For London-based secretary, Peggy Jacobsen, joining a cause in the Second World War was “the obvious thing to do”. Her mission to help was set in motion shortly after a friend of her father’s came to dinner one evening. Peggy’s journey as a member of the FANY began in the summer of 1939, “roughing it” at Mytchett Camp, where she trained for the corps. After that, her unit became “really and truly mobilised”. The FANYs were originally founded as motor companies. Some members possessed technical skills, which made them good mechanics. Others, including Peggy, showcased their excellence at typewriters. Following a split that took place within the corps, Peggy was absorbed into the group known as ‘Free FANYs’, where she worked on administrative tasks in the office. Despite the name, Peggy quipped that she “Didn’t exactly feel very free”. Peggy also became involved with the Polish unit in Scotland and participated in the formation of FANY Headquarters Scotland. Here, the Polish unit provided necessities, including ambulances and drivers, as well as welfare services to the Poles. Throughout the interview, Peggy fondly remembers many friends and fellow FANY members, people she “will never forget”.

Mary Soames OBE delivers a vibrant account of her journey from an ambulance driver for the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANYs) to a colonel in the British Army. She recounts with fondness the memories and occasional challenges that emerged throughout her twenty-six-year career which witnessed the entirety of the Second World War. Initially driving converted bread vans as ambulances at Royal Albert Docks following the outbreak of war, Mary moved to a more senior and administrative role at Streatham Common. As she progressed through her career, Mary undertook more senior roles and responsibilities in a variety of locations and shares the stories she collected along the way, including brief affiliations with the intelligence corps, tales of the Blitz, and interactions with Royal Family members. Mary joined the army in 1942, where she was commissioned as a colonel and remained in this position until her marriage in 1964. Mary’s story reflects some of the struggles that women faced in positions of military authority. Nonetheless, her pride at being a member of FANY and admiration for the remarkable organisation are illuminated throughout her account. Her career was one of remarkable growth and was made all the more commendable with her roles as life vice-president of WRAC Association and chairman of the Benevolent Fund.

In 1938, Mary joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry in her late teens. When the war started, she was posted to the anti-aircraft area HQ. Her duties included driving officers to gun sites, often several hundred miles. On one trip, a bomb landed nearby, and her car was blown across the road, but no one was injured. Driving through Sheffield and Coventry, after they had been severely bombed, was frightening, especially as her parents lived in Sheffield. In 1942, she wanted an overseas posting, which was refused, so she applied for a commission and became an officer. In 1944, Germany launched the V-1 bombing campaign, and Mary found this unnerving. A bomb landed near a house she was in and blew out all the windows, and being an officer, she had to take charge of the situation. She grew up rapidly during the war and enjoyed the experience, despite the terrible events.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Diana was born in London in 1916, into a class whose activities were the subject of gossip in the newspapers and magazines of the day.  Like so many of her peers, however, she was more than a society lady: she intended to contribute to the war effort and held ambitions to join the ATS.  First, she joined the FANYs and throughout the winter of the Blitz drove a mobile canteen, calling at bomb shelters to support the hungry occupants and feeding the firemen while they fought fires in the bombed buildings. When she did join the ATS, her strong language skills gained during a year living in Germany meant she was assigned a role at Trent Park.  This North London mansion had been requisitioned and adapted by the intelligence service MI19 as a centre for the surveillance of German prisoners of war.  There, she and her colleagues recorded, transcribed and translated conversations between the prisoners which were then used in support of intelligence operations.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Hester reflects on her six and a half years of service during World War II, beginning with her motivations to join after witnessing the growing threat in 1936 Germany. Initially involved in the Red Cross and later the FANYs (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), she trained in driving and basic mechanics, working under tough conditions. She served as an ambulance driver and later as a staff car driver for a brigadier during the Blitz, then rose to officer rank, overseeing women operating radar and artillery equipment. Despite hardships, poor accommodation, difficult vehicles, and ill-fitting uniforms, she recalls camaraderie, humour, and purpose. Her later postings included Ireland and Egypt, with a rewarding trip through the Middle East. Hester also appeared in wartime propaganda photos, helping shift public perceptions of women in service. She recalls both the challenges and deep friendships, describing the experiences as hard work, friendship and challenge.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Irene Buckland was born in 1912. In 1938 she joined the FANYs along with her younger sister Chrystal King (nee Eileen Maud Chrystal Buckland). Their father, Sir Henry Buckland, was the General Manager of The Crystal Palace. They both felt they had been more or less “shanghaied” into joining the FANYs as the Chairman’s wife was part of FANY recruitment. Irene recalls that people wondered who they were when they first appeared in uniform. The FANYs were very proud of their uniform which they felt was much better than the ATS uniform. Both Irene and Chrystal were based initially at Woolwich. Irene was met with some initial distain by the male officers being a female driver but once they knew she could drive they were fine. She joined the Anglo-American FANYs before leaving to look after her parents. She continued in the ARP, however, missed the camaraderie of the FANYs.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Chrystal King OBE was born in 1916. In 1938 she joined the FANYs along with her older sister Irene Buckland. Their father, Sir Henry Buckland, was the General Manager of The Crystal Palace. Chrystal stated that they were more or less “shanghaied” into joining as the Chairman’s wife was part of FANY recruitment. She said that Dad’s Army didn’t have a patch on those early days of the FANYs. Having four family cars their driving skills were soon put into action. Chrystal was immensely proud of her FANY uniform and particularly her hat strap. When the FANYs were eventually absorbed into the ATS, they wanted to keep their tradition and identity by retaining the FANY hat strap; which they did. After the war Chrystal went to Kings College London to complete her Almoners course and obtain her certificate. She then had a proud career with the John Lewis Partnership.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Daphne Margaret Sybil Désirée Park, Baroness Park of Monmouth, joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) in 1943 and caught the attention of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) due to her cipher skills. Promoted to sergeant, she trained operatives for Operation Jedburgh, supporting the Resistance in Europe. Despite a demotion, Daphne served as a Briefing Officer, working with French soldiers before D-Day. Major-General Sir Colin McVean Gubbins ensured she became a commissioned officer. Post-war, she joined the Field Intelligence Agency Technical British Intelligence Objective Sub-Committee in Frankfurt and Berlin. Daphne recalls various incidents, including her time in a jail, using food for intelligence, and training challenges. She discusses the SOE hierarchy, the notable secret agent Dennis Rake, and colleagues like Leopold Marks and the Gamble sisters. Daphne's remarkable service continued with MI6. She passed away on March 24, 2010.

