Stephen Jackson offers a powerful and emotional account of his time with the Northumberland Fusiliers during the Aden Emergency. Joining the army straight out of school at 15, Stephen quickly found himself posted to Germany as a company clerk, where his early days were marked by camaraderie, tough men, and even a memorable ski trip. However, everything changed when he was deployed to Aden in 1966. The scorching heat hit him first, followed by the tense atmosphere as he arrived at camp in a guarded truck. As a company clerk, his duties were largely administrative, but when out in the field, the situation could be terrifying. Stationed in the volatile Crater district, the role of the Fusiliers was to try and keep the peace between the NLF and FLOSY using foot patrols and roadblocks. One of his most harrowing memories is of the day the local police mutinied, resulting in the loss of several close comrades. After Aden, Stephen was posted to Belfast during the Troubles, completing four tours before finishing his service in Gibraltar. Reflecting on his experiences, he shares how the trauma from Aden has stayed with him, leading to PTSD. Despite the hardships, Stephen’s story is one of courage and resilience.

Bill Campbell describes his journey from the forests and farms of northern Scotland, joining up in the Black Watch Regiment and being transferred to Germany. He shares his experiences of post-war Germany from the devastation of the city of Cologne to the relationship with the locals. He also describes how he ended up volunteering for what was to become the Berlin Airlift. With humour Bill recalls the daily logistical challenges of the Berlin Airlift, meeting Montgomery and a riding encounter with Hitler's horse. His interview highlights the important role the British Army played in the Berlin Airlift, the daily risks that were taken to keep the vital air corridor open. Bill's story is a reminder that volunteering for missions can sometimes take you in unexpected directions.

Kay Wingate joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) at 19, inspired by her father, who had previously served in the army. Originally from Essex, her military career took her to the Isle of Man, where she trained as a member of the top-secret Y service, listening in to German military wireless signals. After learning how to decipher Morse code, she was then stationed in Harrogate as a wireless operative. Kay recalls she had ‘no aptitude’ for Morse and had to learn it from scratch. Despite this challenge, she surpassed the speed of 18 words per minute, a skill which offered her better pay. Some of the messages that the ATS decoded were sent to Bletchley Park. Having signed the Secrets Act, she wasn’t able to tell a soul about her work. She was released from service in 1946. Kay looks back on her time with the ATS with fond memories, which saw the forging of lifelong friendships. While she never saw combat, her interview offers an important insight into the day-to-day operations of those involved in the Secret War, in addition to the vital work carried out by the women’s branch of the British Army.