Bill Bennett talks openly about his service and his life, joining the Merchant Navy at a young age after leaving behind a difficult home life. He describes tough early training and rising to a wireless operator and pipeline specialist. His skills and experience led him to be involved in the top secret Tombola Division, where he played a crucial role in the first wave of the D-DAY landings, laying pipelines from the beaches. Bill talks explicitly about his chilling first hand experiences at Port-en-Bessin, on the boundary between Gold and Omaha beaches, aged 18. These experiences have stayed with him all his life. Despite his service and heroics, Bill talks about hard times after the war. But now in his 70s, he leads a busy and active life, describing his life as an adventure from which he’s never stopped learning. Bill’s interview is a lesson in overcoming extremes of adversity, and flourishing, making the most of his life by turning adversity into strength.

Nick was always keen on a career in the Navy and enlisted in 1962. By 1981 he was in command of  HMS Antelope which was a privilege to command as Nick says he was blessed with an excellent ship’s company and modern equipment. It comes as no surprise to Nick when they are instructed to return from training operations to prepare to travel to the South Atlantic. On the way down they practice military operations intensely. Nick is also put in tactical command of six support vessels, a supply ship, a tanker and four landing ships which increases his responsibilities significantly. They arrive at Ascension Island on 21^st April where the Antelope acts as guardship. Nick is then instructed to shepherd the support groups to the total exclusion zone and return with the tanker the RFA Tidespring which is carrying Argentinians to be repatriated. Nick was doubly worried that the conditions onboard for the prisoners did not meet the terms of the Geneva Convention but also that incredibly dangerous members of the Argentinian special forces were in the group and had to be held safely. On 23^rd May the Antelope comes under attack. Nick recalls events in incredible detail how two bombs hit them but did not explode. They are able to manoeuvre the ship to the San Carlos waters to enable bomb disposal but, tragically, the attempts fail and one of the bombs detonates, killing one, injuring more and causing significant damage to the ship. With the ship both lurching and in flames, and communication out, Nick gives the command to abandon ship. They are picked up by the QE2 where Nick is able to decompress with fellow commanding officers of  HMS Ardent and HMS Coventry, both also sunken. It was a relief to return home to family and the grand reception at Southampton. It was heartbreaking for Nick to leave the Antelope and a frustrating Board of Inquiry followed where Nick and two fellow officers were found negligent. Thankfully, the Commander-in-Chief dismissed the findings so the men did not face court martial but Nick says he didn’t feel completely vindicated until after he retired when the surviving bomb disposal expert was interviewed and said the correct decision had been made.

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.