loved one. They can also be given as mementoes of luck for family members to wear. Sweetheart brooches became popular in the First World War, however, they continued to grow in popularity during the Second World War and are still given and received today. Some are commissioned, some are bought and some are made by the soldier.

As a previous article by our former Archivist discussed, there is some merit to the idea that REME soldiers were making sweetheart brooches as a form of trench art; either to keep them busy during their downtime or to show their devotion and love to those at home, or perhaps both. We do have many items in the collection created by REME soldiers as romantic keepsakes.

In the collection prior to 2025, this sweetheart brooch was owned by the wife of Thompson, W, Sergeant. 1973.1253.

The items in this year’s display include sweetheart brooches given to family members as a sign of romantic devotion. This brooch donated to the museum by the family of Ronald James Frederick Young was given to his wife Dorothy. The brooch is mentioned in his letters sent to his wife from 1943-1946 that were also donated to the museum last year.

On display in the museum currently along with other items relating to Ronald James Frederick Young. 2025.46.2 and 2025.46.3.

Another view of the display, situated in the Remembrance Gallery.

Come and see the display that shows the items that are signs of faith, hope, luck and love of REME soldiers and their families in our remembrance gallery.