Born in Alsager, Cheshire, Geoffrey joined the Army to avoid working down the coal mines. He recalls moments of hope while fighting on the Europe frontline, such as the sight of a crucifix on the door of a French school in Cristot, miraculously unharmed despite heavy shelling. He also describes the difficult position of having to shoot his first soldier, when a group of three German troops feigned surrender and threw a hand grenade. Like with the deaths of his own regiment and friends, Geoff kept himself positive with one simple mantra: “I'm glad it’s not me”. After being shot in the leg in Belgium, Geoff was captured and transported in a cattle truck to Stalag IV-B, one of Germany’s largest POW camps. He describes the harsh conditions and overcrowding, as well as witnessing the camp’s justice system at work, after guards caught and shot a fellow prisoner accused of stealing rations.  In a cruel twist of fate, he also found himself forced to work somewhere he wanted to avoid at all cost - a coal mine. After surviving Stalag IV-B and the notorious ‘Death March’, Geoff returned safely home to Barnsley, weighing only 6 stone and 2 pounds.  Geoff’s optimism shines throughout this interview, despite his harrowing ordeal. He fondly remembers much of the camaraderie during his time in service, and still to this day expresses no regrets of his experience in Europe. He maintains respect for the Germans, for always keeping to their word.

In 1942, John Duke was hand-selected to join the 61^st Reconnaissance Regiment of the Armoured Corps. After undertaking intense training, John was sent to Normandy in the 2^nd wave of the D-Day invasion (13^th June 1944). As a Reconnaissance squadron, John’s unit was often further ahead of most soldiers, their job was to gain intelligence on enemy movements and report back. He recalls the precarity of this role, and how as the squadron’s driver, it was often his job to get them out of trouble in a hurry. John served in Normandy until August 1944. He was then sent to Nijmegen in Holland to assist the airborne landing in the Ardennes – this was all a part of Operation Market Garden. He speaks of the poor weather, and relentless German fire, which made it impossible for his squadron to advance. After Nijmegen, John was withdrawn to Belgium where he was involved in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes. He recounts the extreme weather conditions – “we were up to our armpits in snow” – and the difficulty of fighting tanks in winter camouflage. After the Ardennes the 61^st regiment was disbanded, and John joined the 5^th regiment prior to the advance into Germany. He made it as far as Hanover and stayed there until 1946, when he was demobbed and returned home to become a police officer.

Michael Fryer joined the National Service at 18 and after completing basic training, he chose to specialise in bomb disposal with the Royal Engineers. Later, he was deployed to Korea and boarded the HMT Lancashire for the journey. He flew into Korea on a Globemaster, then took the train to Seoul. He travelled to the frontline, joining up with the 55th Field Regiment, based at the 38th Parallel. Michael's duties included bomb disposal along the Imjin River. During the Battle of the Hook, he also took on the dangerous task of transporting ammunition to and from the frontlines. The Chinese forces swarmed over the hills, only to be cut down by machine gun fire. He fondly remembers his Rest and Recuperation in Incheon and Tokyo. This was a time for soldiers to rest, eat nice food, and experience Japanese culture. Whilst in Tokyo he stayed at The Kookaburra Club in the Ebisu Camp. Michael was demobbed in June 1953, he travelled home aboard HMS Fowey. Returning home was very hard, and later in life he realised he had been suffering with PTSD.