Stephen Jackson offers a powerful and emotional account of his time with the Northumberland Fusiliers during the Aden Emergency. Joining the army straight out of school at 15, Stephen quickly found himself posted to Germany as a company clerk, where his early days were marked by camaraderie, tough men, and even a memorable ski trip. However, everything changed when he was deployed to Aden in 1966. The scorching heat hit him first, followed by the tense atmosphere as he arrived at camp in a guarded truck. As a company clerk, his duties were largely administrative, but when out in the field, the situation could be terrifying. Stationed in the volatile Crater district, the role of the Fusiliers was to try and keep the peace between the NLF and FLOSY using foot patrols and roadblocks. One of his most harrowing memories is of the day the local police mutinied, resulting in the loss of several close comrades. After Aden, Stephen was posted to Belfast during the Troubles, completing four tours before finishing his service in Gibraltar. Reflecting on his experiences, he shares how the trauma from Aden has stayed with him, leading to PTSD. Despite the hardships, Stephen’s story is one of courage and resilience.

Davies joined the Territorial Army as a teenager just before the Second World War and became a regular soon after, obtaining an officer’s commission in 1941 and joining the Commandos, following his older brother. Davies took part in the allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942 and landed by beach behind German lines in Tunisia to assist in a planned allied attack of the town of Bizerte. The Commandos came under intense fire, suffering casualties, including his own troop commander who was fatally shot. Davies eventually lead his own section back to allied lines where they joined the successful allied push against the Germans. Soon after Davies returned to England for training before being sent to the Far East. In January 1945, Davies, now with 5 Commando landed on the Myebon Peninsula in Burma and took part in the taking of Hill 170 at Kangaw, a desperate battle that lasted 36 hours and which led to the withdrawal of the Japanese Army from the Arakan. Whilst planning for the invasion of Malaya, the war ended and Davies then went to Hong Kong and Shanghai, where he assisted in repatriating British men and women interned by the Japanese. Davies was demobbed in May 1946.

Michael White grew up in wartime England, facing rationing and Nazi air raids. At 18, Michael signed up for National Service and trained as a driver for the Royal Artillery. In August 1951, he travelled on the Empire Fowey for his first deployment in the Far East. After reaching Japan, he was sent to Kowloon, Hong Kong, where he learnt about the brutal fighting in Korea. Soon after, he was chosen for duty in Korea. Before leaving, he trained with mortars and became a Technical Assistant Royal Artillery (TARA). Michael recalls how he used 4.2 mortars against the enemy and his experience of napalm. Soldiers experienced very rough conditions, dealing with lice and long periods without washing. During rest and recuperation in Incheon and Hiroshima, Michael experienced Asian culture and much-needed relaxation. He fondly remembers flying over Mount Fuji and notes that many soldiers took photos beside signposts showing how far away home was. Michael has since returned to Korea, witnessing its amazing transformation. For his service, the Koreans awarded him a medal and invited him to visit a memorial in Pusan, honouring those who died.