Fred Millward joined the Army when he was seventeen, he served with the 9th Battalion Parachute regiment and was part of the D-day landings and the Battle of Merville Gun Battery. In his interview he talks us through his training, the year building up to June 1944, and the D-day landings. Before the day, Fred and his team knew a mission was close after switching to practicing night jumps. Their Commanding Officer briefed them, warning many wouldn't return. They flew from RAF Broadwell to the French coast, and Fred was blown out of the plane by anti-aircraft fire. Thankfully, he landed safely near the rendezvous point, but sadly, many men died, with only 150 of 700 making it on time for the start of the mission. The fighting began right away, with many men dying from landmines. Fred described the Merville Gun Battery as being surrounded by barbed wire, cattle fencing, and minefields. They breached the area with Bangalore torpedoes and covered 150 yards to reach the main fortification, which Fred called a miracle. After completing their mission, they were mistakenly bombed by Americans but luckily everyone survived. After regrouping, they went to Chateau De Saint Come and were ordered to defend it at all costs – no retreat, no surrender. The Chateau overlooked the whole flank of the Allied invasion, critical for winning. They stayed for five days amidst horrific fighting, with Fred describing the terrible smell and conditions. Fred was sent to Bois De Bavent forest and had a close call. He and his sergeant were helping survivors of a crash when they were mortared by the enemy. Fred’s sergeant died, and Fred was severely injured, losing hearing in one ear. After recovering, he was offered a guard commander position. During the Allied invasion, Fred met his future wife from the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and they married in 1945.

Born in Birmingham, Jean Eastham experienced the first hand horrors of the Birmingham Blitz. With daylight raids and frequent casualties, she was lucky to survive the devastation, but recounts occasions where survival was not guaranteed. After volunteering for her service, Jean travelled to Berlin to help on the Airlift, where she was shocked by the sheer level of destruction. Inside her new accommodation, stationed in the former Olympic Village, she was met with a wave of unseen modern luxuries, including central heating and low-flush toilets, which provided some hope for the journey ahead. As part of the ATS, it was Jean’s responsibility to care for many of the other women involved, managing much of the administrative work like accommodation, pay, and uniforms. Although her status as a woman entailed some restrictions, like the need for an escort outside of the daytime, she and her fellow volunteers worked hard to keep morale high, which was crucial in easing the fears of anxious Berliners.  Like many others, Jean remembers attending the famous Christmas show of 1948, and getting to meet Bob Hope. She recalls being very proud to serve in the ATS, especially because Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess, was also a member. Even after the Airlift, Jean often returned to Berlin, including a visit to Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the blockade. Decades later, the Berliners still show their gratitude, and continue to thank Jean for her help. 

This film captures Year 10 students from Wildern School, Hedge End engaging in a unique oral history project, exploring the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC). The project was run by Legasee with support from the WRAC Association and Adjutant General's Corps (AGC) Museum in Winchester. The workshops fostered critical thinking, curiosity, and enquiry as students developed their knowledge of some of the challenges faced by Britain and the wider world in the 20th century - one of the content requirements of the English National Curriculum for History at Key Stage 3. Through their research about the WRAC, and perceptive questioning of Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Sue Westlake, MBE, the students examined the complexities of life during the Cold War and the evolving role of women in the military. By connecting with lived experiences, students practised essential skills like communication, confidence, and evidence-based reasoning. With thanks to the staff at Wildern School for welcoming Legasee in, and encouraging their young historians to develop new perspectives on societal change, gender equality, and British military conflicts in the second half of the 20th century.