In this interview Judy recalls joining the WRAC as a way to begin her career and move out of her family home. Judy completed her initial basic training at Lingfield, which was the predecessor of Guildford, before she was posted to Worthy Down to specialise as a pay clerk in the Royal Army Pay Corps. Reflecting on her training, Judy remembers being amazed at how quickly she transformed from a young girl into an adult woman. She also describes the experience of working with fast-changing technology, and how later in her life she realised how instrumental her work in data processing became with the arrival of the first computerised consensus. Later, Judy was posted to Aden and remembers the excitement of flying over the pyramids. Here she was taken to the Singapore lines where she worked with the binary code. When asked to reflect on the WRAC, Judy felt frustrated by the lack of options made available to women at the time but also extremely proud of the work she had done.

Content warning// This interview contains discussions of sensitive topics such as PTSD which some viewers may find distressing. If you are affected by these topics, please consider seeking support from a trusted person or organisation. Vikki and Chris were teenagers when they met and enjoyed a fun, loving relationship. Sadly, this changed when Chris was posted to Afghanistan. Chris’ battalion were hit badly and suffered a lot of casualties, including the death of Chris’ friend, which caused Chris to become very angry. He wanted to stay and fight rather than return home. It was a confusing and isolating time for Vikki, she didn’t know how to help Chris or have anyone to talk to. When Chris returned, Vikki noticed that he was very jumpy as well as angry and drinking a lot more. Chris’ anger escalated so much that Vikki insisted he seek help. Chris was set on a path of PTSD treatment but appointments and treatment were sporadic. He then passed all checks and was cleared for a second tour of Afghanistan. Vikki was incredibly worried about Chris but the big difference for her this time was that they were now living in married quarters so she had other wives and friends around to draw support from. When Chris returns, this time his change in behaviour is so noticeable that he is downgraded to lighter duties at work which made him angrier still. Vikki wishes that she had spoken up more and demanded help for Chris but is incredibly grateful that the birth of their son did mark a positive change in Chris’ behaviour. Chris’ discharge in 2015 was a stressful period when the family suddenly had to find somewhere to live. Thankfully they found a home through a veteran’s housing association which was a massive benefit to both as it meant they were surrounded by neighbours who could relate to their situation. Vikki also thinks being in the NHS system of treatment worked better for Chris as he could open up more rather than feeling he was letting the military down. Vikki also joined Band of Sisters where she values the support and does her best to support others too. She also wrote a poem which was chosen to be turned into a song for the Invictus Games. Vikki acknowledges there were some very dark days and is sad to think of all the ex-military personnel, and their families, left to struggle with their demons. For a long time she felt there was no one else like her but through opening up she has found incredible support and sisterhood and wants others to know they are not alone.

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.