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johnHoward

A veteran interview with

John Howard

John Howard gives a great account of his time in Korea as a National Service conscript. This is after he’s spent 5 years fighting throughout WWII.

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About John Howard

Conscripted in 1939, John fought for 7 years with the Royal Artillery Regiment in North Africa and Italy during WWII. Although he demobbed in 1946, John was a reservist, consequently he was called up again and sent to Korea in 1950. During the intervening years, John had married and had 2 young children. His changed circumstances led him and his wife to try to resist conscription, but without success. Consequently, John fought for 3 years in Korea alongside many others who had also fought in WWII. John’s narrative highlights the brutality of war for them and for the people of Korea. His perspective as a family man influenced his experiences of the impact of war on young children and he describes how he and his comrades tried to save some young children caught up in the conflict. He describes the terrible conditions under which they fought and although rest days brought some relief, it was nevertheless very challenging for him and his comrades. Ultimately, John reflects on the significant difficulties involved in adjusting to civilian life and expressed resentment towards the army and government for a lack of care for soldiers and their families.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Jenny La Fontaine Papadopoulos

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Home | Veterans | John Howard

A veteran interview with

John Howard

johnHoward

John Howard gives a great account of his time in Korea as a National Service conscript. This is after he’s spent 5 years fighting throughout WWII.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Howard, John. A Veteran Interview with John Howard. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-howard/. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
APA Style:
Howard, J. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with John Howard [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved May 18, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-howard/
Chicago Style:
Howard, John. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with John Howard. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed May 18, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-howard/
Harvard Style:
Howard, J. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with John Howard. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-howard/ (Accessed: 18 May 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Howard, J. A Veteran Interview with John Howard [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 May 18]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-howard/
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