In May 1943, Cyril Standiford joined the Royal Navy. Aged only 18, he worked as a seaman-gunner on board the control ship HMS Fratton, as preparations for Operation Neptune began to take shape.   On the morning of the 6th June 1944, Cyril and his crew landed at Gold Beach, Normandy, to the overwhelming sight of heavy smoke and the sound of gunfire. In this interview, he recalls the terrifying moment HMS Fratton was hit by a torpedo, causing it to rapidly sink. 31 crew members died, and as a result of the explosion Cyril, who was positioned on one of the ship's gun platforms, was thrown into the water. He awoke hours later in an Army Hospital, having suffered a crush fracture of the spine and two busted knees, which required the long-term use of calipers. After being evacuated back to the UK on board a landing craft, he was moved through various hospitals before eventually finishing in one just outside of Aberdeen, Scotland.  Following the war, Cyril paid regular visits to Ryes Cemetery in France, and was even able to help other families uncover what happened to their loved ones on board HMS Fratton. In this film, he remarks what it was like to ‘cheat death’, and reflects on how young many of the sailors were who lost their lives during D-Day.

Bernard Howell joined the Royal Navy at 16 and underwent four weeks of training at Portsmouth barracks. He was then drafted to HMS Faulknor, a battle destroyer, where he participated in several convoys to Iceland, Russia, and the Mediterranean. The ship was later recalled to England and anchored off the Isle of Wight, awaiting further orders. On June 4th, they were directed to Juno Beach, but due to rough weather in the channel, they were recalled several times. Eventually, they were sent back out with the Canadians, with orders to shoot at anything that moved. By lunchtime, they had exhausted their ammunition firing at a small French town and returned to Portsmouth to resupply. After picking up General Montgomery, they headed back to Normandy but ran aground too close to the shore. They were rescued by two American Landing Crafts and remained in constant combat for another three weeks. Bernard, having been prepared by his time in the Russian convoys, faced this combat without fear.

Walter Irish was just 18 when a chance encounter with a Royal Marine in uniform inspired him to enlist. Having grown up on a farm near Newton Abbot, he took easily to the physical demands of commando training and proudly earned his green beret. Posted to 41 Independent Commando, he soon found himself in Japan, re-equipped with American weapons and training alongside the US Marines.

In his interview, Walter recalls daring raids on North Korean supply lines, gruelling night landings, and the bitter cold of the Chosin Reservoir campaign where temperatures plummeted to -34°C. He describes the chaos of ambush, the loss of friends, and the sheer will to survive. Wounded by shrapnel, he was evacuated to Japan but carried with him the enduring bond of comradeship.

Walter went on to serve in Borneo, Malta, Singapore, and Aden, but Korea remained a defining experience. His testimony sheds light not only on the hardships of war but also on the resilience of a young Royal Marine who never forgot the men he served alongside.