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. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day and to talk about this very special day of reflection and commemoration, Alex Lloyd spoke with a very special guest. The Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson has a long and distinguished career in public service. Just to name a few prominent positions, Dr Nelson was the Federal President of the Australian Medical Association before serving as the Federal Member for Bradfield from 1996 to 2009, where one of his portfolios in the Howard government was Minister for Defence. After a key ambassadorial role, Dr Nelson was appointed as Director of the Australian War Memorial in 2012.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Andrew Robertson, covering Andrew’s experiences in Vietnam, a near-death flight in London, and the career of a senior navy officer.
Click here to listen to Volume I, before you hear this episode.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II, Korea and Vietnam veteran Andrew Robertson. This is the first of a two-part episode.
Click here to listen to Volume II, after you've heard this episode.
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 Arthur Pardey.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Eddie Robertson. A former member of the 2nd Commando regiment, Eddie saw multiple deployments to the Middle East as an elite soldier. Alex Lloyd spoke to Eddie about his combat operations, the life of a Commando and about his good friend, the late Cameron Baird VC, MG.
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 focuses on Rex Ward, Vietnam veteran, who was Angus Hordern’s history teacher at school.
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. Today's conversation is with Guy Griffiths, veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Guy retired from the Royal Australian Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral.
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.
