--- title: Valentine's Day: American Soldiers and English Girlfriends description: As Valentine's Day approaches, a look at a love that transcended borders: American soldiers' love for English girls during World War II. canonical: https://time.com/4163267/american-soldiers-english-girls-world-war-ii/ author: Eliza Berman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-02-12T14:00:46.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:00:41.753Z og:title: See Photos of American Soldiers Courting English Girls During World War II og:description: As Valentine's Day approaches, a look at a love that transcended borders og:url: https://time.com/4163267/american-soldiers-english-girls-world-war-ii/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1e6a671d9fb5317e/69887712e20a87d824a8ed68/151229-wwii-england-gi-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2161 og:image:height: 1216 og:image:alt: American Soldiers in England 1944 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: See Photos of American Soldiers Courting English Girls During World War II twitter:description: As Valentine's Day approaches, a look at a love that transcended borders twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1e6a671d9fb5317e/69887712e20a87d824a8ed68/151229-wwii-england-gi-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # See Photos of American Soldiers Courting English Girls During World War II > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription.  by [Eliza Berman](https://time.com/author/eliza-berman/)  ## Eliza Berman Berman is a senior editor at TIME. Feb 12, 2016 2:00 PM UTC  American soldier kissing his English girlfriend on lawn in Hyde Park, one of the favorite haunts of US troops stationed in England. American soldier kissing his English girlfriend on lawn in Hyde Park, one of the favorite haunts of US troops stationed in England. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  by [Eliza Berman](https://time.com/author/eliza-berman/)  ## Eliza Berman Berman is a senior editor at TIME. Feb 12, 2016 2:00 PM UTC During World War II, the Americans and the British were not only allies in war. They were allies in love. In the spring of 1944, with D-Day just weeks away, LIFE photographer Ralph Morse strolled through London’s Hyde Park capturing the phenomenon that was the love between American soldiers and young English women. Upwards of 2 million American troops were stationed in the U.K. during the latter days of the war, and as the Allied Invasion of Normandy drew nearer, soldiers took what leisure time they could. Often this meant playing baseball as English girls looked on, teaching English girls how to jitterbug, rowing English girls across the shallow Serpentine lake—in short, finding distraction from the realities of war in time spent with women. “Always in spring, young couples have walked under \[Hyde Park’s\] elms,” the magazine explained. But this year, it continued, “American boys and British girls stroll there and sometimes kiss before all men in England turn to stern tasks of war.” Devoid of context, Morse’s images of young lovers might appear to be the very picture of carefree romance. But the world outside the frame provided plenty of reasons for the soldiers to seek shelter in the arms of young English ladies. The thought of impending death, however, kept many soldiers from allowing their flirtations to develop into deeper love. Their courtship rituals held no promise of happy endings. _Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter_ [_@lizabethronk_](https://twitter.com/LizabethRonk)_._  American soldier kissing his English girlfriend on lawn in Hyde Park, one of the favorite haunts of US troops stationed in England. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. Crowds at Hyde Park Corner stroll aimlessly into park on long spring evenings. This is favorite spot for American boys to meet their English girls. Then most of the couples row on the Serpentine or watch nearby softball games. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. Two Americans display the art of Jitterbugging for their friends. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. A U.S. officer and his girl walk by the Serpentine, a long and shallow pond in the heart of Hyde park. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  An American soldier and his English girlfriend chat on a bench in Hyde Park, a favorite haunt for lonely G.I.s. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. Anglo-American friendship is furthered by boy and girl meetings in Hyde Park. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. A GI and his girl walk arm-in-arm among the sheep in Kensington Gardens. Gardens adjoin Hyde Park. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. An English ATS and Eighth Air Force sergeant enjoy a blissful kiss. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. GIs like to sprawl flat on the grass for comfort, attendants find very few of the men rent chairs. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  American soldier with his English girlfriend strolling in Hyde park, 1944. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  American soldier relaxing in Hyde Park with English girls, 1944. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. Hyde Park's paths are filled with strolling couples like this one. 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