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A veteran interview with

Margery Draper

Margery gives an outstanding account of her wartime memories. She was incredibly fortunate to survive the Devonport blitz

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About Margery Draper

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker

Transcripts:
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Home | Veterans | Margery Draper

A veteran interview with

Margery Draper

9-margery-draper

Margery gives an outstanding account of her wartime memories. She was incredibly fortunate to survive the Devonport blitz

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https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margery-draper/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Draper, Margery. A Veteran Interview with Margery Draper. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margery-draper/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.
APA Style:
Draper, M. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Margery Draper [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margery-draper/
Chicago Style:
Draper, Margery. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Margery Draper. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed October 17, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margery-draper/
Harvard Style:
Draper, M. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Margery Draper. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margery-draper/ (Accessed: 17 October 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Draper, M. A Veteran Interview with Margery Draper [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Oct 17]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/margery-draper/
An interview with

Colin ‘Sam’ Smee

Falklands submariner recalls life onboard HMS Spartan as a Sonar Operator

Colin Smee, better known as Sam, joined the Navy in 1960 and became a Submariner. He joined HMS Spartan (S-90), a Swiftsure-class nuclear-powered submarine and served in the Falklands War.
In his amusing interview, he praises Captain James ‘Buck’ Taylor for fostering a positive atmosphere on the Spartan, which was put through rigorous training. In early April 1982 Sam learns of a new operation via the onboard 'telephone'. He details life on the Spartan, including the concern over the indefinite Falklands deployment and the impact of the sinking of the Argentinian Cruiser Belgrano. As a Sonar Operator, Sam explains his duties and the equipment used, operating under London rather than Task Force commander Admiral Sandy Woodward. He humorously recalls the lack of celebration post-war until they reached Plymouth and the impact of a fresh food delivery of strawberries.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Fred Roberts

A Royal Marine mentioned in dispatches during the Korean War remembers the raids, injuries and camaraderie of “The Forgotten War”

After joining the Royal Marines and completing his training, Fred travelled to Korea and conducted coastal raids to protect explosives experts from harm. While accompanying a convoy along the Chosin Reservoir, Fred was shot through the foot by North Korean fire. After recovering, he rejoined his unit during an ice-cold winter, which left him unaffected by the cold for decades since nothing compared to the Korean winter. Fred describes his camaraderie with American marines, who he advised against their trigger-happy tendencies because enemy fighters could advance unhindered upon hearing the empty magazine's distinctive “click”. Fred never discovered why he was mentioned in dispatches but wonders if it was for performing his duties while injured. He gave blood from his arm to an injured comrade before their evacuation to a military hospital. He later cared for hospitalised patients, cracking jokes and brewing tea. He becomes emotional remembering those who died in his arms. After returning to Britain, Fred was deemed unfit for service – a decision that still irks him today. He explains that the Korean War, its veterans and the fallen are widely overlooked. Fred’s moving story highlights the need to commemorate those who fought in history’s “Forgotten War”.
Service: