In his interview he talks about his early life in Liverpool including recollections of the blitz and his first job as a rat-catcher. On the way to Korea, Alan and a friend set-up a make-shift photographic studio taking pics of some of the families that were also en-route to the Far East. He arrives in Pusan and then travels towards the front line where the desolation and cold are striking memories. Alan’s unit, a tight-knit group of 30 specialists, was tasked with teaching soldiers on disease prevention and health and hygiene. He talks in detail about his work including the various medications and processes for keeping the troops fighting fit. He reflects that despite the brutality of the war, there were surprisingly few cases of mental trauma. Alan was in Korea during the ceasefire. When he returned to England he married and became an army reservist. One morning he receives a telegram and by the afternoon he was back in barracks.  Then he's posted to the Suez and the start of a difficult posting. In later life, Alan became President of the British Korean Veterans Association and was instrumental in the building of the Korean War memorial on London's SouthBank.

With a childhood love of music and a military family background, a career in an army band was a natural choice for Fiona Shakspeare. After completing basic training she went to Kneller Hall, and she shares memories of her days as a student, including time spent perfecting her skills as a bassoonist and enduring her much-hated signing lessons. After Kneller Hall, Fiona’s first posting was to the Hussars and Light Dragoons, and her subsequent career took her to Kosovo, Germany and Iraq. She talks about the dual role of musician and soldier, describing what it was like to serve in a conflict zone, what her duties entailed, and why music still has its place in war. After her time abroad, Fiona was posted first to the Prince of Wales Division Band and then the Grenadier Guards. She talks about two of the greatest highlights of her career: playing in the Falkland Islands for the 25th anniversary of the conflict, and Trooping the Colour. At the time of her interview, Fiona was serving the final 12 months of her military career as Assistant Corp Secretary at Kneller Hall, and it’s easy to believe her when she says joining the army as a musician was the best decision she’s ever made.

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.