For the first few years of the war, Leslie Fernandez was an Army Physical Training Corps instructor who trained SOE candidates in Hertfordshire and Manchester (parachuting). He was then invited by Colonel Munn to become an operative, deploying to SE France in July 1944; when the American landed there in August 1944, his group moved to Italy to help the partisans prevent the Germans in Italy from interfering with American operations. He provides a hugely detailed and modestly understated account of SOE operations (he does not mention his Military Medal or Croix de Guerre), starting with selection for different roles and his insertion by parachute, weighed down by weapons and equipment. He focuses heavily on little-known operations in the mountains between France and Italy, gathering explosives from his cache in a bakery, blowing up roads and negotiating the surrender of 80 Germans to 5 SOE. He also talks about the challenges of communication and receiving resupplies in harsh conditions where they were often isolated, as well as the psychological pressure of warfare and seeing people executed. He has fond memories and recalls the bravery of those involved, especially as he married a woman from the region, who was a courier.

After taking up the trombone at a young age, Kevin went on to play within the band movement. It was here that he was influenced by a teacher who was an ex-Scots Guards bandsman, this experience sharpened his enthusiasm into what would eventually become his life-long career and passion. In 1982 Kevin enlisted in the Parachute Regiment at age 16. Kevin’s army career has spanned 36 years at the time of this interview, during which he has served in Kenya, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Kuwait, Jordan and Germany to name a few. He describes his spiritual home as Kneller Hall where he was able to focus and hone his musical skills, eventually becoming a musical director. His tours of duty have a common theme, that of community service, care, and compassion offered to his colleagues in the army and to the communities in the countries they were based in. This is particularly reflected in his discussion of the role the band played in Northern Ireland and in Iraq, offering sensitive and compassionate interventions in incredibly difficult circumstances to people who were often traumatised by war and conflict. He is incredibly proud of what they have been able to achieve.

When war broke out, Joan was initially in Civil Defence. However, after two years she was called up to the Auxiliary Territorial Service at the age of twenty-two; this was the women’s branch of the Army. She was sent to London for training, where she learned how to drive an ambulance. Joan was posted to Edinburgh where the barracks were so cold she slept with her greatcoat on. Later she drove her ambulance during the bombing of London. Just before D-day she remembers seeing huge columns of tanks and other vehicles, in preparation for the landings. After the invasion there were a lot more wounded to take to hospitals but the casualties decreased toward the end of the war. In Aldershot her barracks was bombed, and she also remembers the rations of unpleasant marrow jam and horse meat. She used to swap her cigarette ration for sweets. Like many others, once the war was over she missed the camaraderie of the Army. Thank you Joan for sharing your memories at the wonderful age of 107!