In 1982, Rupert Ballantine experienced a unique journey that he will always remember. He went from traveling the seas between the UK and the US aboard the renowned cruise ship the QE2 to embarking on a mission towards a conflict zone. When the military requisitioned the ship, Rupert immediately volunteered his services. It took approximately half a day for 3,000 troops and their equipment to be loaded onto the ship. The voyage began with the ship limping out of Southampton, briefly stopping behind the Isle of Wight, where a closed stopcock was found to be the culprit. The QE2 achieved speeds of 27 knots, outpacing the accompanying warships as it navigated across the oceans in a zigzag pattern. Throughout the journey, troops utilised every available space for training, and Rupert had the opportunity to sample a Gurkha curry, which is still the best he has ever tasted. Sadly, Rupert did not set foot on land when they reached their destination, but he takes pride in having contributed to the safe arrival of the British troops, enabling them to reclaim the land. The return journey included 700 injured service personnel from three British vessels that had been sunk.

Content warning// This interview contains discussions of sensitive topics such as PTSD, suicidal thoughts and vivid flashback description which some viewers may find distressing. If you are affected by these topics, please consider seeking support from a trusted person or organisation.   Kate was training to be a nurse with the RAF when she met her husband-to-be, John, an RAF Police Officer. They both completed tours of Iraq and John went on to complete one more and also two tours of Afghanistan. Each time John returned, Kate started to notice slight differences in his character, such as an increase in drinking and frequent nightmares. She was grateful of both her RAF and medical training as it helped her understand the mental shift between home and work that John was having to manage. John sought help but was told there was nothing medically wrong and he was to carry on as usual, which he did. It was the birth of their son that Kate thinks caused John’s nightmares and flashbacks to intensify. He sought help again and this time was diagnosed with severe PTSD and signed off work, but without his job to provide a sense of purpose John struggled to function. John tried both CBT and EMDR therapies but Kate feels they both made the situation worse. John is now on a medication pathway. Kate describes this as an incredibly isolating time as no one knew what she was going through. She felt she could hardly leave John alone, especially when he started having suicidal thoughts. However, when she joined Band of Sisters she found a supportive group of women with shared experiences. She even managed to attend a weekend away which really helped her realise how stressed she was. She describes finding Band of Sisters as a real turning point which helped her realise she needed to take care of herself too. John has also found help through Help for Heroes and has attended a few courses and is now a qualified bushcraft and survival instructor. John has recently had a cancer diagnosis and Kate reflects that, sadly, the cancer process has been much smoother than the PTSD. Kate feels it is incredibly important for others to hear their story so they know they are not alone. She is even compiling a book.

Heather Lake recounts her experience of meeting and marrying Andy while they worked together as Army Chefs. They became engaged and married within six months. Heather had noticed indications of Andy's mental health issues from the start. Andy had completed tours in Northern Ireland and Bosnia prior to meeting Heather. During his tour in Bosnia, Andy sustained injuries from a building collapse, leading to his discharge from the kitchen he was working in at the time. Heather describes one significant event that occurred while Andy was changing his daughter's nappy, resulting in social services removing him from contact with his daughter for 18 months. Andy received an official diagnosis of PTSD only a few years ago and experienced physical decline after his injuries. He is now often confined to a wheelchair. Heather anticipates that an upcoming operation might improve their situation. Heather found support through the Band of Sisters, which she joined through Andy, a member of the Band of Brothers. This group offered her a sense of community and non-judgement. Heather's story reflects dedication and commitment to her family’s happiness. The Band of Sisters provides her with the support she needs as she continues to support her family.