Clifford Herridge recalls his National Service in the King's Regiment (Liverpool) serving in the Korean conflict, often described as ‘The Forgotten War’. When South Korea was invaded by North Korea’s KPA in 1950, many countries, including Great Britain, sent troops in support of South Korea. After a year of conflict, a period of static trench warfare ensued; this is what Clifford encountered when he arrived. He tells of his role in the mortar platoon, digging trenches and ‘hutches’ in the hillside for the men to live in. A landscape of ‘hills, hills, and more hills’, and the extreme weather, overwhelming summer heat and freezing winters, are still vivid memories. Despite knowing the old adage ‘never volunteer’, when the platoon cook was taken ill, Clifford, with no formal culinary training, stepped forward to take over. He describes feeding forty-five men with an array of food supplied by the Americans, including fresh salmon, which Clifford had no idea how to cook! When he returned home, his fiancé, Doreen, was waiting for him. She gives the perspective of those left behind and tells of her abundant letter writing to stay in touch. Despite some apprehension, Clifford calmly ‘did what he was told to do’, commenting that National Service changed him by broadening his mind, and making him realise he was ‘a lot better off then he thought’.

Charles Eagles joined the Army at 18, initially completing commando training before being posted to 9^th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He had boxed before joining up and continued to train in the army, which is how he caught the eye of an officer who was forming S Company, charged with mine clearance. His battalion landed in the second wave at 9.30 on Gold Beach, but he lost all his gear when he was dropped in deep water and had to drop it to stay afloat. In a detailed and enthralling account, Charles's recalls the camaraderie, the tough training and the nervous excitement prior to D-Day. He describes in detail being under fire and the slow pace of advance as they cleared mines with bayonets because the ground favoured the defenders. He shows the humanity of war in describing his capture and interaction with some Germans, and how the tables turned when they realised they were surrounded and asked him to negotiate their surrender. Later, he describes how he cleared a mine under an officer’s foot, and how later he was wounded when his own vehicle hit a mine.

Peter was conscripted when he turned 21 in 1951. He was sent to the Army Service Corp where he learnt how to drive various vehicles and also became responsible for the new national service recruits. He was unaware that war had broken out in Korea until he returned from leave to see his name on the board for dispatch there. Peter recalls the 4 week journey to Pusan and the devastated landscape where the trees had all be burnt down and the land scorched. One day he spots a notice looking for a medical orderly and gets the job. One of the big bonuses was a tent to himself and no longer sharing with eleven other men. He describes his day to day duties and having his eyes opened to the spread of VD. He then applies for a job looking after the canteen supplies. He didn’t have to go on any patrols but would go out to help retrieve dead bodies. Peter also describes the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) tents where he was impressed by the work being done. Peter reflects that his time serving may not have been the most exciting but it was important, valuable work that needed done.