Paul Dilks began his maritime career in 1970 with P&O as a navigating cadet and attended Nautical College at Warsash, later qualifying as a Deck Officer in 1974. In 1982, Paul was serving on Uganda, which was conducting educational cruises for school children when it was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence to serve as a hospital ship during the Falklands War. Uganda underwent significant modifications in Gibraltar to become a hospital ship, including the creation of hospital wards, an intensive care unit, and a helicopter platform. The crew faced numerous challenges, including water rationing, misunderstandings with Royal Navy colleagues, and the need to perform fresh water replenishments at sea under extreme conditions. Uganda operated alongside other vessels such as survey ships and ambulance ships, and there were amicable interactions with the Argentine hospital ship Bahia Paraiso. The crew learned of the Argentine surrender on June 14, 1982, and subsequently prepared for the journey home, including repainting the ship and discharging patients. Notable incidents included a visit from Prince Andrew, a tragic accident involving the Welsh Guards, and the emotional homecoming reception in Southampton. After the war, Uganda transported the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Gurkhas back to England, and Paul describes his revisiting the Falklands the following year. Paul ends with reflections on the lasting impact of the Falklands campaign on his life and possible challenges faced by the British government in requisitioning merchant ships in any future conflicts.

Aged 14 when WWII broke out, Gladys spent the early war years in Gillingham, Kent. Gladys frequently sought refuge at home or in shelters when bombs and landmines were dropped on her street. She explains how the war shattered everybody’s lives and deprived young people of their carefree teenage years. At 17, Gladys decided to join the WRNS to contribute to the war effort, following in the footsteps of her Navy and Marine relatives. She trained in Rochester to wait on tables for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner, before serving at Chatham Barracks as an Officer Steward. She describes her daily routine, getting to know the naval officers, and her friendships and moments of mischief with fellow Wrens. As the war drew to a close, Gladys felt optimistic about the future and was excited for life to return to normal. After peace was declared, local people flocked to see the barracks lights fully illuminated again – a captivating sight that symbolically marked the end of the war’s disruption. Though Gladys sheds light on the difficulties faced by WWII’s teenage generation, she fondly cherishes her memories of her time as a Wren.

Christian Lamb returned from a year in France just before war broke out and quickly joined the Wrens (Women's Royal Naval Service). She was initially employed as a Coder but switched to plotting, which involved plotting the locations of all the ships and planes on a huge board. She served in this role initially in London, then Plymouth and Belfast before returning to southern England in the run-up to D-Day. She relates many light-hearted anecdotes: enjoying lunchtime concerts in the National Gallery when she was working at the Wren Headquarters in Trafalgar Square; experiencing several close encounters with bombings during the blitz; shopping in the Republic of Ireland where there were less restrictions. Throughout the war, she and her colleagues maintained a strong sense of patriotism and determination, inspired by Churchill's speeches. Despite the dangers, they never considered the possibility of losing the war.