The Mark of a Military Man

: The Tattoo Culture of the British Army, 1964-1991

Abstract

Due to long-held negative perceptions surrounding tattooing, it is only recently that scholars have begun to assess the practice amongst different social groups. Although tattoos have long been associated with the culture of the British Army, this group has, to date, been largely overlooked.
This dissertation aims to address this historiographical gap by examining perceptions around the practice of tattooing within the British Army between 1964 and 1991. Using national newspapers, regimental journals, and original oral history interviews, this dissertation will argue that the tattoo culture of the British Army went beyond a mere acquisition of an indelible mark and instead spoke to a culture where the practice was used to assert ideas of military masculinity, comradery and to create a sense of belonging. In the late twentieth-century, tattoos were used within the British Army as a means of expressing one’s suitability for the profession amongst the enlisted ranks.
Concepts of military masculinity will sit at the heart of this work, alongside the behaviours of soldiers when acquiring a tattoo, the impact on the individual, and the presentation of soldiers to the public. As such, this dissertation will contribute to literature at the intersection of new military history, tattoo history, and the analysis of media.

Date of Award	17 Jun 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Stephen E Mawdsley (Supervisor) & Grace Huxford (Supervisor)