Bob Gill shares his remarkable journey of military service, starting with his commission into the Manchester Regiment in 1945, before later transferring to the Royal Ulster Rifles. His service took him from post-war Europe and the Berlin Airlift to the frontlines of the Korean War in 1950, where his experiences would leave an indelible mark. During the Korean War, Bob took part in critical campaigns, including the Third Battle of Seoul. Reflecting on the conflict, he believes the losses could have been significantly reduced if not for a complacent British attitude toward the severity of the situation. He vividly recounts the harrowing retreat from 'Happy Valley,' where his unit faced overwhelming Chinese forces. Amid the chaos, his jeep broke down, and he narrowly escaped by seeking refuge in a tank. Bob also worked closely with Korean porters, forging strong relationships as they navigated the rugged terrain to transport essential equipment. Throughout his time in Korea, Bob observed evident rivalries and differences in combat tactics between the British and American forces. After returning home from Korea, Bob's military service left a lasting impact on him, shaped by his personal sacrifices, the camaraderie he shared with his fellow soldiers, as well as his firsthand experiences of the brutal realities of war. He also reflects on how the horrors of conflict persist in the world today, serving as a stark reminder of the enduring cost of war.

Douglas Hassall shares how he narrowly escaped a death sentence after spending three and a half years as one of Japan’s prisoners of war during World War 2. Douglas accepted early on that escaping would be foolish as any escapees were executed; the camp being located in Vietnam also left the nearest allies 1100 miles away.  The Japanese employed beatings and other instantaneous punishments, something alien to a British soldier like Douglas, their neglectful medical care equally as shocking to him. Despite his horrible treatment Douglas highlights how incredibly lucky he was as the other camps had prisoners sleeping outside with no access to clean water. The few lenient guards allowed them to hold concerts and church services however over time the Japanese replaced them with cruel guards who murdered the prisoners’ pets.    Douglas got his first hint of freedom after a British interpreter secretly told him that allies were closing in, both of them unaware that Japan’s prisoners of war were all destined to die. Prison labour had halted and transportation of prisoners to the execution site had begun when the second atomic bomb fell forcing Japan to free everyone at the very last second.  Unfortunately Douglas’ release was bittersweet due to the plane transporting one of his friends back to England crashing killing everyone on board.