Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran David Leafe. David joined the army for a scholarship to study dentistry, and found himself in the heart of Vietnam’s jungle.
David returned to the podcast in the bonus episode My Teacher, My Hero with Rex Ward and the 2018 special episode Panel - The Vietnam War.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode is with John Moore. John was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army Reserves, an ABC commentator for the Sydney Anzac Day Parade, and was the emcee of Sydney’s Martin Place Dawn Service for twelve years, the fourth man in all its history to hold that position.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with two veterans of the War on Terror, Sarah Turner and Michael Wright. Sarah and Michael served together aboard HMAS Kanimbla. They shared how battle scars travel across generations, stories of their time at sea, and the difficulties of life after service when one is trained for war - but not for peace.
Michael returned to the podcast in the special 2018 episode Panel - Returning Home.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode is with Elizabeth Smith of the Lancer Band. They’re the Regimental Band of the Royal New South Wales Lancers and are the oldest military band in Australia. Alex Lloyd spoke with Liz and some other members of the band at the Lancer Barracks in Parramatta, at one of their weekly rehearsals.
Barney Greatrex - from Bomber Command to the French Resistance - the stirring story of an Australian hero. BARNEY GREATREX is the biography of World War II veteran Barney Greatrex. Written by Michael Veitch, based on the research by Alex Lloyd and Angus Hordern. This book was inspired by the documentary miniseries FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY by Thistle Productions, the makers of this podcast. We collaborated with publisher Hachette and bestselling author Michael Veitch to produce this awesome account of Barney’s life.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Tom Hughes. Tom is a veteran of the Royal Australian Air Force, a former Australian politician and an incredibly prominent barrister. He’s the brother of the late Robert Hughes, acclaimed author and critic, and the father of three children, including Lucy Turnbull – our Prime Minister’s better half. Alex Lloyd spoke with Tom on his farm about his military service, and his father’s experiences in World War I.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode is with a man who is tracking down homeless Australian war veterans and putting a roof over their heads. Jay Devereux is the founder and CEO of Veterans 360 Australia, a charity that locates and provides ongoing support for homeless veterans throughout the country.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Ivan Ingham, formerly of the Royal Navy and currently serving with the Royal Australian Navy. This is the story of a modern Navy serviceman. Our thanks go to Defence Media for organising the interview.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode is not with a war veteran, but a veteran of writing about them. Michael Veitch is a well-known author, actor, comedian and former ABC TV and radio presenter. His publishing bibliography includes an impressive list of books about Australian pilots who fought in World War II. Among others, he’s the author of FLAK, FLY, HEROES OF THE SKIES, 44 DAYS and out now is his new book BARNEY GREATREX.
Michael returned to the podcast in Season 3 to discuss his 2019 book, TURNING POINT, in Battle for Milne Bay with Michael Veitch.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran David Buckwalter. David served in Vietnam in 1966-1967 and was a signaller in the 6th Royal Australian Regiment.
David Buckwalter has made several return appearances on Life on the Line, including:
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Dr Karl James, senior historian at the Australian War Memorial. Dr Karl has an exhibit coming up on the history of Australia’s Special Forces - SAS and Commandos - and spoke to us about the history of our nation’s elite soldiers.
Dr Karl James spoke again with Life on the Line about the ANZAC legend, Gallipoli and Kokoda.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is from our archive vault, an interview with World War II veteran John Hore-Lacy. This archive interview was taken from the documentary miniseries FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Garth Callender. Garth was the first serious Australian casualty of Iraq when his vehicle was hit by an IED – but that didn’t stop him from going back to the Middle East in uniform, twice.
Garth returned to the podcast in the special 2018 episode Panel - Returning Home.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. For our first ever bonus episode, Alex Lloyd spoke with Karlie Brand, who was the Deputy CEO of Soldier On Australia at the time of recording, and currently a volunteer company secretary.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This conversation is with East Timor and Afghanistan veteran, Sharon Bown, formerly of the Royal Australian Air Force, a registered nurse, and now an author and member of the Australian War Memorial Council. In the words of Mark Donaldson VC, "Sharon’s story is one that is rarely heard. One of compassion, commitment and courage."
Sharon returned to the podcast in the special 2018 episode Panel - Life After Service.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran Sandy MacGregor. Sandy was the first anti-communist soldier – out of all the Australian, American and other troops in Vietnam – to explore the underground tunnels used extensively by the Viet Cong.
Sandy returned to the podcast in the episode Panel - The Vietnam War.
This is the trailer for Life on the Line - the podcast that tracks down Australian war veterans, has a conversation with them and records their stories.
