ABSTRACT
The transition to civilian life after a career in the military is an inevitable consequence that all serving personnel and veterans will go through. For most the experience is relatively trouble-free, but for other ex-military personnel, particularly those reporting mental health issues, it can have a detrimental impact on their physical and psychological wellbeing. Archaeology-based initiatives have emerged as one response to finding ways to assist these Veterans and Serving Military personnel (VSMP) as part of a rehabilitation or recovery pathway. The author, a retired RAF nursing officer and mental health specialist, undertook research during two veteran-focussed archaeological initiatives in Cyprus at Nisarouin (“Dreamer's Bay”) and in Belgium at Hougoumont Farm (Waterloo) to explore if involvement in archaeology-based programmes had a positive impact on mental wellbeing or endorsed the development of new or transferable skills for its participants.