Daphne Brookes tells how in 1943, after watching a recruitment film and without her parent’s knowledge, she enlisted in the army.  She was just eighteen years old. After a period of basic training, Daphne was sent to the Isle of Man for six months for wireless training, after which she was posted to Kedleston Hall near Derby. She describes her work covering radio stations, which often had a considerable amount of interference, and writing down five letter blocks of code which dispatch riders took away. She comments that she had no real clue about what happened to them, or about the existence of Bletchley Park. At the time, no unnecessary information was disclosed, but Daphne was, in fact, working at one of the ‘Y Service’ secret wireless intercept stations which provided raw material for the codebreakers. She describes herself as ‘a very very small cog in a big wheel’ but is proud of the part she played.

Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Ann had a practical streak and a good sense of adventure. In the late 1930s, after reading about the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) in a Territorial Army magazine, she and her close friend Lois Ragg decided to join. The organisation appealed to her — hands-on, disciplined, and useful. She trained in map reading, engine maintenance, and gas attack procedures, and took part in pre-war camps, one memorably inspected by Princess Alice. When war broke out, Ann was called up to Northern Command in York, later serving with the 2nd Air Cavalry Division near Nottingham. When the FANY became part of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), she stayed on, completing officer training in Edinburgh and earning her commission. Her wartime service took her across Britain, from northern headquarters to the southern coast, including a key posting in Dorset where she managed transport and logistics for anti-aircraft units, a demanding job she handled with steady efficiency. Later, she transferred to the Education Corps before her discharge in 1945. After the war, Ann’s resourcefulness found a new outlet. She co-founded Decor Studios Limited in London, producing lampshades at a time when the city was rebuilding and reinventing itself. She later married and settled into family life, carrying with her the same calm capability and sense of purpose that had defined her service years. The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Alfred Blake was conscripted to the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in 1955. He was advised that the Infantry would provide more excitement to his National Service and it certainly proved to be the case. Born in South London, the furthest he’d ever travelled was to go hopping in Kent during the summer holidays. The regiment were based in Inverness. His first deployment was to Korea where he was part of the peacekeeping force. Six months later, the regiment is sent to Aden. On one patrol the platoon is attacked and Alfred is very lucky to survive. Alfred has shared some great photos.

