Voices of Service, Courage and Remembrance

Military history is ultimately the story of people. The War Diary explores those stories one day at a time.

Across more than a thousand years of conflict, the book brings together battles, campaigns and defining moments with the individual stories of those who served. Generals and political leaders appear alongside ordinary soldiers, sailors and airmen, Victoria Cross recipients and others whose actions became part of the wider military story.

From medieval battlefields to the world wars and more recent conflicts, each date provides a glimpse into the events that shaped their time. Some are famous turning points; others are smaller, less familiar stories of courage, sacrifice, leadership and endurance that might otherwise be overlooked.

That emphasis on the people behind military history closely reflects the purpose of Veterans Voices UK: to record, preserve and share the experiences of those who served. The circumstances may change from one generation to another, but behind every campaign are individuals whose experiences help us understand what service and conflict actually meant.

Accessible and designed to be dipped into, The War Diary can be opened at today’s date, followed through the year or explored at random. Each entry stands alone, while together they create a broader picture of military history and offer countless starting points for discovering the stories behind the events.

For readers of military history and listeners to Veterans Voices UK, it is above all a book about remembering – the events themselves, but also the people who experienced them.

Ten Men, Ten Stories, One Regiment

For the first time, the stories of all ten men of the Lincolnshire Regiment awarded the Victoria Cross are brought together in one volume. Valour – The Victoria Cross & The Lincolnshire Regiment shines a light on acts of extraordinary courage, from the earliest days of the Victoria Cross and The Indian Mutiny, through the mud, trenches and horror of The Great War, to the battlefields of World War Two.

These are not tales of myth or legend but true stories of men who stood firm when it mattered most. The book includes a foreword by Lord Ashcroft, custodian of the world’s largest collection of Victoria Crosses, who places these stories as The Bravest of The Brave.

Each story stands as a testament to the strength of character, duty and quiet bravery that defined the regiment. Drawing on wide research, including battlefield visits and conversations with families and local experts, Valour – The Victoria Cross & The Lincolnshire Regiment offers a rare insight into the men behind the medals.

More than a history book, Valour – The Victoria Cross & The Lincolnshire Regiment is part of the wider Veterans Voices UK mission; to ensure that stories of service and sacrifice are not forgotten, but shared, remembered and honoured.

One Generation, Countless Stories, Unwavering Service

No one knows how many World War Two veterans are alive today. They are a generation that has witnessed profound change; many spoke of fathers and uncles who had served in the Great War of 1914–1918, yet scarcely a generation later, they themselves were called to fight in another.

It was never possible to meet all the surviving veterans, but the veterans I had the privilege to meet – and whose stories are captured in this book – reflect the true character of a generation born a century ago. Their voices tell of duty, resilience and quiet courage.

The men and women in We Will Remember – World War Two Veterans served across the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force and the ATS. They joined after the outbreak of war, determined to do their part for their country in what Winston Churchill called Our Darkest Hour. Between them, they saw service in North Africa, Italy, D-Day and the Rhine Crossing, leading to VE Day. Others witnessed the concentration camps of Europe and the remote islands of the Far East after VJ Day.

But this is not a collection of war stories. It is a record of remarkable people who led remarkable lives. None considered themselves heroes, nor believed they did anything extraordinary; they simply did what was expected of them.