Colonel Robert Stewart was born into a military family on July 7 1949. He followed his father's military footsteps and joined the British Army. After training at Sandhurst, he became an infantry officer in the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. He served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Bob's time there was difficult, including being knocked out by a brick during a riot and losing six men in the Ballykelly bombing. During his career, Bob faced many challenges, from secret missions against the IRA to leading humanitarian efforts during the Bosnian War. His time in Bosnia was marked by the horrors of mass graves and minefields. In Bosnia, he faced the challenge of a peacekeeping mission under a slow-moving UN. After the army, Bob went into politics. His time as a soldier gave him a unique view on life and politics. His interview demonstrates his strong sense of duty and how war has a lasting impact on people.

Chrystal King OBE was born in 1916. In 1938 she joined the FANYs along with her older sister Irene Buckland. Their father, Sir Henry Buckland, was the General Manager of The Crystal Palace. Chrystal stated that they were more or less “shanghaied” into joining as the Chairman’s wife was part of FANY recruitment. She said that Dad’s Army didn’t have a patch on those early days of the FANYs. Having four family cars their driving skills were soon put into action. Chrystal was immensely proud of her FANY uniform and particularly her hat strap. When the FANYs were eventually absorbed into the ATS, they wanted to keep their tradition and identity by retaining the FANY hat strap; which they did. After the war Chrystal went to Kings College London to complete her Almoners course and obtain her certificate. She then had a proud career with the John Lewis Partnership.   The publication of this previously unseen interview was made possible thanks to a grant from The Gerry Holdsworth Special Forces Charity, to mark 80 years since the closure of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in January 1946. 

Albert was initially an unwilling recruit to the Army Catering Corps wanting to join the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, but on being posted  he was on attachment to the 61st Light Regiment Royal Artillery. From the smell at disembarkment to the odd from of transport to the front, he describes the basic living conditions of an army camp and cook house and recalls fondly his Korean assistant, Jonna, who twice saved his life. He explains how he regularly served 45 men a roast dinner on the edge of no-man's land. He describes how the camp got the nickname 'Charlie Sound' and how sound was used to pinpoint enemy guns. Even in his role in the Catering Corps, Albert was still a solider. He describes an enemy attack on the camp. Having been trained as a Bren gunner, when the regular gunner is killed right next to him, Albert is forced to take over. In another incident he finds three unexploded mortuary bombs outside the cookhouse. He shares his memories of the Battle of The Hook at Samichen River, the last of four battles that took place from 1952-3. The battle was fought from 24-26th July 1953 and the armistice, ending the war, was signed on the following day, 27th July 1953. Once the ceasefire had been declared Albert stayed on for a number of months feeding the men, first at camp and later at Headquarters. Many years later he returned to Korea. In a museum he is approached by a young South Korean girl who says 'thank you for saving my country'  bringing tears to Albert's eyes.