In this interview Karen shares an inspiring story which began with her passion for sports and a determination to transgress the roles available to women in the army. Although she began her WRAC journey as a chef, she had plans to be a Physical Training Instructor and it was only after serving two years in Cyprus as a cook that she applied for her second trade. Karen describes how she passed the initial selection but suffered an unfortunate ankle injury which prevented her from completing the specialised PTI training. Feeling lost after her injury, she recalls the frustration she began to feel with the options available to women in the WRAC and considered leaving. Therefore, for Karen, the disbandment of the WRAC came as a sign that she and many other women alike could move forward and beyond the restraints of female specific roles. At Deep Cut she trialled for the military training instructors course with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, and in her interview describes the constant discrimination she faced in such a male dominated field. Karen became the first female instructor and went on to serve as Sergeant Major in Bosnia, Macedonia and Iraq before her career was ended by misfortune. This interview provides an example of one of the many trailblazing veterans of the WRAC.

Colonel Robert Stewart was born into a military family on July 7 1949. He followed his father's military footsteps and joined the British Army. After training at Sandhurst, he became an infantry officer in the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. He served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Bob's time there was difficult, including being knocked out by a brick during a riot and losing six men in the Ballykelly bombing. During his career, Bob faced many challenges, from secret missions against the IRA to leading humanitarian efforts during the Bosnian War. His time in Bosnia was marked by the horrors of mass graves and minefields. In Bosnia, he faced the challenge of a peacekeeping mission under a slow-moving UN. After the army, Bob went into politics. His time as a soldier gave him a unique view on life and politics. His interview demonstrates his strong sense of duty and how war has a lasting impact on people.

Bill begins the interview by reminiscing his early life in the East End of London in 1920s and the shaping this had on him as a young man, who had interest in joining the army. Bill learned many lessons from First World War Heroes and heard harrowing stories from other veterans as he recalls the journey of his career starting in Cheshire Regiment at Dale Barracks in Chester, to Gordon Highlanders as his Regiment, and his first command is protecting Portsmouth harbour. This is until he is deployed to India, in which he tells tales of horror, humour and honour that happened during the Battle of Kohima; all whilst his career progressed from Captain to the Brigade Intelligence Officer. He finally returned home in April 1946.