Brian Hough retells how he fought in Korea with the King's Regiment, his national service being his rare chance to see the world as well as what was planned for someone with a working class background. His regiment went through intensive training to prepare for the Korean War but Brian’s rough upbringing and his familiarity with discipline from school made it manageable.  Brian grew up with no hot water or upstairs electricity but that was nothing compared to the level of poverty he witnessed in Korea; the lack of sanitation, outdated technology and crowds of starving children made it seem like he'd gone back in time. Upon arriving at the trenches, he was apprehensive but got on with it due to being conditioned to believe everything would be okay if he followed his training and did what he was told.  After an invasion of the King’s Regiment's trenches, Brian saw hundreds of fiercely fanatical Chinese soldiers charging toward them, making hand to hand combat seem inevitable. Before Brian could panic, his commander bravely ordered artillery fire on the Chinese despite how close they were but miraculously none of the shells fell short and hit them. The King’s Regiment received battle honours for the role they played in bringing democracy to South Korea and Brian was amazed to see how quickly they then began advancing.

Serving in patrol, John Bowman shares an uncommon glimpse into the delicate ceasefire which took place during the aftermath of the Korean War. Called up in 1952, the war had already lasted two years when John joined the Essex Regiment in Korea. Before this, he underwent extensive training, crossing between both Britain and Germany in preparation for the difficult terrain of a new environment. Common amongst new recruits from the UK, he possessed little knowledge of Korea itself. Arriving in Pusan, expectations were subverted upon receiving the sudden news that a ceasefire had been called; the calm of their newfound surroundings making this more apparent. However, it was a fragile peace and the UN still required troops to patrol their position and ensure stability. At Camp Salamanca, it was John's duty to re-fortify and strengthen their defences while the uncertainty of another North Korean attack hovered over them like a ceaseless cloud of dread. To add assurance, a new rule was implemented in which each side had to stay approximately 8 miles away from the 38th Parallel to reduce volatility of the situation. He spent many months in Korea, rebuilding the fortifications, discovering the remnants of previous battles, enduring harsh weather conditions and studying the difficult terrain of what was nicknamed 'Basterds' hill. Aside from his patrol duties, John still managed to have moments of respite: being able to express his love of painting for certain projects and contributing to a theatre production performed by famed comedian, Cheerful Charlie and his dancing troupe, the latter of which John found pleasant company. Many years later, he reflects on the reputation of Korea, amazed by their ability to overcome the devastation of the war but also questions the purpose and effectiveness of his country's involvement. John's interview provides a rare view into the aftermath of the Korean War, the conditions of its soldiers and the sensitivity of achieving peace.      

Peter was conscripted when he turned 21 in 1951. He was sent to the Army Service Corp where he learnt how to drive various vehicles and also became responsible for the new national service recruits. He was unaware that war had broken out in Korea until he returned from leave to see his name on the board for dispatch there. Peter recalls the 4 week journey to Pusan and the devastated landscape where the trees had all be burnt down and the land scorched. One day he spots a notice looking for a medical orderly and gets the job. One of the big bonuses was a tent to himself and no longer sharing with eleven other men. He describes his day to day duties and having his eyes opened to the spread of VD. He then applies for a job looking after the canteen supplies. He didn’t have to go on any patrols but would go out to help retrieve dead bodies. Peter also describes the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) tents where he was impressed by the work being done. Peter reflects that his time serving may not have been the most exciting but it was important, valuable work that needed done.