Nick joined the Navy as a boy in 1933 and served until wounded in action in 1945. After training he served on HMS Emerald, a coal-burning cruiser. On returning from the East Indies he transferred to HMS Southampton, another light cruiser. On this ship he saw action against the Italian navy in the Mediterranean. He then transferred to service on motor launches, patrolling the North Sea for a brief period before being assigned to a minesweeper, HMS Ardrossan. After time spent mine-sweeping parts of the English Channel and North Sea his flotilla escorted a convoy of merchant ships to the beaches on D-Day. The sea was rough and many of the troops being carried suffered from sea-sickness, as well as being attacked by the Luftwaffe, until protection from the RAF arrived. He found the screeching of the bombs as they dropped particularly distressing and he remembers it to this day. His ship then took part in the bombardment of German defensive positions. He watched the infantry climbing from ships into landing craft which took them to the beaches. Some troops drowned because they left the landing craft too soon, trying to wade ashore in the choppy sea. They were carrying a lot of kit and Nick still recalls the bodies floating by his ship, and this sometimes keeps him awake at night. During this period his ship was at action stations for three weeks, fighting German E-boats and aircraft. Every Armistice Day Nick remembers the details of these tumultuous events.

Jeff 'Bunny' Warren provides a compelling account of his service as a Gunner aboard HMS Antelope during the Falklands War. Raised in Birmingham, his upbringing was landlocked, having no knowledge of the navy. He was inspired to join, following a family boat trip in Weymouth where he caught sight of all the warships stationed at Portland Harbour. After finishing his basic training at HMS Ganges, he was given the choice between Sonar Radar or Gunnery positions. He proceeded with Radar but as the years passed, his disposition leaned more towards Gunnery. Only a few months after switching, war erupted in the Falklands. When his crew set sail on HMS Antelope, they found themselves needing to fulfil some prerequisites relating to Ascension Island before going further south. Even before reaching Ascension, they figured the war would end before they finally arrived. Jeff details their preparation for a potential attack in South Georgia. Unfortunately, the only thing to hit them was disappointment upon discovering that this particular battle was already won, leaving prisoners for them to escort back to Ascension. They would finally see action after the Antelope was sent to San Carlos. Jeff remembers the battle like it was yesterday; the firing of guns as a raid of Skyhawks descended upon their position. At one point, he became a sitting duck in his attempts to fix the gun magazine which jammed. Sadly, they had to abandon ship following the penetration of two inactive bombs which eventually triggered. Before returning home, Jeff assisted the crew aboard MV Norland in the security of POWs. He recalls a mystery surrounding an inmate who wore a marine uniform and the circumstances behind why it was in his possession. Some years after the war, he received devastating news that he was to be discharged following a medical examination that revealed problems with his hearing. Despite this regrettable end, Jeff's display of bravery would be remembered after already being awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1982, something he didn't feel worthy of receiving. Jeff's interview captures the passion instilled in those who dream of joining the Royal Navy as well as the substantial achievements and the harsh realities one faces when choosing such a career path.

Surviving the First Attack and the Hunt for the Bismarck

Alf Burton spent 23 years in the Royal Navy, beginning his career just as the Second World War broke out. His service almost ended before it began: while working high up a funnel on HMS Edinburgh in the Firth of Forth, his ship was strafed in the first German air attack on Britain. Sixteen naval personnel were killed across three ships and Alf’s funnel was left riddled with machine-gun holes.

In his interview, Alf speaks candidly about life at sea. He recalls the poor condition of some wartime vessels, the sheer scale of the guns on HMS Rodney, and the moment an ingenious German pilot nearly sank her. He gives a gripping account of the chase for the Bismarck and a bird’s-eye view of her sinking — a reality for which no training exercise could prepare the crew.

His memories offer an extraordinary window into the Navy’s endurance and transformation, from the war years to his later reflections on visiting a modern warship.

Alf died on Thursday 27th January 2018, aged 1998.