Joan Nicholls left school at only fourteen and concealed her age to enlist in the ATS. After undergoing rigorous testing and training at Fenham Barracks and Trowbridge, she arrived at Beaumanor Hall in March 1942. Joan describes the design and operation of the Beaumanor Y-Station and its significance to the Ultra cryptography project. She listened to and recorded German Morse transmissions, which were relayed to Station X (Bletchley Park) for decoding. Joan followed General Erwin Rommel throughout North Africa until the pivotal battle of El-Alamein, while catching snippets of other transmissions from Nazi Concentration Camps and the aftermath of D-Day. She describes developing a familiarity and respect for the German transmitters and the cat-and-mouse games of chasing them through different frequencies. Throughout the interview, Joan emphasises the importance of keeping her role a secret, even from those closest to her. It is only decades later that the Y-Service's efforts and sacrifices are publicly acknowledged. Unfortunately, she was never able to tell her father the true nature of her work.

Gerald “Gerry” Farmer grew up in East London and briefly experienced evacuation during the Second World War before returning home. At 18 he was called up for National Service and, by December 1951, found himself conscripted to the Korean War.

In his interview, Gerry recalls the long journey to Korea with the Royal Fusiliers, his responsibilities on Hill 159, and the brutal reality of the Battle of the Hook. He tells of saving the life of a Korean soldier, being wounded by shrapnel, and the lasting memories of those who did not survive. His return to Korea in 1981 stirred powerful emotions, contrasting the devastation he remembered with the rebuilt country he saw.

Gerry also offers candid reflections on the war itself: the harsh weather, unsuitable equipment, the disparity in pay between national forces, and his doubts about why they were really fighting. Amidst these hard truths, he shares lighter moments — camaraderie with Australian soldiers, a first taste of Jack Daniels, and even an encounter with Michael Caine.

His story is one of hardship, humour, and honesty about a conflict too often forgotten.

Marjorie Inkster was inspired to become a FANY and later work on anti-aircraft radar when her parent’s house was bombed early in the war. Because she was only 19 and had insufficient driving experience, she spent a year on petrol counting, which prompted her to volunteer for radar training. After 9 months’ training, she initially worked on radar research then found herself in charge of a REME detachment of men looking after the radar for 5 gun sites in north London. She provides many interesting and inspiring recollections: dealing with an incendiary that hit her lodgings; the extent of the technical training; the competition to service the radar on a dredger because they got navy chocolate; avoiding a bomb as they drove to fix a radar; sending secret components for repair by normal post. In London, she was incentivised to ensure the Identification Friend or Foe worked correctly because her brother was a night fighter pilot. Secrecy meant their work was never discussed, including the fact that her sister spent the war at Bletchley Park.