Born in Birmingham, Jean Eastham experienced the first hand horrors of the Birmingham Blitz. With daylight raids and frequent casualties, she was lucky to survive the devastation, but recounts occasions where survival was not guaranteed. After volunteering for her service, Jean travelled to Berlin to help on the Airlift, where she was shocked by the sheer level of destruction. Inside her new accommodation, stationed in the former Olympic Village, she was met with a wave of unseen modern luxuries, including central heating and low-flush toilets, which provided some hope for the journey ahead. As part of the ATS, it was Jean’s responsibility to care for many of the other women involved, managing much of the administrative work like accommodation, pay, and uniforms. Although her status as a woman entailed some restrictions, like the need for an escort outside of the daytime, she and her fellow volunteers worked hard to keep morale high, which was crucial in easing the fears of anxious Berliners.  Like many others, Jean remembers attending the famous Christmas show of 1948, and getting to meet Bob Hope. She recalls being very proud to serve in the ATS, especially because Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess, was also a member. Even after the Airlift, Jean often returned to Berlin, including a visit to Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the blockade. Decades later, the Berliners still show their gratitude, and continue to thank Jean for her help. 

Born in Manchester and raised in foster care, John Clarke became an apprentice at sixteen before joining The Black Watch, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. After training in Scotland as part of the 6th Battalion, he was deployed to Tunisia, where he fought at Sidi Medienne and helped rescue wounded prisoners from an enemy ship—a highlight of his service. He later trained in Cairo, before being stationed high up the Aurunci Mountains in Italy with the British division in the American 5th Army. John joined the 12th Brigade in Cassino and remembers the chaos around Monte Cassino monastery, the heavy casualties, and the many acts of bravery. Post-war, he joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, managing the armoury in Gaza. John reflects on his military career, recalling memorable moments including meeting Winston Churchill. For John, the friends he made during the war became the family he never had growing up.

Hearing what was happening in Europe, Sidney joined the territorials in 1937 ahead of being called up in 1939. He remembers his excitement at being able to walk away from his desk job and there being people out on the streets cheering and waving at the heroes going to war. Sidney joined the Royal Corps of Signals which he admits he knew nothing about and at times struggled with the technical work. There was a lot of training in Morse Code in particular. After a year’s training Sidney was sent to Africa. The Italians had landed in Egypt and their mission was to stop them taking Cairo. It was on a mission in Tobruk that Sidney experienced warfare full on, witnessing the death and devastation caused by previous battles and experiencing the immediate loss of a man when a truck hit a mine, all while guns were continually firing. Sidney remembers coming across the body of an Italian soldier and the futility of war hitting him hard. That said, Sidney thinks his time in the army was ultimately worthwhile, there was no question about having to defeat the Nazis. Sidney also spent time in Greece attached to the 7^th Armoured Division, aka the Desert Rats, but the German forces were so strong they were forced to evacuate. Sidney recalls in blistering detail their attempted escape on the HMS Carlisle, how they were hit and had to change course for Crete where Sidney ended up in the Battle of Crete which he remembers vividly.