Albert was initially an unwilling recruit to the Army Catering Corps wanting to join the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, but on being posted  he was on attachment to the 61st Light Regiment Royal Artillery. From the smell at disembarkment to the odd from of transport to the front, he describes the basic living conditions of an army camp and cook house and recalls fondly his Korean assistant, Jonna, who twice saved his life. He explains how he regularly served 45 men a roast dinner on the edge of no-man's land. He describes how the camp got the nickname 'Charlie Sound' and how sound was used to pinpoint enemy guns. Even in his role in the Catering Corps, Albert was still a solider. He describes an enemy attack on the camp. Having been trained as a Bren gunner, when the regular gunner is killed right next to him, Albert is forced to take over. In another incident he finds three unexploded mortuary bombs outside the cookhouse. He shares his memories of the Battle of The Hook at Samichen River, the last of four battles that took place from 1952-3. The battle was fought from 24-26th July 1953 and the armistice, ending the war, was signed on the following day, 27th July 1953. Once the ceasefire had been declared Albert stayed on for a number of months feeding the men, first at camp and later at Headquarters. Many years later he returned to Korea. In a museum he is approached by a young South Korean girl who says 'thank you for saving my country'  bringing tears to Albert's eyes.

When war broke out, Joan was initially in Civil Defence. However, after two years she was called up to the Auxiliary Territorial Service at the age of twenty-two; this was the women’s branch of the Army. She was sent to London for training, where she learned how to drive an ambulance. Joan was posted to Edinburgh where the barracks were so cold she slept with her greatcoat on. Later she drove her ambulance during the bombing of London. Just before D-day she remembers seeing huge columns of tanks and other vehicles, in preparation for the landings. After the invasion there were a lot more wounded to take to hospitals but the casualties decreased toward the end of the war. In Aldershot her barracks was bombed, and she also remembers the rations of unpleasant marrow jam and horse meat. She used to swap her cigarette ration for sweets. Like many others, once the war was over she missed the camaraderie of the Army. Thank you Joan for sharing your memories at the wonderful age of 107!

When WWII ended Tom felt joining the army was a waste of time, but started his military service in 1946 nonetheless. He spent the bitter winter of 1946-47 training in Cornwall and later stationed in Germany. Tom reflects upon the dangers faced by British servicemen who went out alone at night in postwar Germany, as well as the prevalence of venereal disease within his company. He was bemused by the extensive security and secrecy surrounding the distribution of the Deutsche Mark. Tom enjoyed his role as a platoon fitter working on wartime wagons, as he didn’t have to go on parade or do any guards. Work during the Berlin Airlift was more strenuous, but servicemen maintained good spirits, determined to stand up to the Russians. He recalls the camaraderie within the army, a near miss when an RAF sergeant taught him to fly a plane, and organising an army football game against Polish displaced persons. Tom is proud of his work in the airlift and believes British actions and discipline broke down barriers with the Germans.