From a rural background working with tractors, John was first conscripted into the Royal Horse Artillery then, after a period of training in Germany, was transferred to the 20^th Field Regiment and on to Korea. John vividly remembers the journey to Pusan (now Busan) and arrival at Christmastime 1952. He describes how the area had been devastating by the war. John was a Linesman and responsible for repairing damaged wires between the guns and the infantry. He showed incredibly bravery as this work could often be at night and risked mortar attack if the enemy saw their lights. Despite this, John loved this work. John was then sent to the Hook for observation duties and was there for the Third Battle of the Hook in May 1953 which he recalls in detail. The Hook was a ridge which offered a valuable position and John describes how thousands of Chinese soldiers were sent to try and take it. The firing was intense, including napalm from American aeroplanes, which John expresses reservations about the use of. John was in Korea for the armistice and was demobbed close to Christmas that year. Reflecting on the war, John says he is glad they were sent to help. He has since returned to South Korea and is impressed with the nation’s growth and modernity.

Arthur Brown joined the army in 1943 as a radio operator in the Tank Regiment but soon became fed up with the training and volunteered for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). He joined Operation Jedburgh, which involved three-man teams—an allied commanding officer, a radio operator, and a local officer—being parachuted behind enemy lines around D-Day to work with resistance fighters in France and the Low Countries. There were around 100 ‘Jedburgh’ teams deployed in the European theatre mainly between June and September 1944. On the 9th of June, Brown, now a Sergeant, his team leader, the highly decorated Scottish officer, Major Tommy MacPherson and a French officer, Michel ‘Bourbon’ were dropped into central France to assist the Maquis. The ‘Jedburgh’s were dressed in military uniform to avoid being executed as spies, if captured. Brown’s role was to send coded radio messages back to the UK updating their operations but he became ill and had to be hidden by the Maquis, being moved around to avoid detection. After France was liberated, he and MacPherson continued similar operations in Italy until the German surrender. When faced with a possible posting to Germany, Brown volunteered to go to Burma and served there with other former ‘Jedburghs’ until the war's end. 

Geoff Pratt joined the British Army in 1968 at the age of 15, inspired by a love of music and encouragement from his future brother-in-law, a serving musician. Originally from Sandy, Bedfordshire, Geoff began his military musical journey on the euphonium, later transitioning to the trombone. Serving with the Royal Corps of Transport Staff Band, Geoff performed across the UK and abroad, including Germany, Cyprus, and Northern Ireland during the Troubles. He recalls the tense experience of performing in Armagh’s town square while armed soldiers stood guard in nearby shop doorways - vividly aware of the dangers military musicians could face in conflict zones. In addition to his musical duties, Geoff trained as an HGV driver, enabling him to transport the band’s instruments across challenging terrain, including through politically sensitive areas under armed escort. His service also included memorable performances such as the Horse of the Year Show and ceremonial parades. Geoff speaks with pride about the role of military music in uniting people, boosting morale, and honouring tradition, and reflects with lasting emotion on the sacrifice of fellow musicians, particularly those lost in the Regent’s Park Bandstand bombing.