Having experienced the loss of his parents at a young age, Dennis explains how this tragedy was in fact the making of him and led him to joining the national service with the support of his extended family. In 1952 Dennis Dymond joined the Royal Fusiliers at the Tower of London, and recalls how he thoroughly enjoyed his time there. When Dennis first joined the Royal Fusiliers he was not aware that he would be sent to Korea, and a year later he embarked on his journey to the far East. Remembering the war, Dennis reveals he could never fire a rifle but enjoyed working with a mortar when in battle. He humorously discloses that his only fears during the war were explosives, mines and worst of all, snakes. In reflecting on Korea, Dennis discusses the brutality of warfare and, although he hadn't been on the front line, the awful conditions and violence enveloped in the Korean war. His lasting memories are of watching small children fleeing from war-torn towns and the refugees who begged for rations among the soldiers. Dennis's interview provides an insightful and emotional account of his early life, time spent in Korea and his ever-lasting memories of battle.

Geoff Holland offers an insightful picture of his service in the British Royal Artillery during the Korean War. At the age of eighteen he was already working in trade as an apprentice joiner in Manchester which delayed his enlistment into National Service until 1950 on his 21st birthday. Following his army training at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, he was sent to Hong Kong to continue in preparation for Korea. Unfortunately, it was during this period when he received a letter from his fiancée, saying they were breaking up. Soon after, the regiment sailed to Pusan aboard the Empire Orwell (an ex-German liner). Upon arrival, he recalls many unpleasantries on his way to camp. From the scent of human excrement in the paddy fields (putting him off rice) to a turbulent trip on a rattle train with repulsive conditions. His main duties in Korea consisted of carrying ammunition and operating 4-inch mortars which were used to assist the infantry in their push against the Chinese and North Koreans. As a soldier who received limited information, Geoff remained oblivious to certain things such as the exact location of the British infantry despite needing to know the position and range of a mortar before firing. The regiment was fighting in the Battle of the Hook but at the time, Geoff was unaware regarding the significance of his location. He recalls the foulness of his living conditions; no showers or sanitation, facing swarms of rats in the winter followed by the threat of disease by mosquitos in the summer and the constant banging of artillery above. However, he managed to show practicality by improving the warmth of his bed, using newspapers received from his mother for insulation. Many figures stood out in his memory from Korean troops who helped with carrying ammunition and cleaning clothes to a young Scotsman who struggled mentally after his girlfriend had left him. Despite the adversity he faced, Geoff enjoyed his time in Korea despite speaking little of it and though he received no welcome ceremony upon his return to England, in the years that followed he remembers meeting former infantry men from the war who thanked soldiers like him graciously for their support. Geoff's interview discloses the substantial contributions of those serving in the Royal Artillery who lived in the dark while supporting the infantry and reveals the tragedy of personal relationships that befell those who were sent far away to serve in the Korean War.

Kevin recounts his journey into the Royal Medical Corps of the Army, which led him to serve aboard HMS Sir Galahad during the Falklands War. Kevin is from Middlesbrough and had always dreamed of joining the Navy, after going to art college he ended up joining the Army and trained as a medic in 1977. As a combat medical assistant, he was told that he was a soldier first and a medic second, which required rigorous training. Kevin gained valuable experience treating casualties during two tours in Northern Ireland before being deployed to the Falklands. While aboard HMS Sir Galahad, Kevin faced constant threats from Argentinian bombers, his bravery enabled him to treat many injured soldiers, including saving the life of a Section Corporal. When the ship was hit Kevin became the last surviving medic onboard, escaping with a group of soldiers to Fitzroy Bay, where they watched the ship burn. Kevin continued to care for the wounded on the hospital ship, SS Uganda before returning home to a celebratory welcome from John Nott, the Secretary of State for Defence. In 1990, Kevin’s career took him to Saudi Arabia, where he served as a guard and ration storeman. Kevin discusses his memories of these experiences and his PTSD diagnosis.