Home | Veterans | Ron Stephens REME
Ron-Stephens

A veteran interview with

Ron Stephens REME

Ron Stephens joined the army in 1939 and trained as a Vehicle Mechanic in the REME. On the Normandy Beaches, removing vehicles from the sand

Video Coming Soon

About Ron Stephens REME

Credits

Interviewed by:
Brig. C Elderton

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

Copyright:
All video content, web site design, graphics, images (including submitted content), text, the selection and arrangement thereof, underlying source code, software and all other material on this Web site are the copyright of Legasee Educational Trust, and its affiliates, or their content and technology providers. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials on this Web site – including reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification, distribution, or republication – without the prior written permission of Legasee Educational Trust is strictly prohibited.

Home | Veterans | Ron Stephens REME

A veteran interview with

Ron Stephens REME

Ron-Stephens

Ron Stephens joined the army in 1939 and trained as a Vehicle Mechanic in the REME. On the Normandy Beaches, removing vehicles from the sand

Related topics & talking points

Keep on watching

More veteran stories...

Share this interview on:

https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ron-stephens/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
REME, Ron. A Veteran Interview with Ron Stephens REME. Interview by Brig. C Elderton. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ron-stephens/. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
APA Style:
REME, R. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Ron Stephens REME [Interview by Brig. C Elderton]. Legasee. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ron-stephens/
Chicago Style:
REME, Ron. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Ron Stephens REME. Interview by Brig. C Elderton. Legasee. Accessed March 6, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ron-stephens/
Harvard Style:
REME, R. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Ron Stephens REME. [Interviewed by Brig. C Elderton]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ron-stephens/ (Accessed: 6 March 2026)
Vancouver Style:
REME, R. A Veteran Interview with Ron Stephens REME [Internet]. Interview by B. Elderton. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/ron-stephens/
An interview with

John Page

From King’s Lynn to Korea, John Page shares his memories including his experience of the Third Battle of the Hook.

From a rural background working with tractors, John was first conscripted into the Royal Horse Artillery then, after a period of training in Germany, was transferred to the 20th Field Regiment and on to Korea. John vividly remembers the journey to Pusan (now Busan) and arrival at Christmastime 1952. He describes how the area had been devastating by the war. John was a Linesman and responsible for repairing damaged wires between the guns and the infantry. He showed incredibly bravery as this work could often be at night and risked mortar attack if the enemy saw their lights. Despite this, John loved this work. John was then sent to the Hook for observation duties and was there for the Third Battle of the Hook in May 1953 which he recalls in detail. The Hook was a ridge which offered a valuable position and John describes how thousands of Chinese soldiers were sent to try and take it. The firing was intense, including napalm from American aeroplanes, which John expresses reservations about the use of. John was in Korea for the armistice and was demobbed close to Christmas that year. Reflecting on the war, John says he is glad they were sent to help. He has since returned to South Korea and is impressed with the nation’s growth and modernity.
Photo Gallery icon 8 Photos
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Eddie Pickering

A military bandmaster shares fascinating stories from his 27-year career filled with musical engagements around the globe.

Already an accomplished musician, Eddie Pickering joined the 50th Signal Regiment Band of the TA as soon as he left school. After progressing through various short-term roles he joined the 1st Royal Tank Regiment, with whom he spent two years based at Catterick Garrison then four years in Germany. Eddie then enrolled at Kneller Hall as a student bandmaster, and he shares his memories of the privileges and pressures of the course. On successful completion of his studies, Eddie was posted to the Cheshire Regiment, with whom he spent the next 23 years of his career. Eddie shares details of some of the incredible events and diverse venues around the world at which the Cheshires played. He also recalls the devastating bomb blast at the Droppin Well in December 1982 when they were stationed in Ballykelly, Northern Ireland; and talks about the overwhelmingly emotional reception of the band at their first engagement after the blast later that same week. Eddie’s recollections give a wonderful insight into the life and career of a regimental bandmaster, and it’s a privilege to hear him talk about – as he describes it – his dream job: a role he held for more than a quarter of a century.
Service:
An interview with

Audrey Smith

Audrey was a Colonel in the WRAC and is now a Life Vice President of the association.

At university, Audrey joined the Officer Training Corps which ultimately led her to join the army when she graduated. Due to her experience, Audrey never enrolled in basic training but was instead sent to the WRAC school of instruction. She was then posted to Shoeburyness as a Commander, then Singapore, and then to the new Duchess of Kent Barracks as Commanding Officer. Audrey also discusses growing IRA threats, and recalls the horror of experiencing the Aldershot bombing in 1972. Her career continued to flourish and she went to Army Staff College where she was the only woman out of one hundred men. Audrey proceeded to be posted at Shrewsbury as Senior Personnel Officer, then to the doctorate where she wrote employment papers for the WRAC, then the BAOR, and the NATO headquarters in Brussels. Audrey's work in the WRAC was fundamental to its evolution and she was involved in the crucial integration of weapons training into the female corps. She felt strongly that women should be given opportunities and went on to design the selection tests for officers admittance to Staff College. A true trailblazer, we thank Audrey for her inspiring interview and passionate words about the importance of women's roles in the WRAC.