Stephen Jackson offers a powerful and emotional account of his time with the Northumberland Fusiliers during the Aden Emergency. Joining the army straight out of school at 15, Stephen quickly found himself posted to Germany as a company clerk, where his early days were marked by camaraderie, tough men, and even a memorable ski trip. However, everything changed when he was deployed to Aden in 1966. The scorching heat hit him first, followed by the tense atmosphere as he arrived at camp in a guarded truck. As a company clerk, his duties were largely administrative, but when out in the field, the situation could be terrifying. Stationed in the volatile Crater district, the role of the Fusiliers was to try and keep the peace between the NLF and FLOSY using foot patrols and roadblocks. One of his most harrowing memories is of the day the local police mutinied, resulting in the loss of several close comrades. After Aden, Stephen was posted to Belfast during the Troubles, completing four tours before finishing his service in Gibraltar. Reflecting on his experiences, he shares how the trauma from Aden has stayed with him, leading to PTSD. Despite the hardships, Stephen’s story is one of courage and resilience.

Nigel Caldicott joined the Royal Engineers as a boy soldier in 1966, spending two years training in Dover before being stationed at Bovingdon where his passion for tanks began. Nigel shares fascinating memories of his service, including time spent in Germany during the Cold War, reflecting on preparations for the very real danger posed by NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) warfare. He goes on to talk about his various military roles during the Troubles in Northern Ireland when the use of AVREs (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) became increasingly important, and he details the hard work the REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) put into getting the tanks into top condition and the maintenance required to keep them fit for service. Nigel served a total of 34 years in the Army and the Territorial Army, receiving a warrant from The Queen and taking great pride in his service throughout his career. The stories he shares here of his remarkable service are certain to be of great interest to military enthusiasts for many years to come.

Growing up in Cosford during the Second World War, Geoffrey Grimley became familiar with military surroundings from a young age. School geography lessons instilled in him an interest in Japan, and when conscription came at 19 years old, he registered with a preference to be stationed in the far-East. Geoffrey's childhood near an RAF base discouraged him from the airforce, so he instead became listed as a Signalman. The 6-month training period Geoffrey completed in Catterick taught him to decipher up to 14 words of Morse Code per minute. After a single excursion to a firing range, Geoffrey boarded a Devonshire 'Bibby Line' to Singapore. The journey took six weeks, and just a few weeks after his arrival, he journeyed on to Hong Kong. One bad winter later, Geoffrey left Kowloon Harbour to the sound of the Royal Ulster Rifles Pipe Band for the final leg of his journey to Korea. He arrived with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers on St. George's Day, 1951. Geoffrey recalls unsettled weather, mischievous tank drivers, and entertainment within his Brigade, including a boxing match between the KOSBs and a professional Filipino sportsman. Geoffrey was soon stationed at the Battle of Kapyong. Geoffrey's interview was cut short before sharing further details of his service due to his feeling unwell, but the beginning of his story creates a vivid, and at times, humorous, picture of his journey to becoming a Signalman.