The Soldier

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Lore & Background

Set in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War, the show portrays army life during a period of significant change. This is best demonstrated during the third series, around 1994, when real regiments were forced into amalgamations due to downsizing. In the show, the King's Fusiliers are forced to amalgamate with the Cumbrian Regiment, becoming the King's Own Fusiliers. At the time of broadcast, the fatality rate was low, with most casualties due to training accidents and suicides. The military was assigned to performing more peacekeeping missions than fighting. As a consequence, the show served to portray the army, despite domestic problems, in a fairly good light.

In Their Own Story

Although many well-known actors appeared in Soldier Soldier, perhaps the best known are Robson Green and Jerome Flynn, who portrayed Fusilier Dave Tucker and Sergeant Paddy Garvey respectively. Their performance of "Unchained Melody" in an episode of the fourth series propelled them to stardom, giving them several number one songs and a best-selling album. At the end of the fifth series in 1995, both actors left the show. After a decline in viewing figures following their departure, 1997 saw the decision to end the drama after seven series. TV presenter Chris Kelly wrote and produced some episodes.

Reader's Guide

The King's Own Fusiliers, originally the King's Fusiliers, is the infantry regiment portrayed. Like all fusilier regiments, both wear a hackle coloured dark blue over white. During the third series, set during the Options for Change military reforms, the King's Fusiliers amalgamated with "The Cumbrians (Duke of Rutland's Own)", mimicking the real-life amalgamation of the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) and the Border Regiment in 1959 to form the King's Own Royal Border Regiment. During negotiations, attempts were made by the Cumbrians to keep the new regiment as ordinary infantry, losing the hackle. However, research by Lt Col Osbourne found that during the Cumbrians' service in the Crimea, they had worn the hackle and served as fusiliers for six months. As a result, the new regiment was named "The King's Own Fusiliers". The cap badge features the lion surmounting the crown within the circlet of the Order of the Garter, surmounted by the traditional flame of a fusilier regiment.

Did You Know?

• The show ran for seven series and 82 episodes from 10 June 1991 to 9 December 1997.
• The title comes from the traditional song 'Soldier, Soldier, Won't You Marry Me?'.
• Robson Green and Jerome Flynn's performance of 'Unchained Melody' in series 4 gave them several number one songs and a best-selling album.
• The fictional King's Fusiliers amalgamated with the Cumbrian Regiment during the third series, mirroring real-life regimental mergers under Options for Change.
• TV presenter Chris Kelly wrote and produced some episodes of the series.