Growing up in Guyana with her grandmother and aunts, Roxanne was often told she lacked courage. Before her 12^th birthday, she and her sister moved to the UK, joining their mother and five siblings. The following years filled Roxanne with sadness as she struggled to adjust. At 17, she convinced her mother to let her join the army. Roxanne envisioned herself in an action-packed role where she could chase the courage she yearned for. So, when she passed the test for the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC), she did not expect to be told she would make the “perfect stewardess”. She went to train at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, London, and never looked back. Talent, determination and the encouragement of a supportive mentor, saw Roxanne quickly rise through the ranks. At just 18 years old, she was promoted to Lance Corporal, later graduating to Corporal. She recounts many once-in-a-lifetime moments. From escorting Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Artillery, to working at Windsor Castle for Prince Charles’ champagne breakfast. She also recalls challenges: experiencing racism, jealousy, loneliness, and a marriage that prematurely ended her time at WRAC. Roxanne’s story epitomises perseverance in the face of self-doubt.

Kenneth Hay was just 18 when he found himself fighting in Normandy, but his wartime story had begun several years earlier. Growing up in Barking, he joined the Home Guard at only 15, fire-watched during the Blitz and volunteered for the Army as soon as he could. Following in the footsteps of his older brother Bill, Kenneth eventually served as an infantry signaller with the Dorset Regiment and as a Commando. His active service was to take a dramatic turn. During a patrol in Normandy, Kenneth’s group came under intense German fire. Nine men were killed and Kenneth was among five captured. For the young soldier, one war had ended and another had begun. File-Sister Veronica AI Transcr… What followed was an extraordinary journey through occupied Europe: interrogation, cramped railway wagons, prisoner-of-war camps and the uncertainty of whether his family even knew he was alive. Then, in the freezing winter of 1945, Kenneth was forced onto the road as the Germans evacuated prisoners ahead of the advancing Russians. In bitter cold and deep snow, he endured a forced march of more than 1,000 miles. File-Sister Veronica AI Transcr… Kenneth’s testimony is an extraordinary story of a teenage soldier thrust into combat, captivity and a remarkable fight for survival. He passed away on Sunday 20th September. RIP.

As a young man desperate for adventure, Fox volunteered for Korea with the Gloucestershire regiment and recalls his excitement at fighting with the UN Army. Told that he would be home by Christmas, Bill remembers looking forward to his national service. Bill describes his arrival in Busan, which in 1950 was still a quiet harbour, and his following journey North. He reflects upon the words of his colonel and the quietness that enveloped their long, slow movement to the front line. As they moved North and into battle, Bill describes how they also began to face bitter cold Winter and the realisation that they would not be returning home that Christmas. In this interview, Bill recalls his first encounter with the enemy, the tactics of the Chinese army, and the battle of Hill 332 by the Imjin River which resulted in his capture as a prisoner of war. He details the horrific conditions of the camps and the peace talks that finally gave him hope of freedom.