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A veteran interview with

Joan Manuel

Joan Manuel provides an entertaining account of her service as a Writer for the Women’s Royal Navy Service [WRNS]. She joined in 1943 and was soon shipped to Alexandria in Egypt.

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About Joan Manuel

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Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker

Transcripts:
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Home | Veterans | Joan Manuel

A veteran interview with

Joan Manuel

Screenshot

Joan Manuel provides an entertaining account of her service as a Writer for the Women’s Royal Navy Service [WRNS]. She joined in 1943 and was soon shipped to Alexandria in Egypt.

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https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-manuel/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Manuel, Joan. A Veteran Interview with Joan Manuel. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 26 Aug. 2014 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-manuel/. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
APA Style:
Manuel, J. (2014, August 26). A Veteran Interview with Joan Manuel [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-manuel/
Chicago Style:
Manuel, Joan. 2014. A Veteran Interview with Joan Manuel. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, August 26. Accessed February 14, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-manuel/
Harvard Style:
Manuel, J. (2014). A Veteran Interview with Joan Manuel. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 26 August. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-manuel/ (Accessed: 14 February 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Manuel, J. A Veteran Interview with Joan Manuel [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2014 Aug 26 [cited 2026 Feb 14]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/joan-manuel/
Frame grab from an oral history interview of a British military veteran
An interview with

Don Maclean

A Royal Marines Reserve shares memories of life on military standby until the call to action finally came.

Always keen on adventure and the outdoor life, Don Maclean joined the Royal Marines Reserves in 1995 when he was 17, and received his green beret 18 months later whilst also studying engineering at university. He explains how part-time training worked and talks about the toughest challenges he faced, before reflecting on the level of self-motivation required to maintain the physical and mental fitness of a regular Royal Marine whilst living a civilian life on standby for mobilisation. In 2010 Don was called up for an operational tour of Afghanistan. He shares memories of arriving in Camp Bastion as a member of X-Ray Company 45 Commando, and describes in detail the role they played as a security force and how it felt to be waiting for action to unfold. Just eight weeks into his tour, Don stood on an IED during a routine patrol. He vividly recounts the moments that followed, the lightning-fast rescue operation that saved his life, and the multiple surgeries he underwent to save his damaged foot. Don shares his sincere appreciation for the exceptional rehab he received at Headley Court, and talks about achievements and ambitions in his new life beyond the military.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Colin ‘Sam’ Smee

Falklands submariner recalls life onboard HMS Spartan as a Sonar Operator

Colin Smee, better known as Sam, joined the Navy in 1960 and became a Submariner. He joined HMS Spartan (S-90), a Swiftsure-class nuclear-powered submarine and served in the Falklands War.
In his amusing interview, he praises Captain James ‘Buck’ Taylor for fostering a positive atmosphere on the Spartan, which was put through rigorous training. In early April 1982 Sam learns of a new operation via the onboard 'telephone'. He details life on the Spartan, including the concern over the indefinite Falklands deployment and the impact of the sinking of the Argentinian Cruiser Belgrano. As a Sonar Operator, Sam explains his duties and the equipment used, operating under London rather than Task Force commander Admiral Sandy Woodward. He humorously recalls the lack of celebration post-war until they reached Plymouth and the impact of a fresh food delivery of strawberries.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Maurice Sheldrake

Maurice served on an aircraft carrier supporting British ground troops during the Korean war. He encountered liberated POWs who had been tortured by their captors.

Maurice joined the Navy in 1946 and trained as an air mechanic. He was assigned to HMS Ocean, an aircraft carrier, in 1951. In 1952 they sailed to the Middle East to reinforce the British presence in Egypt after the fall of King Farouk. He and several other crewmen spent time at an RAF airfield in the desert during the unrest when some British troops were attacked. After this they sailed to Malta to complete pilot training and then proceeded to Korea to join the British forces fighting in the Korean War, arriving in early 1953. The ship was equipped with the Hawker Sea Fury and the Fairey Firefly. They were stationed off the east coast of Korea, out of range of enemy mine laying boats. From here the aircraft would support Allied ground troops, the Furies sometimes escorting the Fireflies as these carried heavier bombs to attack targets like bridges. Their ship travelled to Japanese ports such as Sasebo or Kure to refuel and rearm and during these times he was able to take shore leave. During operations the aircraft were in constant use during the day and at night Maurice and his comrades worked on the aircraft, preparing them for operation the next day. After the armistice he returned on the troopship HMT Dunera, which was also carrying POWs who had been held by North Korea. Many were traumatised and some had been tortured by their captors. At least two of them committed suicide on the trip home.
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Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker