Home | Veterans | Brian Daley
Brian-Daley

A veteran interview with

Brian Daley

Brian Daley was called up in 1951. He went to the Far East but ended up as an MP patrolling the docks in Kure, Japan.

Play video
Watch the interview

About Brian Daley

Brian Daley initially trained as a signaller in the Royal Signals when he was called up for national service in 1951. In this interview he recalls how during his signal training he realised he instead wanted to volunteer for the Royal Military Police and fight in Korea. Excited to embark on a new journey, Brian began his police detachment training.

Brian remembers his voyage to the Far East and albeit rough at sea, he enthusiastically discusses the details of each port and country in which they stopped on route. As part of the police detachment unit, his role was to patrol the docks for suspicious activity. Brian was first stationed in Kure, and eventually made his way to Busan. He remembers that by the time of his arrival in Busan the war was almost over and thus he was only required for general policing.

Reflecting on the Korean war Brian does not remember the fighting due to his positioning but will always remember the local Korean people whom he met on his journey. In this interview he reminds of the importance of documenting and remembering not only the war, but those who lost their lives.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Evie Painter

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

Copyright:
All video content, web site design, graphics, images (including submitted content), text, the selection and arrangement thereof, underlying source code, software and all other material on this Web site are the copyright of Legasee Educational Trust, and its affiliates, or their content and technology providers. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials on this Web site – including reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification, distribution, or republication – without the prior written permission of Legasee Educational Trust is strictly prohibited.

Home | Veterans | Brian Daley

A veteran interview with

Brian Daley

Brian-Daley

Brian Daley was called up in 1951. He went to the Far East but ended up as an MP patrolling the docks in Kure, Japan.

Related topics & talking points

Keep on watching

More veteran stories...

Share this interview on:

https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/brian-daley/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Daley, Brian. A Veteran Interview with Brian Daley. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/brian-daley/. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.
APA Style:
Daley, B. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Brian Daley [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved September 12, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/brian-daley/
Chicago Style:
Daley, Brian. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Brian Daley. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed September 12, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/brian-daley/
Harvard Style:
Daley, B. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Brian Daley. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/brian-daley/ (Accessed: 12 September 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Daley, B. A Veteran Interview with Brian Daley [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Sep 12]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/brian-daley/
An interview with

Michael Fryer

Michael Fryer’s Korean War journey included defusing bombs by the Imjin River and The bloody Battle of the Hook.

Michael Fryer joined the National Service at 18 and after completing basic training, he chose to specialise in bomb disposal with the Royal Engineers. Later, he was deployed to Korea and boarded the HMT Lancashire for the journey. He flew into Korea on a Globemaster, then took the train to Seoul. He travelled to the frontline, joining up with the 55th Field Regiment, based at the 38th Parallel. Michael's duties included bomb disposal along the Imjin River. During the Battle of the Hook, he also took on the dangerous task of transporting ammunition to and from the frontlines. The Chinese forces swarmed over the hills, only to be cut down by machine gun fire. He fondly remembers his Rest and Recuperation in Incheon and Tokyo. This was a time for soldiers to rest, eat nice food, and experience Japanese culture. Whilst in Tokyo he stayed at The Kookaburra Club in the Ebisu Camp. Michael was demobbed in June 1953, he travelled home aboard HMS Fowey. Returning home was very hard, and later in life he realised he had been suffering with PTSD.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Sandy Acathan

Sandy was a sergeant in the Royal Signals Regiment of the WRAC.

After an unsure start to her career, Sandy soon realised she was talented at using the teleprinter and was immediately taken to the signals centre to begin working in communications. Sandy describes the rapid developments in technology and machines she oversaw whilst working for the Royal Signals, and remembers the complex relationship British intelligence had with American intelligence when co-working with satellite shuttles. She also recalls the adversities of being a woman in the army, not only regarding gender discrimination, but also the manner in which the SIB invested lesbianism amongst members of the WRAC. Sandy sadly describes her own experience with the investigations team, and due to being accused of same sex relations, was forced to leave the army instantly. This interview provides important insight into not only the highly vital roles women played within the WRAC, but also the range of issues they faced. Reflecting on the WRAC Sandy states that although she is proud to have served her country, she never felt like her life was truly hers.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker