Mastering sea-sickness and enduring rough waters was only the beginning of Bob Gale's military life at sea. Desperate to explore the world outside of a baker’s shop in Farnham, Bob describes his multiple attempts to volunteer in the military before he was offered a place in the Royal Navy. In 1942, he boarded the Duchess of Bedford liner bearing landing crafts (LCAs), where he experienced his first assault landing off the coast of Algiers in the dark. After narrowly missing an opportunity to take part in the invasion of Sicily thanks to a scarlet fever outbreak at HMS Pasco in Scotland, Bob was subsequently assigned to the oil tanker Derwentdale with a Canadian LCM flotilla. He spent a fortnight on Sicilian beaches, accompanied by rough Mediterranean seas, delays in movement, and limited provisions for him and his unit. Bob eventually found himself in Bombay, spending his time there guarding various facilities from mobs and strikes by the Indian navy.  When intense preparations for the Normandy landings begin, Bob recounts how he and his flotilla conducted nighttime exercises and large-scale troop landings from the secret HMS Cricket camp. A drill at Hayling Island tragically claimed lives due to strong currents, while another at Poole Harbor saw Bob heroically save a sinking landing craft by offloading weight and steering it ashore.

Paul Dilks began his maritime career in 1970 with P&O as a navigating cadet and attended Nautical College at Warsash, later qualifying as a Deck Officer in 1974. In 1982, Paul was serving on Uganda, which was conducting educational cruises for school children when it was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence to serve as a hospital ship during the Falklands War. Uganda underwent significant modifications in Gibraltar to become a hospital ship, including the creation of hospital wards, an intensive care unit, and a helicopter platform. The crew faced numerous challenges, including water rationing, misunderstandings with Royal Navy colleagues, and the need to perform fresh water replenishments at sea under extreme conditions. Uganda operated alongside other vessels such as survey ships and ambulance ships, and there were amicable interactions with the Argentine hospital ship Bahia Paraiso. The crew learned of the Argentine surrender on June 14, 1982, and subsequently prepared for the journey home, including repainting the ship and discharging patients. Notable incidents included a visit from Prince Andrew, a tragic accident involving the Welsh Guards, and the emotional homecoming reception in Southampton. After the war, Uganda transported the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Gurkhas back to England, and Paul describes his revisiting the Falklands the following year. Paul ends with reflections on the lasting impact of the Falklands campaign on his life and possible challenges faced by the British government in requisitioning merchant ships in any future conflicts.

Ted Baker joined the navy in January 1942. After basic training at Skegness and qualifying as a telegraphist, he deployed on patrol craft to Halifax, Nova Scotia. There, he joined a T-Class trawler for local defence, engaging in anti-submarine patrols and mine sweeping. He returned to Europe in time to take part in the D-Day landings, escorting convoys from Wales and Plymouth. After commissioning, he was on the way to the Far East when the war ended, so was subsequently involved in the repatriation of POWs from Hong Kong. Reflecting on his naval service, Ted valued comradeship, especially on smaller ships, and recalled vivid memories of working with Canadian and Newfoundland seamen, especially one for whom he had to correspond with his girlfriend because he could not write. Post D-Day, Ted's ship collected bodies from Omaha beachhead, a grim task that left lasting impressions. The noise from naval barrages was overwhelming. While a positive experience, like most veterans, he wishes it had never happened.