Rob struck us a man who was made for the military. His passion, bravery and enthusiasm for the fight is almost contagious and no doubt why he's become a successful author on survival in the battle zone.

Howard talks about his training. It was a case of muddling through, keeping your head down and doing your best. The starting point for friendships that have lasted Howard a life time.

Colin used to love watching the trooping of the colour but had assumed a life on the docks was his lot. That all changed when he went to an Army careers  office for some information, one week later he was walking through the Guards depot in London.

Despite wanting to go to war Joe was unable to join up because he was working in a job considered essential to the war effort. Other examples of reserved occupations included coal mining, ship building, and many engineering-related trades.

In this film we learn about Ian's early training onboard a Sherman Flail tank. As this was a new discipline for his Squadron all ideas were considered and some innovative suggestions are now commonplace on many vehicles. **Flailing is the process of clearing mines by deliberately detonating them in front of a tank with rotating chains.

Bob became an army man because his eyes weren't sharp enough for the RAF. Fortunately his mind more than made up for his visual short comings. A brutally honest interview with a man who has seen more than his fare share of violence.

John Howard had already experienced 7 years of front line fighting during WWII when he was conscripted again in 1950. He is sent to Korea and must endure trench warfare, freezing temperatures and a Chinese army with seemingly little respect for life.

Peter joined the army as a boy soldier. He was super fit and super keen and in his own words he was considered 'a bit of a freak'.  In the 1980's he was in the thick of the action fighting the Irish Republican Army. 

Sidney is a real character and despite his age still holds some very vivid memories of his time in the Signals including his call up...

Animals were commonly used by Airborne Forces during WWII. These included 'Para Dogs' trained to parachute alongside the troops. They were called upon to undertake guard, mine-detecting and patrol duties after landing. Their acute senses provided an 'early-warning system` which provided much comfort and protection, as well as saving many lives.

In this film Rex talks about conscription. As a young man from Suffolk he was looking forward to adventure. He got more than his fair share when he was shipped to Hong Kong.

The blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by the German Luftwaffe. It started on the 7th of September and finished on May the 10th the following year. London received the lions share and was bombed for 76 consecutive nights damaging a million homes. More than 40,000 civilians were killed.

Rusty started out in the Junior Leaders. Renowned as one of the toughest course in the Cadet Forces, it requires over a hundred hours of planning and a high degree of physical fitness. Sport plays a key part in the activities of every squadron, something that stayed with Rusty throughout his career.

In this film we learn about some of Teds 'Sapper Waterman' training before he heads to Norway. A place where he really didn't expect to come out alive. 

Geoff is your classic half glass full Yorkshire man who despite intense experiences on Europe's front line, then as a POW in a Stalag camp leaves you with an impression that war isn't that bad. In this film he talks about why he joined the army.

Bryan talks in detail about his call up and desire to join the Paras. The training might be tough now but it really did sound worse back in his day.

George is blase about mine clearing with a bayonet and how he escaped death on numerous occasions.

The Birmingham Blitz was the heavy bombing of the city by the  German Luftwaffe.  From the 9 August 1940 to the 23 April, a colossal 2,000 tons of bombs were dropped causing severe damage to many important facilities.  The Aerodrome Factory that produced half of all the Spitfire Aircraft during the War, was bombed.   

Alan joined the Army cadet force at the end of the second world war so when he was conscripted he was a fully trained infantry man. It wasn't necessarily an advantage he might have hoped for.

Kriss is a great talker and this is the start of an engaging interview with a man who is as passionate about his career in the army as he is for the success he found on running track. He joined the army as a Signaller and relished the opportunity to work in the forefront of communications as a data telephonist.  

Despite a father who was in the army, General Sir Mike's decision to join the was his own decision. Like many before and after, he went to Sandhurst which he credits as being the making of him. Speaking languages was the launch pad into intelligence.

Douglas is a lovely old boy who has obviously experienced hardship that not many of us can comprehend. Called up in 1939 he joined the Royal Engineers as a 'search light instructor'. In 1941 he was shipped to Singapore and we pick up his story just weeks after his arrival. 

There are many poems dedicated to soldiers and their sacrifices. We think this is one of the best. 

John is a lovely old boy. At 96 his memory is astounding. That he also survived a direct hit by a magnetic mine below decks is frankly incredible.

Superstition has it that a baby born 'with the caul' will be a lucky person that can not be drowned. Whether it's true or not doesn't matter to Austin Byrne although he was born with a caul and he did survive 4 days adrift in the Barents sea when the SS Induna was torpedoed. It's one of many fascinating anecdotes that Austin gives about his life on-board the ill feted ship.

Peter's father wanted him to join the Guards but he opted for the Royal Marines instead. It was a decision that would take him into battle with the Bismarck, bring him side by side with Winston Churchill and then send him to the infamous 'death railway' as a POW.

After his father was seriously wounded by shrapnel in the Battle of the Somme, Alec decided he wouldn't follow his footsteps into the army. After joining the Royal Navy he was offered radar or ASDICs (sonar) training; he chose ASDICS because the pay was better.

When war looked inevitable The Military Training Act became law in April 1939.   It required all men of 20 years to embark on six months of military training. In October conscription was brought in and this applied to all fit men between the age of 20 and 23 who were not essential to the war effort back home.

Ted was living in East London when war was declared. On the Monday morning he was one of the first in the queue at Whitehall but things didn't go quite according to plan. 

