Franck was called up to the Royal Navy in 1943 and assigned to serve on a Arromanches Merchant Navy ship. This was an Estonian cargo ship in Hull, armed with two 20mm anti-aircraft guns and an old 12 pounder. They sailed in a 6-knot convoy to Canada which took eleven days. On arrival in Canada they experienced great hospitality before sailing back to Belfast. He was then transferred to an ex-Danish vessel based in Cardiff that was being modified to carry troops and ammunition for the Normandy invasion. It was partly crewed by Puerto Rico stevedores serving in the US armed forces. The US infantry on board impressed Franck with their fatalistic defiance, their attitude being that they were not coming back and they just had to seize their objectives on the beach whatever the cost. On arrival at Omaha beach they began to ferry troops and ammunition ashore, using DUKW amphibians. Only one of these vehicles returned to the ship. From his vantage point on board Franck could see the course of the assault and observed how the US troops persisted in the attack, despite taking heavy casualties as they disembarked. In Mumbai on his next posting they got news of the dropping of the Atom bomb to end the war and celebrated with free beer. At the time, as a young man, the whole thing seemed like a big adventure. Looking back on these events he recalls the waste of life and the single-mindedness of the American troops.

Chris Clarke shares an inspiring account of his time at sea, contributing to the Royal Navy during the Falklands War. Though born in the depths of the countryside, Chris dreamed of going to sea and commanding his own ship from the age of four. After training at HMS Conway in Wales, he joined the P&O company where he worked aboard cargo and passenger ships in the far east. However, after his marriage, he wished to stay closer to home so he moved to ferries. Eventually, his dream of commanding a ship would come to fruition when he became Master of the MS Europic Ferry. When war in the Falklands erupted, the Europic was requisitioned as part of the War effort. Chris describes the conversion of his ship from a passenger vessel to a military vessel after the inclusion of naval and paras troops. Certain configurations were required such as, clearing storerooms to accommodate the troops and the installation of naval radio communications. It also supported in storing artillery from machine guns to military aircrafts which was impressive considering it was not the largest ship. His voyage would take him from Ascension Island, all the way to San Carlos in the Falklands where they offloaded the troops and their artillery. Even from the outside, Chris was close to the action and vulnerable to attacks where there was a fifty percent survival rate. He recalls one incident involving a large splash near the ship, indicating a possible bomb. Despite the adversity, he managed to maintain a sense of calm while keeping his crew under control, a feeling he would always cherish. After the War, Chris continued with the P&O company for another fifteen years before leaving to become a teacher at Warsash Academy in Southampton. Chris's interview offers a comprehensive look into the experiences of a sea captain who was not used to seeing military action before the Falklands War and the bravery men like him demonstrated while risking their lives for the troops they supported.

In 1941 at the age of 17, Joan Field applied to join the WRNS (Women's Royal Naval Service). Keen not to become a cook or a steward, Joan was happy when the discovery of her perfect eyesight meant she was chosen to become a signaller and sent to HMS Cabbala to begin her training. Joan talks in detail about the instruction she received – including Morse code, semaphore, the phonetic alphabet and naval discipline – before her first draft sent her north to the pier signal station in Oban. Joan shares memories of life in Oban, and the stark differences she encountered when she moved to the remote Ganavan signal station shortly after her arrival in Scotland, recalling one particularly frightening encounter that made her glad of the pistol training all Wrens received. She also talks about the improvements to planning that came when the Americans joined the war, but recalls with some horror their apparent lack of discipline within the ranks. Joan’s story provides a particularly engaging insight into the life and work of a female signaller, and highlights her deep connection both to the Scottish Highlands and the vital role she played in the war effort.