Sydney Adlam was a budding young sportsman when war broke out. It was at his local athletics club that he met a man by the name of Brady who introduced him to an altogether more explosive activity. Brady invited Sydney to join the Auxiliary Unit, a secret resistance network of highly trained volunteers, where he learnt how to assemble explosives, time pencils and switches, and to understand the workings of a hand grenade. Sydney recalls details of regular training sessions in Havant, Gosport and Aldershot, including a close encounter in a trench with a hand grenade dropped in error by his comrade but hurled to safety by the lightning-fast instructor nearby. Although the invasion never came, the Auxiliary Unit stood ever ready to disrupt and deter the enemy in defence of their homeland with the courage and bravery that came to define their generation.

Content warning// This interview contains discussions of sensitive topics such as PTSD, depression and suicidal thoughts which some viewers may find distressing. If you are affected by these topics, please consider seeking support from a trusted person or organisation.

Louise Reynolds has been married to Chris Reynolds for 20 years, sharing a life shaped by his service in the infantry as a rifleman and ambulance driver. Originally from Doncaster, Chris served three tours, working gruelling shifts and long days. His deployment to Iraq during Operation Telic was particularly harrowing, with limited resources and intense danger. In one instance, he saved a fellow soldier who lost his arm in an accident. Meanwhile, Louise entered military life with a romanticised vision of adventure and travel, but quickly realised its reality was far different. Constant upheaval, isolation, and the loss of her own identity made Louise find solace in the close-knit community of army wives in Germany.  Chris’s return from his final tour marked the beginning of an uphill battle. Withdrawn and irritable, he struggled with PTSD. Despite the medical team’s support, the army’s dismissive attitude repeatedly undermined his recovery. Sent on a life-fire exercise in Canada despite his worsening condition, Chris called Louise in a state of distress, leading to his urgent return to the UK. Facing stigma and little support, they fought for his medical discharge after 15 years of service. Adjusting to civilian life also proved challenging. Though the Combat Stress charity provided some treatment, Louise often felt alone in managing the daily impact. She recalls Chris longing for visible scars as proof of his suffering to a world that couldn’t see his wounds. Their turning point came through Phoenix House, Band of Brothers, and Band of Sisters. Louise highlights the importance of these networks; Chris’s journey led him to speak at a school about mental health. Now, Louise, dedicates herself to fundraising for mental health initiatives, determined to ensure that other families receive similar support.