Alan William John West was born in East London on the 21st of April 1948. He was educated at the Windsor Grammar School and then went onto the Britannia Royal Naval College in 1965. This was the start of a career that took him to 14 different ships and three commands.

Harry was born in Devon and spent most of his teenage years working in greenhouses. At the outbreak of war this was considered a reserve occupation so despite his best efforts he could only join the Navy in 1943.  Following training in Letchworth and Troon he passes as a 'wireman' and is posted to a tank landing craft in readiness for the D Day landings.

The HMS Hood (crew size 1,200+) was the last Battle-cruiser of its class to be built and was involved in a number of flag-waving exercises between 1920 and the outbreak of war in 1939. Her sinking in May 1941 had a profound effect on Winston Churchill who in retaliation ordered the sinking of the German Battleship the Bismarck. Two days later the Navy fulfilled this mission.

Buster ends up on a specially adapted landing craft with a flat top which was bristled with anti-aircraft guns- Landing Craft Flak. He shares experiences on-board including some humorous moments during D Day, being shelled at sea and then surviving the Walcheren landings. A real character with an enviable memory.

George joined the Navy because he dreamed of travelling the world with a girl on every port.  George did a lot of traveling but didn't get ashore much! What he did get in the Navy was a grandstand view of one of the most significant battles in the second world war, the sinking of the Bismarck.

Alec started the war running convoys in the merchant Navy. Because he was Fleet trained as a Signaller, he was soon ordered to the Royal Navy.  A few months later he's onboard the HMS Javelin leaving drowning troops in the water.

Wearing the Green beret is reward for one of the most intensive training regimes in the armed services in the world. 52 young men started the training programme with Graeme. 32 weeks later only 14 of them joined the regiment.

It's funny how the little things stick in the mind. Rob recalls one of the troops onboard being called Bright Eyes who having suffered with sea sickness for the entire trip suddenly changed as he faced the enemy.  

Despite having no seafarers in her family, Catherine never had any second thoughts about joining. On her 1st day of training,  she and the rest of the young women were forced to shelter during a bombing raid. On returning to base her feelings were endorsed when she was offered a cup of tea, "a wonderful example of the way the Navy actually looks after it's people".

In this film we are introduced to Brian as a young man who has decided he wants to be part of the war effort. He then talks about his flight training and the terrifying experience of being attacked by Stuka's on his way to Africa. 

Jimmy decided to join the RAF because he wanted some control over his destiny. This fighting spirit would save his life when his Spitfire blows up over Holland and he's forced to spend days on the run in occupied territory.

During WWII, RAF's Bomber Command suffered the highest number of casualties of any British Unit.An almost unimaginable 55,000 air crew were killed during the course of the war.

After completing his training Patrick joined Coastal Command, the RAF's premier maritime arm. 502 Sqn flew in converted Armstrong Whitleys. They were known as "flying coffins" and on his third flight his plane was forced to ditch in the Atlantic. The Captain managed to fly the plane towards the coast and they were very lucky to survive.

Stamper gives a brilliant account of his life as a Bomb Aimer in 101 Squadron, Bomber Command. It's a great insight into the character of the men who flew and his discussion about death is very matter of fact, 'it was always the other chap, you'd go mad if you thought about it too much.'

Betty joined the the British Balloon Command which was established to protect cities and key targets. The balloons forced bombers to climb higher which mean’t they were less accurate and were also easier to attack with anti aircraft guns. By the middle of 1940 there were 1,400 balloons over the UK. Almost 500 over London alone. Betty worked in London and Manchester.

Tom's started flight training in the Gipsy Moth. Built in the 1920's this two-seater biplane constructed of wood with fabric covered surfaces and folding wings allowed owners to hangar the aircraft in much smaller spaces. At the outbreak of war these planes were outdated and used mainly for pilot training, liaison and recreational purposes. 

The RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was formed in July 1936 to provide a reserve aircrew in the event of war. By September 1939 it consisted of thousands of trained pilots, observers and wireless operators and was the principal means of entry to serve in the RAF.

On his third bombing mission Len's Lancaster was caught in a search cone and he was shot down over France. That he survived the drop was almost a miracle but once on the ground he was also lucky to be found by the French resistance rather than the German Reich. 

In this film he gives us a little background on his early career. He started out in WWII as an engine fitter working on Spitfires and Hurricanes at RAF Ringway - now better known as Manchester Airport.

In this film Lyle talks about his early interest in aircraft and gets into detail about his training. He started his career just 26 miles from home aged 17. A year later he was living in the Far East.

in January 1939 when Bob realised that war was inevitable he signed up to the RAFVR. In September he joined the thousands of other reservist pilots who had made the same decision. It was the start of an incredible career that would see Bob in the thick of the action over the Channel before taking him across the equator to fight the Japanese off the coast of Australia.

In September 1939 Germany and Russia invaded Poland. Hitler ordered his armies to kill without pity or mercy, all men, women, and children of Polish descent or language. Over the course of the war almost 6 million Polish people would be killed.

From 1 January 1949, healthy males 17 to 21 years old were expected to serve in the Armed Forces for 18 months, and remain on the reserve list for four years. After the Korean War, the service period was extended to four years.

John flew 31 missions. An incredible number considering the survival rates were so stacked against a crew. A staggering 55,000 men were lost and 8325 bombers never returned from their missions.

A fantastic interview with a woman who was very much in the thick of aviation development during World War Two. Frances is a wonderfully modest Scot who is absolutely as sharp as a tack. Her recollection of life as a female in the RAF during WWII is as absorbing as the work she was involved in.