In pursuit of elite military standards and determined to pass one of the toughest training courses in the world, Daniel Bottomley joined the Royal Marines at the age of 18 and duly earnt his green beret. As part of 45 Commando he was almost immediately sent to Afghanistan as a battle casualty replacement for the final phase of Herrick 5. A brief stint in Norway to complete arctic training followed, after which intense pre-operational training for Daniel’s second tour of Afghanistan began. He shares details of the brutal reality of life at FOB Inkerman in Sangin, talks candidly about the Taliban as a fighting force, and recalls the tangible shift in the balance of war when the extensive use of IEDs became commonplace. Daniel gives a vivid account of events leading up to the moment he stepped on an IED and the immediate aftermath of the blast, his subsequent road to recovery and the circumstances that led to his decision to leave the military. Now an outdoor trainer, Daniel’s drive and determination to succeed remain as strong as ever, and it’s easy to see how he earnt his place within the ranks of the military elite.

With a father in the Admiralty, Lord Alan spent his childhood around dockyards and naval bases including travelling to Singapore on a troop ship and almost being blown up by Malayan terrorists. He always wanted to go to sea and joined the navy in 1965. He first spent time in the Middle East as a midshipman which was incredibly dangerous but also exciting. Lord Alan’s next posting was to the Falklands with HMS Ardent where he was involved in bombarding Goose Green. He speaks candidly and in incredible detail about this time and how he felt as a young commanding officer knowing his ship was dangerously exposed. He talks about the enormous bravery of the crew and how he carried the weight of those killed and injured. Ultimately, they come under heavy fire and he gives the extremely difficult order to abandon ship. For his actions on HMS Ardent, Lord Alan received the Distinguished Service Cross. Following this, Lord Alan then joins the Ministry of Defence where he witnessed the Hong Kong Handover, the Kosovo War, the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and by 2002 became the First Sea Lord for the invasion of Iraq. He recalls how it was fascinating to see intelligence come together but also how he could be under pressure to produce evidence. Finally, Lord Alan joins Gordon Brown’s government as Security Minister. He brings incredible knowledge and direct experience to the roll, far above that of the civil servants and other ministers. He is proud his efforts have kept the country safer, though sad that it is not completely safe.