Arthur Cant provides a compelling tale about his contributions during the D-Day landings while serving with the Royal Military Police. He recalls being responsible for the capture of enemy prisoners in Normandy to help clear a path for the allied troops towards Belgium. He recounts his first departure for Normandy, how the police corps managed to capture three hundred prisoners and took them aboard their ship. Following their capture, the corps then supplied the ship with five hundred bottles of soap so the prisoners could clean themselves, showing the generosity of the English. After clearing all the prisoners from Normandy, Cant was reassigned to a Landing Ship Tank (LST) from Southampton to capture prisoners near Belgium as the allies made their course. He remembers the interception of a German warship and how one out of three LSTs sank in a successful mission, exporting another three hundred prisoners. Until his eventual posting to Egypt, Cant estimates exporting more than nine hundred prisoners. Cant's story gives insight into the military tactics used by the Royal Military Police and is an example of how success against the enemy does not always mean violence or mistreatment.

Jim Selway grew up in Mill Hill, London. Though his father had served in the First World War, his own military path was sparked by an uncle’s advice to pursue tanks. After Sandhurst, which he found something of a disappointment, he was commissioned to Germany where he first encountered the formidable Centurion Mk3. By 1952, his regiment was ordered to relieve the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in Korea.

In his interview, Jim recalls the static nature of the conflict when he arrived: tanks holding no-man’s-land and protecting the vital position of the Hook. As a commander, he was known for being aggressive in action — “you just lived and breathed, about to be attacked.” He describes both the safety the tanks offered and the risks of leaving their armour.

Jim’s reflections span the camaraderie of Commonwealth troops, close ties with Australian comrades, light-hearted moments on R&R in Tokyo, and even the cast iron bell he brought home — still rung daily at Bovington. For Jim, Korea was the making of him as an officer, and he remains determined that it should never be remembered as the “Forgotten War.”

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.