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.

As a Junior Cadet, Godfrey just knew he wanted to be a soldier. Godfrey was born in Leicester, but schooled in Derby during World War Two. He enrolled at the Sandhurst Military Academy, aged 18. After Sandhurst, Godfrey became a Commissioned Officer in the Royal Leicestershire Regiment and was posted to Hong Kong. Aged 20, Godfrey was training in anticipation for Korea. In Busan, Godfrey recounts seeing casualties coming down from Maryang-san hill and how he wanted to do something. On November 5th 1951, Godfrey joined efforts to retake Maryang-San. He recalls the terrifying shelling and how his small platoon held and were relived from a small hill called "Italy". Godfrey recalls how he found out that the Chinese army took "Italy", and most of the platoon posted there. He also fondly remembers the Northumberland Fusiliers. After the Maryang-san battle, Godfrey was mostly on patrol and he recalls stepping on a mine and his logistical and personal journey to recovery. Godfrey took medical retirement after seven more years' service, never fulfilling his dream to command his Leicester regiment. Reflecting on Korea, Godfrey would not have missed it for the world and he will never forget those who served in it.

In the Second World War, Violet Clarke served in The Auxiliary Territorial Service. She was from farming stock in Norfolk and didn’t want to become a Land Girl so joined the ATS. The ATS was the forerunner to the Women’s Royal Army Corps. She provides some lovely detail about her time in Mertsham which was a holding point for tanks and armoured vehicles being stored for D-Day - she recalls a young Princess Elizabeth. As a Salvationist, she got wind of an opportunity to join the band and subsequently became a Trombonist based at Norfolk House in London. Again some more lovely detail provided. We secured this interview thanks to the good people at the Royal British Legion Industry village in Aylesbury Kent.