Before his involvement in the Berlin Airlift, Ken Weaden grew up in the small village of Easton-in-Gordano in Somerset, where he witnessed the devastating aftermath of the Bristol Blitz. As part of the RAF, Ken went first to Manchester, then to Canada to complete his training, before taking on the position of Navigator during the war, in which he helped with the transport of supplies across Europe. After being demobbed, Ken struggled to adjust to the monotonous routine of his old job and soon returned to the RAF. In this interview, he recalls being stationed in Wunstorf, Germany, then Lübeck, dealing with the fast-paced nature of the job and the frequent flights to Gatow, where new aircrafts would arrive every two minutes. Due to the shift system used, one downside of the role was its noticeable lack of downtime. On his only proper night out, Ken remembers being invited to a dance at a hospital club in Hamburg, which was surprisingly full of English medics.  In total, Ken spent 11 months on the Airlift. Despite the workload, he retains humorous anecdotes from his time in service, like one occasion shortly after the war when his crew were forced to land in a Japanese airfield, and attempted their first meal using chopsticks, with little success. Looking back at his work, Ken considers it a job well done, and affirms that the crews did what they were supposed to do. After two extra years in the RAF, he decided it was the right time to leave.

Bert Crane started work in a factory making military components at 14, but volunteered for the Reconnaissance Corps at 17 despite this being a reserved occupation. In 1944 he completed extensive and varied training for this specialist role, which he believes was comprehensive. In January 1945 he joined C Squadron 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment as a replacement gunner/operator in an armoured car, serving through to the end of hostilities. In an excellent account that blends operational details with personal reflection, he notes that his first instruction on joining his unit was to forget everything he had learned, which was good advice because on his first night patrol he returned fire without waiting for orders; however, when he saw the dead body next day, it caused a moment of reflection. On another occasion they spent 5 hours carefully covering 5 miles of forest, fearing contact, only to find the terrain had already been taken. He recalls the impact of taking casualties in a tight-knit unit in the last days of the war, and how a final task was cancelled. He believes he was lucky because the Germans were retreating by the time he joined, though he remembers being afraid and the risks they took.

Tom Renouf’s journey from infantry recruit to seasoned corporal with a Military Medal began with basic training and the preparations for deploying to France just after D-Day. On 30 June he joined his battalion as a casualty replacement, and went from boy to man during his baptism of fire at Rauray next day. Apart from a brief period recovering from a wound, he served continuously in the front line through France, Holland and the Rhine crossing to the final surrender in Germany. He focuses on some of the more personal aspects: how first battle experiences turned replacements into veterans, heavy casualties epitomised by the small number of soldiers who mustered next day, the different ways each man coped with danger. He recalls, during his first action in command, how he had to lead his section from the front to earn their respect. A recurrent theme is how the corporals, sergeants and sergeant major led from the front in battle and ensured the men’s welfare throughout the campaign.

Lamin Maneh, originally from Gambia, served as a proud Guardsman in the Irish Guard. He chose to join the British Army with a clear purpose: “to make people’s lives better.” In 2006, Lamin moved to England and began the process of enlisting, officially joining the army in 2009. Reflecting on his journey, he shares memories of his childhood and life in Gambia and the significant transition he experienced as he adapted to life in the British military. Lamin was attracted to the public-facing role of the guards, with ‘thousands or millions of people coming to this country, the first place to see is where the guards are.’ Initially becoming a beefeater, he underwent intense drills and difficult training that forces you to push yourself to your limits to complete. His first deployment was in Afghanistan, and though, naturally, he was a little nervous, this was outweighed by his excitement to get to do the job he’d been training for. His first two weeks in Bastion were spent doing familiarisations and getting prepped ready to be deployed to the Forward Operating Base (FOB). These familiarisations consisted of doing patrols talking to local people and trying to help give them the security they need to go about their daily life. His previous training in Kenya helped him acclimatise to the extreme heat, and his shared religion with many local Afghans allowed him to build meaningful connections and earn their trust. On New Year's Eve 2010, after three months of deployment, Lamin suffered a serious injury due to an IED explosion. Waking up 14 days later in a hospital in Birmingham, Lamin reflects on his time spent recovering and regaining his strength at Hedley Court, as well as how his faith guided him through his time serving and in recovery. Although Lamin’s army career has come to a close, he remains passionate about helping people, searching for a job that continues to allow him to make a positive impact. We wish Lamin the very best of luck in his next adventure.

Pete Dunning shares with us his journey from being a bored pub worker in Wallesey to a medically discharged ‘meaningful Marine’ after being posted to Afghanistan twice with the Armoured Support Company during the mid-2000s. Pete recounts his gruelling training for the Royal Marines and how ‘exhilarating and exciting’ it was to operate the Viking armoured vehicles during his two tours in Afghanistan. In May 2008, Pete was involved in an incident where the vehicle he was travelling in hit an IED, resulting in the amputation of both of Pete’s legs. He spent over seven weeks at Selly Oak Hospital where he underwent surgery on his spine and received skin grafts for his severe burns before being sent to Hedley Court for rehabilitation. Pete talks about his ‘stubbornness to get back up from this’, and it was his sheer determination that helped him walk again. Despite opting for medical discharge from the Royal Marines just short of five years of service, he is now focused on watching his young family grow and thrive. His account of the incident and the changes it brought to his life is inspirational. A story of great determination to adapt to a life post-injury.

In firstly describing his earlier life, Bob recalls growing up in Paris and joining the special detachment force at the beginning of the Second World War. He then recalls arriving in England to undergo specialised training, and from this point onwards was made a saboteur. Bob remembers his first jump, and the speed at which saboteurs would have to seek, report and destroy enemy objectives. Operating in small teams of five to six individuals, he recalls the importance of discretion and trust among his network. As a member of the SOE, Bob was required to have a forged identity and resultantly, landed himself in troubled situations with the enemy. He recalls one particular incident on Christmas Day 1943 where, having missed the enforced curfew in Paris, he was taken by the German patrol. In an attempt to escape, he was shot in the lung and as a result, thought he had died. It was a slow recovery as not only did he have to remain in hiding from the enemy, but could only receive medical attention once he had returned to England in February. In the rest of his interview Bob discusses D-Day, the allied liberation, his post-war experiences in Asia, and the dive school he established in North Africa where he trained frogmen. Bob's account provides a series of exciting, moving and fascinating stories of his experience in the SOE both during, and after, the Second World War.

Harry joined the Home Guard at 15 and learned how to use a rifle as well as searching for bombing victims in east London. In 1942, aged 16, Harry lied about his age and joined the army later transferring to the Royal Armoured Corps where he trained as a radio operator/driver, but he did not enjoy life in tanks and soon volunteered to join another army unit where they wanted radio skills. He went on to be trained in signals, the use of a variety of weapons and explosives, some language skills and parachuting. He was eventually told this was Operation Jedburgh and he was teamed up with a British Officerr and a young Frenchman. In July 1944 his team was parachuted into western France, where they eventually teamed up with the resistance group, the Maquis. His team managed to get into the town of La Rochelle, home of a German Submarine base where they were able to monitor the movements and positioning of the German defenders. With the Maquis, Harry later derailed a troop train and blew up a water tower. Harry left France in November 1944 and returned to England, when he volunteered to go on another Jedburgh mission to the Far East… 

Fanny Hugill recalls her extraordinary life serving in the Women’s Royal Navy Service (also known as Wrens), reaching the rank of Third Officer and serving during WW2. She decided to join the Wrens after visiting a recruiting officer during her lunch break at work. After joining, she was sent to the Wren headquarters in London to serve as a short-end typist. It was boring work and Fanny tried to transfer out, but she wasn’t allowed. Luckily for Fanny, her father, a war veteran, bumped into Admiral Ramsay, an important military figure during WWI and WWII, on a train, explained the situation and the Admiral said he’d move Fanny over to Dover. Her job there was as a plotter, marking on charts everything that moved in the English channel, from slow moving convoys to minesweeping ships, Fanny remembers it as very complicated work. She was housed in Dover college and she worked in the operations room in the tunnels under Dover castle. She loved her time there and remembers it as some of the happiest months of her life. Dover was a hub of activity and on occasion, very important figures would come and visit the operations room. She remembers Sir Winston Churchill visited several times, and on one occasion remembers seeing him looking over across the sea to France, it is something she never forgot. Eleanor Roosevelt also visited, she was very popular amongst the Wrens. Fanny fondly remembers her time at Dover, but, after 21 months, she was promoted and moved on. She carried out her officer training course at the start of 1944, describing it as three of the hardest weeks in her life. After completing her officer training, she was assigned to be a personal assistant to Admiral Tennent, the renowned "Dunkirk Joe", who played a pivotal role in the evacuation of over 300,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk. However, Fanny much preferred working as a watchkeeper, so asked the Admiral to transfer her, which he happily did. Fanny took part in planning D-Day with Admiral Ramsay and his team. Fanny was on shift when the day came. She gives us a first hand recount of the operations room during such a tense time. Following the D-Day landings, she was sent to Normandy, September 6th 1944. She recalls the devastating sight as she travelled through Normandy to Granville. Fanny talks about the impact on morale that the death of Admiral Ramsay had on her and the rest of the team. Ramsay's replacement was Sir Harold Burrough whom she describes as a "big, teddy bear of man." Fortunately he stayed with them through to Germany. Fanny reflects on her war. She missed out on a place at Oxford but says, "I have been so thankful for the experience, people I met, people I worked with, people I worked for and the friends I made. And I think it made one feel, you can do things if you want to. It's up to you. Get on and do it. And that stood me in a very good stead."

