Ted was born into a boating family and became an apprentice towing up to 150-ton barges on the Thames. He joined The Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Combat Engineer) Waterman. He was sent to Field Company Kitchener Barracks Chatham, then to the 229 Field Company, a territorial unit in the 49th West Riding Division. He undertook pontoon training, building rafts and dismantling bridges. Ted was put on a cadre course to earn his lance corporal stripe and travelled to Norway as part of The North -Western Expeditionary Force (NWEF). He arrived in the port of Narvik to obtain iron ore supplies, facing gun fire and bombing. After damaging cranes, quays and railway lines to slow down the enemy, he travelled back on The Lancastria ship, stopping to build defences from Scotland to East Anglia. Ted became a sergeant and was posted to 947 in the world of transport company. He later became a sergeant major, working as a tug skipper and undertaking OC2 (Officer Cadet) training. As D-Day approached Ted had a detachment of army lighterman with the 953 Inland Water Transport Company (IWT).  He was sent to Normandy in charge of Rhino ferry barges on Gold beach. He describes the responsibility of the men in his ferries and the dangers of mines and mortar shells as they loaded cargo at the Mulberry Harbour. Ted brought his company back after V-E Day and was sent to Marchwood as Marine and IWT Superintendent. He was demobbed after serving for over six years. Ted later reminiscences about the fear he felt, his friendships with his fellow sergeants, and how lucky he was to survive.

William O’Brien joined the navy as a 13-year-old cadet in 1930 and qualified as a Sub Lieutenant in 1937. He served on HMS Garland in the Mediterranean and, after World War II broke out, transferred to the destroyer HMS Wolsey patrolling the UK’s East coast. In May 1940, O’Brien was involved in a land-based operation ‘Royal Marine’ laying mines on the Rhine, but had to retreat when German forces advanced. Returning to sea, he became First Lieutenant of HMS Witherington, which patrolled the English Channel but was damaged during a bombing raid whilst docked at Portsmouth. At the end of  1941, O’Brien transferred to HMS Offa, participating in a raid on Norway and escorting Arctic convoys, including the ill-fated PQ17.  In February 1943, O’Brien took command of the destroyer HMS Cottesmore, conducting patrols and participating in D-Day operations at Gold Beach, where they supported the beach landings. Promoted in late 1944, O’Brien was sent to the Asian theatre as a planner for amphibious assaults in Burma. He witnessed the surrender of Singapore and became the Allied Forces Naval Liaison Officer in Jakarta. O’Brien continued his naval career after the war, retiring as an Admiral in 1971

Alec Penstone’s life took a big turn during World War II. Before the war, he worked in a factory and was only 14 years old when war broke out. He spent much of the early war days in London as a volunteer ARP messenger during 'The Blitz'. He then joined the Royal Navy in 1942. He wanted to have an adventure and help his country. Alec was posted onto HMS Campania as a submarine detector and quickly learned that life as a sailor was tough. HMS Campania was part of the Arctic convoys - ships that sailed from the United Kingdom, Iceland and North America to the northern ports in the Soviet Union in very cold waters. He helped hunt for enemy submarines called U-boats. It was hard and scary work. When the war comes to an end in Europe, Alec is given 7 days VE leave in which he gets married before being sent off to the Far East to fight the Japanese. However after the Hiroshima atom bomb was dropped, he was put on more general 'police work' duties. Alec's interview highlights how the sailors stuck together during tough times and gives great insight into what it was like to live on a ship during the war. His account reminds us that war is terrible. Many people lost their lives. But it also shows how strong people can be when they work together. His story helps us remember and honour the sailors who fought for their country during some of the darkest times in history.