Kirsty met Andy after he had left the army through ill health. Andy was very proud to have served in the Coldstream Guards and paratroopers but never really told Kirsty everything about his time in military service. Andy suffered a number of incredibly serious injuries during his time in the army which have left him with deteriorating health. The pair have been through years of medical tests, differing diagnoses and uncertainty trying to get to the root of Andy’s health problems. Kirsty finally felt some relief when she was put in touch with an army doctor and the military took over Andy’s care. She felt the military took responsibility for Andy and were much clearer and more decisive in suggesting treatment. The birth of their son was both a joy but also brought challenges as Kirsty had to manage so much. Kirsty describes how there have been so many near fatal moments with Andy’s health that they try to live in the now as much as possible. Discovering Help for Heroes has also made a big difference in their lives. Andy can spend time with people who relate and he now has hobbies they never thought possible. Kirsty joined Band of Sisters which she didn’t think would be for her but she absolutely loved the respite weekend she was able to attend and has remained in contact with some other women, valuing the ability to speak openly with others who can fully empathise. They even take respite breaks as a family and their son enjoys the fuss made of him. Kirsty wanted to share their story to make others aware that help and support is available and essential, even if people feel they are coping and don’t need it.

In firstly describing his earlier life, Bob recalls growing up in Paris and joining the special detachment force at the beginning of the Second World War. He then recalls arriving in England to undergo specialised training, and from this point onwards was made a saboteur. Bob remembers his first jump, and the speed at which saboteurs would have to seek, report and destroy enemy objectives. Operating in small teams of five to six individuals, he recalls the importance of discretion and trust among his network. As a member of the SOE, Bob was required to have a forged identity and resultantly, landed himself in troubled situations with the enemy. He recalls one particular incident on Christmas Day 1943 where, having missed the enforced curfew in Paris, he was taken by the German patrol. In an attempt to escape, he was shot in the lung and as a result, thought he had died. It was a slow recovery as not only did he have to remain in hiding from the enemy, but could only receive medical attention once he had returned to England in February. In the rest of his interview Bob discusses D-Day, the allied liberation, his post-war experiences in Asia, and the dive school he established in North Africa where he trained frogmen. Bob's account provides a series of exciting, moving and fascinating stories of his experience in the SOE both during, and after, the Second World War.