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...