THE REALITY of life for wives and girlfriends of serving soldiers is explored in a revealing new film.

Documentary maker Chris Terrill joined 12 wives and girlfriends of Royal Marines as they set out on a non-stop, 104-mile charity hike across the length of South Downs Way.

The Brighton-born filmmaker used the trip to shed light on their emotional toll and the support they give the Marines, with whom he has worked extensively.

Mr Terrill said: "While Royal Marines volunteer to serve, their wives and girlfriends don't – they are effectively conscripted into military life.

"It became increasingly apparent to me how important they are to the serving front-line soldiers.

"The wider family is very important to the overall military effort, and people forget that.

"They have an awful lot to contend with, so it was a natural story for me to tell following the considerable amount of time I spent on the frontline with Marines."

Mr Terrill was embedded with the elite 42 Commando unit in Afghanistan and made a documentary on Marina A, real name Alexander Blackman, who was controversially jailed for life for shooting an injured Afghan insurgent on the front line.

Among the group of wives and girlfriends Mr Terrell followed for the yomp in May was Gaby, who grew up in Lewes and was living there as her husband served in Afghanistan.

Speaking for the documentary to air on Forces TV tonight [Weds], she recalled how her newborn Xavier was her “saving grace”, as she struggled not to concentrate on her fears for her husband.

She said: “I was at home and had all my friends there, so it was a bit more accommodating for me.

“But it was still like no news is good news and just keep waiting and waiting and waiting and hoping that he will call.

"And then the clock resets every time he calls.”

Not everyone made it to the end of the exceptionally tough hike from Winchester to Eastbourne, which has a 25 per cent success rate.

The ladies raised £12,314 before gift aid for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

Mr Terrill added: "For them to confide in me as much as they did was a privilege."