Colonel Robert Stewart was born into a military family on July 7 1949. He followed his father's military footsteps and joined the British Army. After training at Sandhurst, he became an infantry officer in the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. He served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Bob's time there was difficult, including being knocked out by a brick during a riot and losing six men in the Ballykelly bombing. During his career, Bob faced many challenges, from secret missions against the IRA to leading humanitarian efforts during the Bosnian War. His time in Bosnia was marked by the horrors of mass graves and minefields. In Bosnia, he faced the challenge of a peacekeeping mission under a slow-moving UN. After the army, Bob went into politics. His time as a soldier gave him a unique view on life and politics. His interview demonstrates his strong sense of duty and how war has a lasting impact on people.

‘Your life’s in their hands and their life’s in your hands.’ That’s how Keith Nutter summarises his time in Korea. After starting his working life at a local engineering firm, Keith wasn’t taken on as an apprentice. Knowing there was more of the world to see - after years of watching the American Fortresses land near his home during the Second World War - he joined the Army at 18. What unfolds next is a story of opportunity: taking each one as it came and finding light in challenging times. Keith shares his story with humility - at times underplaying his contributions to the success of their detachment - and with a warmth and clear admiration for the people he worked and lived alongside. His accounts are full of detail and humour, challenging the listener to really consider the conditions he lived and operated in.

At university, Audrey joined the Officer Training Corps which ultimately led her to join the army when she graduated. Due to her experience, Audrey never enrolled in basic training but was instead sent to the WRAC school of instruction. She was then posted to Shoeburyness as a Commander, then Singapore, and then to the new Duchess of Kent Barracks as Commanding Officer. Audrey also discusses growing IRA threats, and recalls the horror of experiencing the Aldershot bombing in 1972. Her career continued to flourish and she went to Army Staff College where she was the only woman out of one hundred men. Audrey proceeded to be posted at Shrewsbury as Senior Personnel Officer, then to the doctorate where she wrote employment papers for the WRAC, then the BAOR, and the NATO headquarters in Brussels. Audrey's work in the WRAC was fundamental to its evolution and she was involved in the crucial integration of weapons training into the female corps. She felt strongly that women should be given opportunities and went on to design the selection tests for officers admittance to Staff College. A true trailblazer, we thank Audrey for her inspiring interview and passionate words about the importance of women's roles in the WRAC.