Phillip Govett served with the 117 Pioneer Company. He landed in Normandy on D plus 6 and moved through France, Belgium, and Holland. His main duties included supporting command supply depots (CSDs), prisoner of war camps, and providing supplies like ammunition and water. The unit experienced a rough time outside of Caen and had to dig in. They faced the dangers of mines, with one sergeant being severely injured by a booby trap. Phillip’s company waited to move up, but the advance was delayed due to the fighting at Caen. Phillip's journey took him near the German-Holland border, where they were in a forward area of a prisoner of war camp holding thousands of German prisoners.

Born in Birmingham, Jean Eastham experienced the first hand horrors of the Birmingham Blitz. With daylight raids and frequent casualties, she was lucky to survive the devastation, but recounts occasions where survival was not guaranteed. After volunteering for her service, Jean travelled to Berlin to help on the Airlift, where she was shocked by the sheer level of destruction. Inside her new accommodation, stationed in the former Olympic Village, she was met with a wave of unseen modern luxuries, including central heating and low-flush toilets, which provided some hope for the journey ahead. As part of the ATS, it was Jean’s responsibility to care for many of the other women involved, managing much of the administrative work like accommodation, pay, and uniforms. Although her status as a woman entailed some restrictions, like the need for an escort outside of the daytime, she and her fellow volunteers worked hard to keep morale high, which was crucial in easing the fears of anxious Berliners.  Like many others, Jean remembers attending the famous Christmas show of 1948, and getting to meet Bob Hope. She recalls being very proud to serve in the ATS, especially because Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess, was also a member. Even after the Airlift, Jean often returned to Berlin, including a visit to Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the blockade. Decades later, the Berliners still show their gratitude, and continue to thank Jean for her help. 

Alan reflects on his extensive career as a euphonium player in the military band, which began at age 16 when he auditioned for the army band, driven by his lifelong love of music. He fondly recalls his time at Kneller Hall, which he describes as the historic home of military music and his experiences performing for the community on numerous occasions. In 1972, his band's single of Amazing Grace became number one in the charts, and they were invited to tour Australia. Alan also toured extensively across America and Europe, including a visit to St. Petersburg in Rome, where his band was invited to breakfast with Pope John Paul II and performed for President Reagan at the White House. In 1977, a particularly busy year, the band played at numerous royal engagements, including at Buckingham Palace, where Alan met the Queen. He recounts his deployment to the Gulf in 1990, where he served as a medic, treating many casualties and the band kept the soldiers' spirits high by organising a Christmas concert. Alan highlights the emotional challenges band members faced during and after the Gulf War, particularly with limited support.