Veterans Voices UK

Born in North Wales and given little chance in life from the very beginning, Paul Roberts grew up facing serious challenges, struggling at school and finding himself on the margins. In this episode of Veterans Voices UK, he reflects on those early years and the moment he chose a different path, one that would take him into the British Army and a distinguished career with the Welsh Guards, includin...

Chris Finney GC joins Matt Limb to reflect on an extraordinary life shaped by service, courage and purpose. From a happy childhood in Dorset, a love of sport, time in the Army cadets and an early determination to join the Army, Chris traces his journey through Harrogate and Bovington into the Household Cavalry, before deployment to Iraq in 2003 at just eighteen years of age. In a rare and deeply p...

I sat with Pete Cook for this interview just weeks after his 100th birthday, reflecting on a life that has spanned a century of change. Growing up on the family farm in Bedfordshire, he left home as a young man to join the Royal Navy during the Second World War, a decision that would take him far beyond the fields he knew. In this episode, Pete shares his memories of VE Day, the surrender of Germa...

Chris Randall grew up in a family where military service spanned generations. His father served with the Royal Green Jackets, while both his grandfather and great-grandfather served in the World Wars. Continuing that legacy, Chris first joined the Royal Air Force Regiment as a gunner before being commissioned into the Army, as his service took him to Northern Ireland, Germany, Cyprus, the Falkland...

In this episode, we hear the story of Roger Stevens, whose life began in Cornwall and was shaped by a family tradition of military service stretching back to the First World War. In the 1950s, he continued that legacy when he joined the Royal Air Force as a fireman during his National Service, serving in Northern Ireland before The Troubles and later in the Indian Ocean, England and Germany. While...

In this episode, podcast host and author Matt Limb shares the story behind his book Valour – The Victoria Cross & The Lincolnshire Regiment. Written alongside the Veterans Voices UK podcast, the book brings together the stories of ten men from one regiment who earned the Victoria Cross. From an unexpected discovery that sparked the idea, to a chance meeting in an Italian war cemetery, a moment...

Peter Franklin has lived his entire life in County Durham, shaped by both the coalfield traditions of his family and a proud record of service. His father served with the Territorial Force before 1914 and went on to be wounded in the Great War, while his brother suffered a broken back as a miner underground. Against that backdrop, Peter began his own path, serving his national service with the Hus...

At 100 years old, Arthur Walker looks back on a century shaped by war, resilience and quiet service. In this moving episode of Veterans Voices UK , Arthur shares his remarkable journey, from witnessing the London Blitz and his childhood evacuation. To earning a place in the RAF and serving in the Caribbean with Coastal Command. His reflections reveal not only a life shaped by conflict, but one def...

On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we pause to honour the men and women whose courage and sacrifice brought about the end of the war in Europe. Through personal stories of remarkable veterans, we explore the significance of VE Day, the emotions surrounding the victory and the challenges that continued even after the celebrations finished. By sharing the accounts of those who lived through it, this...

In this episode, we sit down with John Waller, a 92-year-old veteran of the Korean War whose incredible journey began on a busy family farm in County Durham. Conscripted for National Service, John made the decision to enlist as a regular soldier, trading farm life for military service. John shares his memories of Berlin, where he played football in the Olympic Stadium, before being posted to Korea...

In this episode, we feature Ian Bailey MM, a Falklands War Veteran and former Parachute Regiment section commander. Growing up in North Wales, Ian followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, a fellow Military Medal recipient from World War One. At just 22 years old, Ian led his section in the Battle for Mount Longdon, one of the most intense and decisive engagements of the war. Shot in the thigh...

In this episode, we share the extraordinary story of Jazz, a military working dog handler from Cornwall whose lifelong love of working dogs inspired her to take on a unique and critical role in the army. Deployed to Afghanistan, Jazz and her canine partners operated on the front lines, searching vehicles detecting improvised explosive devices and safeguarding their unit in one of the most perilous...

In this episode of Veterans Voices UK, we revisit one of the most extraordinary moments of the First World War, the Christmas Truce of 1914. When amid the bitter cold, the mud-filled trenches and the horrors of war, soldiers from opposing sides laid down their weapons to share an unexpected and fleeting moment of peace. This episode brings that remarkable story to life through the words of those w...

In this episode, I’m joined by Valentine Howard, a 94-year-old veteran whose life and experiences span almost a century. Valentine’s story reaches back to World War One, as he shares memories of his father and uncle who served at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Then growing up in County Durham in the 1930s, Valentine recounts his early life, school days and the path that led him to defer his Nati...

Join us as we delve into the remarkable journey of Steve Bonde, a Yorkshire lad whose path led from the northern hills to the corridors of the Foreign Office, only to be called back for National Service at the height of the 1960s Cold War. With a gift for languages and a drive to serve, Steve’s life took him from London’s vibrant streets to pivotal diplomatic posts behind the Iron Curtain and acro...

We are privileged to share an interview with Arthur Perkins, recorded just weeks before his 100th birthday.  It was part of the research for Matt Limb's book, We Will Remember - World War Two Veterans, and despite his age, Arthur was kind enough to share his time. In this episode, we explore Arthur’s early life in his hometown of Nottingham, including the story he heard as a young boy from his unc...

In this special introductory episode, creator & host Matt Limb introduces you to Veterans Voices UK, a podcast dedicated to capturing the personal stories of British military veterans across generations. From the battlefields of World War Two to more recent conflicts, we explore not only their experiences in conflict but also the unique lives behind the service — their challenges, triumphs, an...