Antoinette “Tony” Porter joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service as a teenager and quickly found herself in one of the war’s more unusual roles. Selected to take part in Operation Outward, she and her fellow Wrens launched hydrogen balloons fitted with incendiary devices, designed to drift into Germany and cause disruption. The work was heavy, physical, and dangerous. Antoinette recalls the sheer effort of handling the balloons, the types of explosives used, and the burns and injuries some Wrens suffered.

Her interview goes beyond secrecy and danger. Antoinette paints a vivid picture of wartime Britain: the terrifying sight of V1 flying bombs overhead, the exhilaration of watching waves of Allied aircraft depart on D-Day, and the euphoric celebrations of VE Day.

Her memories also reflect on life after the war, as she considers the costs of more recent conflicts. Antoinette’s story brings humour, candour, and humanity to a hidden corner of the Wrens’ wartime service.

Gosport born Vic Blake recounts his memories of D-Day, fighting in the 43rd Reconnaissance regiment of the Wessex Division. For most of his time, he drove and maintained a light wrecking Daimler vehicle across patrols of Normandy. Through eerie nights and countless close shave encounters with German soldiers, Vic considers himself a lucky man as a part of the B squadron who made it onto French shores. Sadly, his other comrades from A and C squadrons were not so lucky and Vic shares the story of how they lost 188 men after tragically hitting a sea mine off the coast of Juno beach. Sadly, Vic's luck ran out and he didn't make it home unscathed. He recalls waking up in a stretcher surrounded by other injured soldiers after being injured from getting too close to a mortar. In his civilian life, he lived as if he was never in the war, however now in his older age, the memories have returned; one of those being when a German soldier surrender himself to his team and, with no animosity, they offered him tea and a cigarette. This interview truly shows the bravery and understanding nature of Vic Blake.

When war broke out, Joan was initially in Civil Defence. However, after two years she was called up to the Auxiliary Territorial Service at the age of twenty-two; this was the women’s branch of the Army. She was sent to London for training, where she learned how to drive an ambulance. Joan was posted to Edinburgh where the barracks were so cold she slept with her greatcoat on. Later she drove her ambulance during the bombing of London. Just before D-day she remembers seeing huge columns of tanks and other vehicles, in preparation for the landings. After the invasion there were a lot more wounded to take to hospitals but the casualties decreased toward the end of the war. In Aldershot her barracks was bombed, and she also remembers the rations of unpleasant marrow jam and horse meat. She used to swap her cigarette ration for sweets. Like many others, once the war was over she missed the camaraderie of the Army. Thank you Joan for sharing your memories at the wonderful age of 107!

Rowena Patrick MBE trained at the WRAC College in Camberley and began her long military career in the WRAC in 1969 at the age of 23. Employed with the Royal Army Physical Training Corps at Aldershot and then Shrewsbury, Rowena was responsible for rewriting the then-outdated syllabus for women’s military training in the WRAC. As a keen mountaineer, Rowena’s new syllabus included adventurous survival training for both men and women, including rock climbing, ice climbing, and walking in all weather in the UK and abroad. In 1976, Rowena was posted as a grade 3 staff officer in the Ministry of Defence to the Directorate of Army Training in Guildford. During her career as an Army Major and Commanding Officer, Rowena worked alongside Wrens and members of the WRAF. Rowena remembers several IRA bombings that occurred in the 1970s and her experience with the SIB. Rowena also recalls, with pride and sadness, marching at Lord Louie Mountbatten’s state funeral in 1979. From then, for two and a quarter years, Rowena worked in Brunei for the Sultan of Brunei on loan service with the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment. Whilst in Brunei, Rowena carried out physical training, forming the Women's Army of Brunei. Back in England, in 1985, she became employed with the Royal Corps of Signals in Blanford. Rowena resigned from the WRAC in 1992. She went on to work for The Burma Star Association; in 2012, Rowena was awarded an MBE for her outstanding contribution and services to the veteran’s association.