Between 1947 and the end of conscription in 1963 more than 2million men were called up to join the UK’s armed forces.
Through bilingual video interviews, Age Cymru Dyfed is recording the experiences of ex-servicemen, now in their 80s and 90s, from memories of life in the Parachute Regiment to accounts of serving on the frontline of the Korean War.
The recordings, along with photographs and documents, have now been preserved online as part of the People’s Collection Wales. Meanwhile, educational materials and engagement activities with schools are passing the veteran’s stories on to a new generation.
Neil Davies from Age Cymru Dyfed said: “The project has captured the voices of many National Service veterans living in Wales today. We’ve heard stories of sadness and sacrifice, coloured with characteristic Welsh humour.
“Without funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the support of National Lottery players, their stories would remain hidden and lost forever. The legacy of this project, which is available online for free, is immense.”
Explore the oral histories on the People’s Collection Wales website and see more projects we’ve funded that are documenting and sharing people’s memories.
