Harry Hawksworth joined 1^st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, spending his first 18 months after basic training in Bermuda. After returning to the UK, the battalion was warned off for Korea, so completed training at Thetford and then deployed by troop ship, a journey taking over six weeks to travel via places like Gibraltar, Sri Lanka and Singapore. The battalion initially marched to the Yalu River without encountering any enemy forces, but then withdrew to defensive positions on the Imjin river, where they were attacked by the Chinese from 22-25 April 1950 until they ran out of ammunition and surrendered. As the NCO in command of the company’s 2 inch mortar, Harry provides insights into the harrowing battle and its aftermath: his company was driven off a small hill, withdrawing to Hill 235 (now Gloster Hill); the Gloucesters’ bugler playing every bugle order he could remember to confuse the Chinese, who relied on bugles to pass orders; dismantling their weapons prior to surrendering; the 6-week march into captivity; escape, recapture and punishment; losing two of his best friends during two years in captivity.

Gus trained as a wireless operator in Kent before joining the 53rd Welsh Division, where he worked on telephone switchboards. His role was vital, ensuring clear lines of communication between Army Generals and his commander. Gus remained with the Division as they prepared for a pivotal moment: boarding a Liberty ship that carried the entire divisional headquarters to the Normandy beaches on 12th June 1944, D-Day plus six. During the Normandy campaign, Gus’s work was crucial—and dangerous. One of his tasks involved working near Hill 112, a strategically important area under constant threat from German artillery. Gus and his team had to locate a signal post under the cover of darkness, as daytime attempts risked being targeted by enemy fire. The danger of the job was brought home when a convoy Gus was travelling with was bombed, tragically killing an officer in the vehicle behind him, Captain Dunbar. At the Divisional Headquarters, Gus worked tirelessly to relay critical signals and updates, helping to coordinate efforts in what became a turning point of the campaign. Gus’s story goes beyond the role of a telephone operator—it’s a testament to resilience, teamwork, and the critical part he played in bringing the war closer to its end.

David joined the military band at 16 as a trumpet player, enlisting in the Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1976. He took up the clarinet and joined the band in Germany, where they faced some local hostility. In 1979, he became a ‘Kneller Boy,’ recalling fond memories of performances, including playing for Princess Margaret before a Summer Concert. David describes the various jobs band members had to undertake at Kneller Hall and later returned to Germany, where he briefly took up the Saxophone. He reflects on the challenges of the military’s promotion system, often referred to as the ‘dead man's shoes’ system, and eventually left the band to join the police. In 1995, David joined the Army Medical Services and was still invited to perform with the band on several occasions. He played extensively in the Gulf and former Soviet countries, which he believes helped strengthen diplomatic ties, particularly with nations like Jordan. David feels the band played a vital role in promoting British industries and easing international tensions and personally helped with his confidence.