Christmas is one of the few times during the whole year people briefly pause their busy life to gather with loved ones to celebrate the season, which was immensely difficult during wartime, as families were forced to separate: men were battling on the front line, women were serving in the military or working in factories for war effort, and children were evacuted to safer areas far away from home. Nevertheless, people still tried their best to make the most of it. Take a look back at the men and women of the British Army and Royal Navy celebrating the season during the Second World War through 19 fascinating vintage black-and-white photographs:
Men of the Border Regiment enjoying Christmas dinner at Mouchin in France, 1939. (IMW)
A member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service kissing a soldier under the mistletoe, 1939. (Hulton)
A couple kissing under the mistletoe before the soldier leaving London to re-join his unit, 1939. (Gerry Cranham)
A bomber pilot of the British Coastal Command affixing a sprig of mistletoe to his aircraft to acknowledge Christmas, 1940. (Reg Speller)
Royal Navy sailors drinking rum to celebrate Christmas on a British minesweeper on patrol off the coast of England, 1940. (Popperfoto)
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