Nick was always keen on a career in the Navy and enlisted in 1962. By 1981 he was in command of  HMS Antelope which was a privilege to command as Nick says he was blessed with an excellent ship’s company and modern equipment. It comes as no surprise to Nick when they are instructed to return from training operations to prepare to travel to the South Atlantic. On the way down they practice military operations intensely. Nick is also put in tactical command of six support vessels, a supply ship, a tanker and four landing ships which increases his responsibilities significantly. They arrive at Ascension Island on 21^st April where the Antelope acts as guardship. Nick is then instructed to shepherd the support groups to the total exclusion zone and return with the tanker the RFA Tidespring which is carrying Argentinians to be repatriated. Nick was doubly worried that the conditions onboard for the prisoners did not meet the terms of the Geneva Convention but also that incredibly dangerous members of the Argentinian special forces were in the group and had to be held safely. On 23^rd May the Antelope comes under attack. Nick recalls events in incredible detail how two bombs hit them but did not explode. They are able to manoeuvre the ship to the San Carlos waters to enable bomb disposal but, tragically, the attempts fail and one of the bombs detonates, killing one, injuring more and causing significant damage to the ship. With the ship both lurching and in flames, and communication out, Nick gives the command to abandon ship. They are picked up by the QE2 where Nick is able to decompress with fellow commanding officers of  HMS Ardent and HMS Coventry, both also sunken. It was a relief to return home to family and the grand reception at Southampton. It was heartbreaking for Nick to leave the Antelope and a frustrating Board of Inquiry followed where Nick and two fellow officers were found negligent. Thankfully, the Commander-in-Chief dismissed the findings so the men did not face court martial but Nick says he didn’t feel completely vindicated until after he retired when the surviving bomb disposal expert was interviewed and said the correct decision had been made.

In pursuit of elite military standards and determined to pass one of the toughest training courses in the world, Daniel Bottomley joined the Royal Marines at the age of 18 and duly earnt his green beret. As part of 45 Commando he was almost immediately sent to Afghanistan as a battle casualty replacement for the final phase of Herrick 5. A brief stint in Norway to complete arctic training followed, after which intense pre-operational training for Daniel’s second tour of Afghanistan began. He shares details of the brutal reality of life at FOB Inkerman in Sangin, talks candidly about the Taliban as a fighting force, and recalls the tangible shift in the balance of war when the extensive use of IEDs became commonplace. Daniel gives a vivid account of events leading up to the moment he stepped on an IED and the immediate aftermath of the blast, his subsequent road to recovery and the circumstances that led to his decision to leave the military. Now an outdoor trainer, Daniel’s drive and determination to succeed remain as strong as ever, and it’s easy to see how he earnt his place within the ranks of the military elite.

Doug Shelley served as an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy during World War II, joining at 17. Inspired by family members who served before him, he volunteered in 1942 and underwent rigorous training at HMS Glendower in Wales, where he adapted to military life. He was assigned to the Arctic Convoys aboard HMS Milne, enduring some of the harshest conditions of the war. He faced freezing temperatures, U-boat and air attacks, and witnessed the devastating toll on merchant ships. He recounted rescuing survivors from torpedoed vessels in the icy Barents Sea, many already frozen and lost. Doug's role as a gun layer required precision and resilience, particularly during battles with U-boats and harsh storms. Later, he served in the Pacific on HMS Armada, assisting carrier operations and rescuing downed pilots, often navigating the intense heat of Australia and Fiji. Doug also travelled aboard HMS Anson, the battleship that brought him home, and served briefly at HMS Golden Hind, a dispersal camp in Australia. Reflecting on his service, Doug recalls the physical and emotional challenges, as well as the pride in completing his duty. His stories reveal the personal grit and endurance required to navigate the realities of naval warfare.