Between 1967 and 1971, Bob Barrett served in the Life Guards, with hopes of going abroad and learning to drive. Instead, he remained in London, where it soon became apparent he’d be swapping cars for horses. Life in the Army took some initial getting used to: the living conditions at Pirbright and Wellington barracks were shocking, however Bob took naturally to the horses during his time in riding school. Despite a lack of experience, he grew quickly in confidence, and it wasn’t long before he was well on his way to becoming a competent rider. Ahead of duties, he also took on the important job of caring for the horses' kit: with the looming prospect of inspections, it wasn’t uncommon for men to spend hours cleaning their equipment, often into the early hours of the morning.  For Bob, his first Trooping of the Colour very nearly ended in misfortune, after almost losing his boots during the parade. It’s a humorous anecdote, however service in the Life Guards was highly disciplined, and in this film Bob recalls occasions where other men were not so lucky.  Although his involvement in the Army was different to what he’d originally imagined, Bob considers his time as a Life Guard to have benefited him greatly, and recounts the range of interesting people he was able to meet as a result. In this interview he provides an amusing and candid insight into his career, and remains very proud of his time in service. 

At only eighteen and determined for adventure, Sue accepted her place at the WRAC college at Camberley in 1971. Being born into a military family Sue knew from a young age that she would join the army. In her interview she recalls the discipline and regimen of military life, but most importantly her pride at wearing her WRAC uniform. After Commissioning, Sue spent her first ten years in the WRAC recruiting, training or selecting women to be either WRAC Officers or Servicewomen. She was also involved in the training of Warrant Officers, Senior and Junior NCO’s and the selection of WRAC Junior Leaders. Sue reflects on this period with great fondness. Her extensive experience led to her selection to command one of the big three WRAC Companies. Sue was sent to Rheindahlen, Germany, and put in charge of 250 Servicewomen, a role which in many ways marked the pinnacle of her career. Remembering the Guildford bombing, Sue discusses its deep resonation with the women around her and the impact of other IRA attacks which she continued to feel through until the late 1980s. After leaving Rheindahlen in 1989, Sue went to work in the WRAC Directorate. Following the disbandment of the WRAC in 1992, Sue embarked on a seventeen-year career in the Adjutant General’s Corps. When that ended, Sue decided to commit her time to the WRAC Association to ensure its traditions and camaraderie lived on. She became its Vice President and Chairman of Trustees for Eleven years (2003 - 2014) and was awarded an MBE for her services to female veterans in 2014. She is now a Life Vice President of the WRAC Association and continues to give her time and experience to the Charity. A brilliant interview, we thank Sue for being an example of the many trailblazing women of the WRAC.

After surviving the Blitz as a child, Leonard later joined National Service as a young adult. Following basic training, he volunteered for deployment in Korea, eventually travelling on the Empire Fowey. Upon arriving in Pusan, he joined the 14th Field Regiment. He reflects on his role as a signaller, detailing the equipment he worked with on the frontlines. Leonard remembers a night on duty when a radio transmission came through, the sound of gunfire in the background before fading into silence. By morning, he learned that those behind the transmission had been ambushed and killed by the Chinese. The cold of winter and the rabbit-sized rats that swarmed the battlefield and dugouts remain vivid in Leonard's memory. During his deployment, the Chinese broadcasted propaganda messages, aiming to demoralise soldiers by reminding them of home. Eventually, Leonard’s time in Korea ended and he returned home. He found it hard to adjust to life back home, but eventually settled. Years later, he revisited Korea and was amazed by how much the country had transformed since the war.