Sergeant Alastair Smith, 36, of the 2nd Battalion ‘The
Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment’, married civilian Aaron
Weston on British forces territory in Dhekilia, Cyprus,
becoming the first gay couple to get married on a British
military base overseas.
According to reports, this is not just the first gay wedding
on a British military base overseas, it is also understood to
be one of the first ever at a UK army base.
The wedding – which took place on September 10 - was
approved and officiated by Air Vice Marshal Mike Wigston,
the commander and administrator of the Army's sovereign
base area.
According to an Army lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
website, Sgt Smith was previously married to a woman, with
whom he had children. He was described as an assistant
intelligence officer in Cyprus.
Speaking about the ceremony, Sgt Smith said:
'As well as having the great honour of being able to
serve in an Infantry Battalion in the British Army, it's
also an honour to be able to commit myself to my
husband with the full backing and support of the
British Army in the unique environment that Cyprus
offers. In a country that is pushing forward on
matters of gender and equality, both Cyprus and the
SBAA have been massively supportive. 'We are proud
to be able to serve and live in this community.
When he was a Corporal, he wrote in an army blog:
'When I joined the Army, coming out would have
meant getting kicked out, but by the time I had
established myself and my Battalion found out, it no
longer meant a career death sentence. As a result I
was afraid to come out, got married and had
children. Now my children know Daddy is gay and
they all love and adore my partner.'
Sgt Smith, who revealed his sexuality at a Corporal mess
function, wrote in his blog:
'Rumours had been flying round and I thought 'why
hide it any longer'. 'So I said to someone 'Yeah I'm
gay, is there a problem with that.' 'Two of the biggest
Corporals in our mess started to walk over to me,
and I had a 'fight or flight' instinct, but I noticed they
were both smiling. They stuck out their hands and
shook mine telling me I must have been the bravest
man in the world to 'come out' firstly in an infantry
battalion and secondly in the Corporal's mess. He
said no one in the military had seen his family unit
'as any different from any other family on the patch'.
He also added: 'The Army has always had banter and
I can give as good as I get. 'That said I've never had
anything malicious said to me and I have never felt
any different to any other soldiers in my Battalion.'
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said:
'The first-ever British Forces Overseas Territory
same-sex marriage has taken place at Dhekelia's
Fisherman's Cove in Cyprus.' They said Air Vice
Marshal Wigston made the decision to allow the
same sex marriage, while Sgt Smith was overjoyed to
be able to celebrate the ground-breaking day with his
husband, surrounded by his friends, family and
infantry colleagues'. Sgt Smith's Commanding
Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davies said: 'I am
delighted that Sergeant Smith and Aaron were able to
get married on the Dhekelia coastline – a cracking
choice. 'On behalf of the Battalion and wider 'Tigers'
community, we wish them the very best of happiness
for the future.'
His Platoon Commander, Captain Dan Cole and other friends
and colleagues also congratulated the couple.
