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A veteran interview with

Alan King

Alan King served with the East Riding Yeomanry as a Radio Operator. He recalls scenes of chaos.

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About Alan King

Alan King shares the reality of the D-Day landings: chaos, carnage, noise, and confusion.

Alan, a radio operator in the East Riding Yeomanry, tells of the storm in June 1944 that delayed the D-Day landings, and the chaos he witnessed as a young, inexperienced soldier landing on the Normandy beach of Luc-sur-Mer. He recounts crawling up the beach under a barrage of enemy fire, the tremendous noise, the carnage all around, and the death of his commanding officer, leaving them without direction.

He recalls his involvement in the Battle of Goodwood, part of the larger battle for Caen, and tells how his crew commander died in his arms.

Alan’s interview captures the horror and the unknown that many young men bravely faced. He witnessed people ‘dying all around’ but keeps the memory of his lost friends alive through regular trips to Normandy to visit their graves.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Brig. C Elderton
Reviewed by:
Joan Turner

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | Alan King

A veteran interview with

Alan King

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Alan King served with the East Riding Yeomanry as a Radio Operator. He recalls scenes of chaos.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
King, Alan. A Veteran Interview with Alan King. Interview by Brig. C Elderton. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/alan-king/. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
APA Style:
King, A. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Alan King [Interview by Brig. C Elderton]. Legasee. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/alan-king/
Chicago Style:
King, Alan. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Alan King. Interview by Brig. C Elderton. Legasee. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/alan-king/
Harvard Style:
King, A. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Alan King. [Interviewed by Brig. C Elderton]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/alan-king/ (Accessed: 15 July 2025)
Vancouver Style:
King, A. A Veteran Interview with Alan King [Internet]. Interview by B. Elderton. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 Jul 15]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/alan-king/
An interview with

Jenny Wing

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Jenny always knew she wanted to work with animals and in her interview discusses the journey that led her to becoming a rider groom with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Growing up in Northern Rhodesia, she found the move difficult and initially struggled with army life. Once she had adapted to military life at Guildford, she remembers finding enjoyment in her specialised training and uniform. As a kennel maid, Jenny describes the different sections of dogs that were trained within the army and the limited dog-work available to women in the army. She recalls the lack of options for women and how much harder they had to work to progress into higher ranks, such as the horse stables. Once she had been promoted to the stables, she was placed in control of cavalry horses and breaking in wild horses for military use. She describes the difficulty of this job, along with its demanding hours and social restrictions. When asked to reflect on the WRAC Jenny states that she always felt part of a sisterhood, however, like many other female veterans resented the manner in which she was forced to leave on the condition of marriage and the restrictions placed on women in the army.
Photo Gallery icon 11 Photos
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

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At only seventeen years of age, Lieann joined the WRAC so she could travel and see the world. Lieann describes working hard at Guildford and her amazement at the rate in which young women transformed into soldiers within only six weeks. After excelling in her aptitude tests she was posted to Catterick to train as a data telegraphist. Lieann discusses developments in technology and the transition to computers in 1989. She also describes the introduction of weapons training across WRAC trades, and how she could feel the change happening within the female corps. During her time in communications, Lieann was posted to the nuclear bunker in Wilton and recalls the enhanced security measures in place during Cold War exercises. She was then posted to the Falklands and later Cyprus where she re-badged with the Royal Signals. At this point the WRAC had been disbanded and Lieann permanently signed on to the ninth Signal Regiment. During her time in Cyprus she fell pregnant and continued to serve until her last few weeks. She was one of the first women to serve in the army whilst pregnant, and although this marked an important moment in military history - Lieann describes the lack of emotional, financial and even uniform support offered to her during her pregnancy. A woman who truly pushed boundaries, we thank Lieann for her brilliant interview and her candour surrounding women's experiences within the WRAC.
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Interviewed by:
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From boy soldier to tank commander: the outstanding 34-year military career of one man throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Nigel Caldicott joined the Royal Engineers as a boy soldier in 1966, spending two years training in Dover before being stationed at Bovingdon where his passion for tanks began. Nigel shares fascinating memories of his service, including time spent in Germany during the Cold War, reflecting on preparations for the very real danger posed by NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) warfare. He goes on to talk about his various military roles during the Troubles in Northern Ireland when the use of AVREs (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) became increasingly important, and he details the hard work the REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) put into getting the tanks into top condition and the maintenance required to keep them fit for service. Nigel served a total of 34 years in the Army and the Territorial Army, receiving a warrant from The Queen and taking great pride in his service throughout his career. The stories he shares here of his remarkable service are certain to be of great interest to military enthusiasts for many years to come.
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