An adventurous and extroverted young woman, Pauline joined the WRAC at seventeen years old after outperforming boys at her school in an army assault course. She knew in that moment that she would excel in a military career. Following her six weeks at Guildford she was posted to Blackdown to train as a supply clerk with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. She wanted to be a Physical Training Instructor but was advised to go into stores whilst placed in holding for an opening in physical trades. She remained in her first role as a store supplier before she was posted to Rheindahlen to supply local army bases. Being from Guyana Pauline describes the anxiety she felt in certain environments regarding racial prejudice but reflects fondly on her time in Rheindahlen due to her being surrounded by many women of different ethnicities. During her three years in Germany, as well as managing stores, she was also told to watch for Russian number plates or report suspicions of IRA or Cold War tensions. In this interview, Pauline recalls her upset at her forced leave due to her pregnancy and describes the many good soldiers the army lost due to this very reason. Like many other women, she felt she had more to give and these opportunities were taken away. Although Pauline speaks passionately about her time with the WRAC, her journey also highlights the issues with the treatment of women in the army.

Geoff Pratt joined the British Army in 1968 at the age of 15, inspired by a love of music and encouragement from his future brother-in-law, a serving musician. Originally from Sandy, Bedfordshire, Geoff began his military musical journey on the euphonium, later transitioning to the trombone. Serving with the Royal Corps of Transport Staff Band, Geoff performed across the UK and abroad, including Germany, Cyprus, and Northern Ireland during the Troubles. He recalls the tense experience of performing in Armagh’s town square while armed soldiers stood guard in nearby shop doorways - vividly aware of the dangers military musicians could face in conflict zones. In addition to his musical duties, Geoff trained as an HGV driver, enabling him to transport the band’s instruments across challenging terrain, including through politically sensitive areas under armed escort. His service also included memorable performances such as the Horse of the Year Show and ceremonial parades. Geoff speaks with pride about the role of military music in uniting people, boosting morale, and honouring tradition, and reflects with lasting emotion on the sacrifice of fellow musicians, particularly those lost in the Regent’s Park Bandstand bombing.

George Higgins delivers a captivating tale of his travels as a soldier during the 1940s and 1950s. Growing up in London, George first joined the military at the age of twelve (lying that he was fourteen) where he became a runner for the Home Guard. He was forced to keep it a secret from his father who was, at first, adamantly against the idea of a military career after he received a low pension from serving in WWI. When he finally turned eighteen, George enlisted with the Royal Engineers before transferring to the Royal Artillery. In 1948, he was awoken early one morning by an officer, announcing that was being sent to Hong Kong. He remembers a tumultuous voyage to the east. At one point, he was taken ill after developing kidney problems, something which became a reoccurring liability during his service. Arriving in Hong Kong, he recalls defending the border against the Chinese who were trying to cross the Sham Chum River. However, he saw little action. Soon war in Korea erupted and he decided to volunteer for the Middlesex Regiment. Landing during the winter, George was faced with unpleasant conditions. Much of his experience consisted of hiding in trenches where there was less combat and more sleeping. Food became a constant struggle and the British lacked the equipment to keep clean and sustain warmth. Despite these issues, he was saddened after he was eventually invalided from Korea when his kidney problems returned. A few years later, he joined the regiment in Cyprus during the Cyprus Emergency. The Greek General Georgios Grivus had begun a war of independence against the British and the troops were tasked with reducing the riots. He remembers the confusion of a terrorist war, fought at close quarters, and finding it hard to distinguish who was a terrorist and who wasn't. This confusion led to one incident where an innocent elderly lady on a donkey was shot in a case of mistaken identity. Tragically, the conflict’s toll also affected his personal life; George's wife was with him in Cyprus, but amid the constant strain, she suffered a miscarriage, which led to her decision to return to England. She asked him to accompany her, and though it meant leaving the military, he agreed. Sadly, they later separated. Despite these hardships, he remembers his military years fondly, always finding humour even in challenging times. George's interview captures the harsh realities and strengths of being a soldier; forced to accept one's mortality and the consequences of their actions while managing to retain courage and optimism.