Kevin recounts his journey into the Royal Medical Corps of the Army, which led him to serve aboard HMS Sir Galahad during the Falklands War. Kevin is from Middlesbrough and had always dreamed of joining the Navy, after going to art college he ended up joining the Army and trained as a medic in 1977. As a combat medical assistant, he was told that he was a soldier first and a medic second, which required rigorous training. Kevin gained valuable experience treating casualties during two tours in Northern Ireland before being deployed to the Falklands. While aboard HMS Sir Galahad, Kevin faced constant threats from Argentinian bombers, his bravery enabled him to treat many injured soldiers, including saving the life of a Section Corporal. When the ship was hit Kevin became the last surviving medic onboard, escaping with a group of soldiers to Fitzroy Bay, where they watched the ship burn. Kevin continued to care for the wounded on the hospital ship, SS Uganda before returning home to a celebratory welcome from John Nott, the Secretary of State for Defence. In 1990, Kevin’s career took him to Saudi Arabia, where he served as a guard and ration storeman. Kevin discusses his memories of these experiences and his PTSD diagnosis.

Tom Cromie’s free spirit sparked initial ambitions to be an RAF fighter pilot, but so did every other nineteen year old, so instead he joined the Royal Artillery as a soldier of the 231 Mortar Brigade. His story starts with the invasion of Sicily as a dispatch rider and Tom shares fond memories of practicing trick cycling on his motorcycle in quiet lulls. But his part in Sicily was cut short when a Bren Gun Carrier reversed over his leg, breaking it and sending him back home to England, not before, however, a remarkable moment in which he shared a cigarette with a terrified German who lay in the bed next to him in hospital. Tom then shares his memories of the D-Day landings as a field gunner, and recounts his lucky escape from almost drowning off of Green Beach. Another injury ends his part in the Normandy invasion and unable to return to his brigade, he eventually volunteered to be sent out to the Far East, ending up in India. Tom’s story is one full of character and gives glimpses of lightheartedness and humour into the terror of WW2 invasions.

Marjorie Inkster was inspired to become a FANY and later work on anti-aircraft radar when her parent’s house was bombed early in the war. Because she was only 19 and had insufficient driving experience, she spent a year on petrol counting, which prompted her to volunteer for radar training. After 9 months’ training, she initially worked on radar research then found herself in charge of a REME detachment of men looking after the radar for 5 gun sites in north London. She provides many interesting and inspiring recollections: dealing with an incendiary that hit her lodgings; the extent of the technical training; the competition to service the radar on a dredger because they got navy chocolate; avoiding a bomb as they drove to fix a radar; sending secret components for repair by normal post. In London, she was incentivised to ensure the Identification Friend or Foe worked correctly because her brother was a night fighter pilot. Secrecy meant their work was never discussed, including the fact that her sister spent the war at Bletchley Park.