At aged 18, Richard interrupted his apprenticeship to do national service. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery, became a radio operator and was posted to Germany. While there, he tells of being asked to volunteer to go to Korea and was also asked to sign up as a regular. He refused to become a regular but agreed to go to Korea. Subsequently, he embarked on HMS Asturias and arrived at Pusan some 4 and ½ weeks later. He describes being welcomed during disembarkation by the band of the 2nd US Infantry Division. Following this he tells of a nighttime journey to the Headquarters of the Royal Artillery which was a distance away from the frontline at the Imjin River. He was required to relay messages from the frontline for US, Canadian and British troops. This included messages about the locations of the Chinese artillery and he described being actively involved in supporting the 3rd battle of the hook, just before the armistice was signed in 1953. He also describes his involvement in processing British POW’s after armistice. Lastly, he expresses his frustration at the extent to which the Korean war has been ignored.

Bob Sullivan joined the Royal Engineers in 1942 and soon volunteered for the special services as a paratrooper where he was assigned to number 3 parachute squadron Royal Engineers. Bob dropped into Normandy on June 5^th 1944, his squadron destroyed bridges along the river Dives to secure the allied left flank and then retreated to Breville to reinforce 9^th battalion who had taken a gun battery. Bob details life on the front line for an engineer in Normandy, this involved; building fortifications and gun batteries, going on patrol to detect mines, and laying Somerville tracks – whilst also repelling the German counterattack from the trenches. In December 1944, Bob was re-deployed to the Ardennes to identify and lift mines. Innovative glass and carbon fibre mines, combined with the freezing temperatures made this a torturous experience for Bob and his squadron. He left the Ardennes in February and shortly afterwards his squadron was disbanded, Bob transferred to number 1 troop and was sent to the Rhine in March. Upon landing he suffered a severe mortar wound to his leg, thus ending his military involvement in Europe. After a 5 month recovery period back home Bob “returned to the airborne” and was deployed in Palestine for a year. Bob delivers a uniquely extensive recollection of his experience in WW2, but more than anything the former paratrooper wants to highlight the memorable friendships he made during his service.

When war broke out, Joan was initially in Civil Defence. However, after two years she was called up to the Auxiliary Territorial Service at the age of twenty-two; this was the women’s branch of the Army. She was sent to London for training, where she learned how to drive an ambulance. Joan was posted to Edinburgh where the barracks were so cold she slept with her greatcoat on. Later she drove her ambulance during the bombing of London. Just before D-day she remembers seeing huge columns of tanks and other vehicles, in preparation for the landings. After the invasion there were a lot more wounded to take to hospitals but the casualties decreased toward the end of the war. In Aldershot her barracks was bombed, and she also remembers the rations of unpleasant marrow jam and horse meat. She used to swap her cigarette ration for sweets. Like many others, once the war was over she missed the camaraderie of the Army. Thank you Joan for sharing your memories at the wonderful age of 107!