Janet began her journey with the WRAC in the early 1970s and knew on arrival that it was the right career for her. Although she initially found life at Guildford a bit of shock, by the time she had finished her trade training with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, she felt like a soldier. She describes her first posting to Rheindahlen where aside from working on classified clerical work, she embarked on many trips to surrounding cities and landscapes. Janet also recalls the rising threat of Eastern Germany, and her own exposure to the realities of the Cold War. After Germany she was posted to Beaconsfield, Krefeld and Deepcut where she became chief clerk of the WRAC company in 1976. Although this was a great achievement, Janet remembers still feeling outnumbered by men in the army and experiencing gender discrimination even at her rank. The rest of the interview follows her journey to London, back to Rheindahlen, and finally becoming quartermaster at Aldershot where she campaigned for contraceptive machines in the women's blocks. A fantastic interview and a true trailblazer, we thank Janet for her inspiring story of the frustrations, limitations and power of women in the army.

David reflects on his journey from playing in his school’s local brass band to touring Hong Kong with a military band. In 1977, he joined the Queen's Own Highlanders as a tuba player. He toured the UK with the band, performing alongside the bagpipe section, which had a love-hate dynamic. In 1978, he started his studies at Kneller Hall where he had memorable experiences, including performing at Buckingham Palace. David also recounts two tours in Northern Ireland, where his band performed while carrying out military duties. He felt on edge, as military musicians were often targeted in Ireland. In 1980, David was posted to Hong Kong, where he assisted with illegal immigration duties along the Hong Kong-China border. During this time, he suffered a tragic accident that led to the amputation of both his legs. Afterward, his faith deepened, and he became the padre at Kneller Hall. In this role, he supports fellow soldiers, leads chapel services, and shares the teachings of Jesus. David takes great pride in his time with the military band, looking back on his brave and inspiring story with fondness.

Geoff Holland offers an insightful picture of his service in the British Royal Artillery during the Korean War. At the age of eighteen he was already working in trade as an apprentice joiner in Manchester which delayed his enlistment into National Service until 1950 on his 21st birthday. Following his army training at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, he was sent to Hong Kong to continue in preparation for Korea. Unfortunately, it was during this period when he received a letter from his fiancée, saying they were breaking up. Soon after, the regiment sailed to Pusan aboard the Empire Orwell (an ex-German liner). Upon arrival, he recalls many unpleasantries on his way to camp. From the scent of human excrement in the paddy fields (putting him off rice) to a turbulent trip on a rattle train with repulsive conditions. His main duties in Korea consisted of carrying ammunition and operating 4-inch mortars which were used to assist the infantry in their push against the Chinese and North Koreans. As a soldier who received limited information, Geoff remained oblivious to certain things such as the exact location of the British infantry despite needing to know the position and range of a mortar before firing. The regiment was fighting in the Battle of the Hook but at the time, Geoff was unaware regarding the significance of his location. He recalls the foulness of his living conditions; no showers or sanitation, facing swarms of rats in the winter followed by the threat of disease by mosquitos in the summer and the constant banging of artillery above. However, he managed to show practicality by improving the warmth of his bed, using newspapers received from his mother for insulation. Many figures stood out in his memory from Korean troops who helped with carrying ammunition and cleaning clothes to a young Scotsman who struggled mentally after his girlfriend had left him. Despite the adversity he faced, Geoff enjoyed his time in Korea despite speaking little of it and though he received no welcome ceremony upon his return to England, in the years that followed he remembers meeting former infantry men from the war who thanked soldiers like him graciously for their support. Geoff's interview discloses the substantial contributions of those serving in the Royal Artillery who lived in the dark while supporting the infantry and reveals the tragedy of personal relationships that befell those who were sent far away to serve in the Korean War.