Hearing what was happening in Europe, Sidney joined the territorials in 1937 ahead of being called up in 1939. He remembers his excitement at being able to walk away from his desk job and there being people out on the streets cheering and waving at the heroes going to war. Sidney joined the Royal Corps of Signals which he admits he knew nothing about and at times struggled with the technical work. There was a lot of training in Morse Code in particular. After a year’s training Sidney was sent to Africa. The Italians had landed in Egypt and their mission was to stop them taking Cairo. It was on a mission in Tobruk that Sidney experienced warfare full on, witnessing the death and devastation caused by previous battles and experiencing the immediate loss of a man when a truck hit a mine, all while guns were continually firing. Sidney remembers coming across the body of an Italian soldier and the futility of war hitting him hard. That said, Sidney thinks his time in the army was ultimately worthwhile, there was no question about having to defeat the Nazis. Sidney also spent time in Greece attached to the 7^th Armoured Division, aka the Desert Rats, but the German forces were so strong they were forced to evacuate. Sidney recalls in blistering detail their attempted escape on the HMS Carlisle, how they were hit and had to change course for Crete where Sidney ended up in the Battle of Crete which he remembers vividly.

Born in wartime London, Alan Tizzard's childhood was shaped by the terror of the Blitz. The resilience he developed served him well when conscripted into the British Army. Using his cadet training, he rose quickly through the ranks and was in command of a formidable Comet tank at the age of 19. Stationed in Germany with the elite 10th Royal Hussars, Tizzard experienced a stark difference between the hard conditions of basic training and the relative comfort of his new posting. As the Cold War intensified, his regiment became a frontline in the looming conflict with Russia. A sudden night call to action tested Tizzard's mettle as his unit fought off a Russian Panzer attack. This experience, among many, shaped his character. Even after leaving the regular army, he continued to serve, first in the Territorial Army and later as a civil defense officer. Tizzard's life is a testament to courage, grit, and the lasting impact of war.

Bernard Barker provides a riveting recount of his life in the 1st Royal Tank Regiment during the Korean War. Beginning as a poverty-stricken farm boy, he was soon conscripted into National Service where he was given a choice between the infantry regiment and the tank regiment. He chose the latter, having no keenness for marching! Already having experience driving tractors on his farm, he learned quickly. Following his training in Germany, he was sent off to Korea where he was given the privilege of driving a 50-ton Centurion Tank; a formidable war machine due to its strong armour protection and high survivability rate. He recalls defending the Hook (a defended section of the UN frontline) and was ordered to keep the tank in a static position while firing towards incoming Chinese troops. He remembers the difficult weather conditions, dealing with both the cold of winter and the intense humidity of summer, all the while pelting the enemy with various ammunition such as armour-piercing rounds and two inch mortars. Throughout the battle, Bernard recalls the UN having the overall advantage since the Chinese failed to remain elusive, making them easy targets. However, he always found himself in an extremely vulnerable position as it was also his job to carry ammunition from a bunker outside into the tank, coming close to death on numerous occasions. Eventually, the battle reached a ceasefire but Barker was still required to stay and train at least until the following December, lest the delicate peace was abruptly shattered. He reflects on the Chinese who surrendered and how some of their people had since integrated themselves into Western Society. Bernard's story is one of poverty to prominence and offers insight into the nature of tank warfare during the Korean war and the relationships which developed between East and West.