Gilbert Beck’s journey into military music began humbly in rural Oxfordshire, where his father brought home a grand piano from a local market, sparking a lifelong passion. Raised in a musical family, Gilbert sang in the church choir and played organ before joining the Army in 1948 as a band boy with the Royal Artillery. Trained at Woolwich and later Kneller Hall, Gilbert played double bass, tuba, and bass trombone, eventually joining the North Staffordshire Regiment. His musical service took him across Europe and into the Korean War, where he played a vital role in maintaining morale. From conducting services with a portable organ to performing for multinational troops, including Canadians and Americans, his music helped bridge cultural divides in a devastated landscape. In Korea, Gilbert played at the dedication of a tented village for displaced civilians and led hymns at makeshift services in Gloucester Valley. His experience highlighted the humanising power of music amid the harshness of war. Later selected for the demanding bandmaster course at Kneller Hall, Gilbert's talent earned him great respect, even as he ultimately chose family life over a full military career. Music remained central to Gilbert’s life, both in and out of uniform - a true servant of harmony in service and in peace.

Bob Gill shares his remarkable journey of military service, starting with his commission into the Manchester Regiment in 1945, before later transferring to the Royal Ulster Rifles. His service took him from post-war Europe and the Berlin Airlift to the frontlines of the Korean War in 1950, where his experiences would leave an indelible mark. During the Korean War, Bob took part in critical campaigns, including the Third Battle of Seoul. Reflecting on the conflict, he believes the losses could have been significantly reduced if not for a complacent British attitude toward the severity of the situation. He vividly recounts the harrowing retreat from 'Happy Valley,' where his unit faced overwhelming Chinese forces. Amid the chaos, his jeep broke down, and he narrowly escaped by seeking refuge in a tank. Bob also worked closely with Korean porters, forging strong relationships as they navigated the rugged terrain to transport essential equipment. Throughout his time in Korea, Bob observed evident rivalries and differences in combat tactics between the British and American forces. After returning home from Korea, Bob's military service left a lasting impact on him, shaped by his personal sacrifices, the camaraderie he shared with his fellow soldiers, as well as his firsthand experiences of the brutal realities of war. He also reflects on how the horrors of conflict persist in the world today, serving as a stark reminder of the enduring cost of war.

From a young age Katherine knew she wanted to travel and when offered the opportunity to join the Royal Corps of Transport, she signed with the army. At nineteen she left for Guildford and speaks fondly of her time at the training base, in particular her passing out parade which she describes as an incredibly surreal experience. Although her trade training was postponed due to the Mill Hill Bombing in 1988, she soon became part of the team at Bovington Training Centre that drove new officers fresh from Sandhurst who were on their Tactical Exercise Without Troops (TEWT) training. Later she was moved to Rheindahlen 68 Squadron where she met different soldiers from the UN and NATO and remembers this as the best tour she served whilst in the army. During this tour she witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall and contributed to the peacekeeping duties in Czechoslovakia. In 1991 Katherine recalls troops being sent to Iraq and the importance of her work behind the front lines in the rear party. She provides great detail of one particular mission which developed from an initial twenty-four hour drive to an almost three week task of shipping ammunition to the Gulf. From here she was posted to Northern Ireland where she worked as both a driver and searcher for IRA bombs. Following the disbandment of the WRAC Katherine returned to work in Germany with the onset of the Bosnian war, and worked as a driver until she left in 1995. Katherine's interview offers an insightful overview of different experiences of WRAC women and gives an authentic account of the many adversities women faced in the army.