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A veteran interview with

Sylvia Adams

Sylvia worked in the Royal Military Police and became one of the first women to ride in the mounted troop.

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About Sylvia Adams

Sylvia joined the WRAC in 1974 in hopes of working with animals and also learning to drive. After completing her initial training at Guildford, she began her specialised training with the police after performing well in her aptitude test.

Unlike some other veterans, Sylvia remembers feeling she had a choice regarding her trade and as a result thoroughly enjoyed her experience with the military police. Belonging to squad 7405, she recalls the complex physical and mental training she had to complete in order to become a ranked military police officer. Although never weapon trained, she was taught how to engage in unarmed combat and endured NBC training procedures.

In this interview Sylvia provides an insight into the feelings of WRAC women existing under the shadow of IRA threats. Discussing the Guildford bombing of 1974, she recalls the constant fear that hung over those serving in the army in their shared realisation that everyone was a target. She also describes her desires to push against the restrictions on female horse riding, and was eventually posted to Aldershot as the first female rider to join the military police mounted troop.

Sylvia’s interview provides an interesting and powerful account of one of the many ambitious women who served under the WRAC, and showcases the importance of documenting these women as army veterans.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Evie Painter
Transcribed by:
Kate Foxton, Kate Newbery

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

If you would like a version of the transcript that has been transcribed manually by Kate Foxton, Kate Newbery, please complete this form or email info@legasee.org.uk.

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Home | Veterans | Sylvia Adams

A veteran interview with

Sylvia Adams

Sylvia-Adams-

Sylvia worked in the Royal Military Police and became one of the first women to ride in the mounted troop.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Adams, Sylvia. A Veteran Interview with Sylvia Adams. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 12 Mar. 2024 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sylvia-adams/. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
APA Style:
Adams, S. (2024, March 12). A Veteran Interview with Sylvia Adams [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sylvia-adams/
Chicago Style:
Adams, Sylvia. 2024. A Veteran Interview with Sylvia Adams. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, March 12. Accessed March 6, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sylvia-adams/
Harvard Style:
Adams, S. (2024). A Veteran Interview with Sylvia Adams. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 12 March. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sylvia-adams/ (Accessed: 6 March 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Adams, S. A Veteran Interview with Sylvia Adams [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2024 Mar 12 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sylvia-adams/
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Photo Gallery icon 1 Photo
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