Alex Lloyd interviews currently serving sailor, Jodi Farmer.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For this episode, Royal Australian Navy servicewoman Jodi Farmer spoke to Alex Lloyd about her experiences at sea, including border security operations and a deployment to the Middle East, and the intensity of being on a boarding party.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode is from our archive vault from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY, an interview with World War II veteran Eric Thew.
Alex Lloyd interviews Vietnam veteran Andrew Wells.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Infantryman Andrew Wells volunteered to fight in Vietnam under the national serviceman scheme. He told his story to Alex Lloyd. He is the younger brother of John Wells, interviewed earlier this season by Angus Hordern in #46 John Wells.
Alex Lloyd speaks with the Axe Keeper of Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, Tim Rayson.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is centred on UK military history, specifically about Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms. Alex Lloyd spoke with Tim Rayson, the ‘Axe Keeper’, about the history of the Guard, battles and axes, and their royal duties today.
This podcast was recorded in St James’s Palace, in London.
The music at the end of the episode is “The Nearest Guard”, especially composed by Major Philip Shannon MBE for the 500th anniversary of the Honourable Corps on 4th June 2009. This recording was performed by the Band of the Irish Guards and supplied by the Axe Keeper.
Tim returned to the podcast in the episode The Blind Man’s Victoria Cross with Tim Rayson.
Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews cavalryman and Solomon Islands veteran Oliver Andrews.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Oliver Andrews was a cavalryman with the Australian Army, first as a reservist then full time. He spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about what drew him to the armed forces, the day-to-day of being a cavalryman, some lighter moments, the experience of being deployed to a jungle environment, and how an injury changed everything.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This bonus episode is from our archive vault from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY, an interview with World War II veteran Ted Carter.
Life on the Line was featured in the June 2019 edition of RSL Victoria’s Mufti magazine.
Mentioned in the article:
Thistle Productions (Alex Lloyd, Angus Hordern, Thomas Kaye, Sharon Mascall-Dare & Rohan Viswalingam)
Panel - Returning Home, Panel - The Vietnam War, Panel - Life After Service & Panel - Australian Infantry Against the Odds
Alex Lloyd interviews modern RAAF veteran Dee Cherry.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For this episode, Royal Australian Air Force servicewoman Dee Cherry spoke to Alex Lloyd. Dee talked about her family member – a recipient of the Victoria Cross – as well as her time in uniform, and her extensive work in the veterans community.
Dee returned to the podcast in the episode released for Remembrance Day 2019, Panel - Modern Veterans.
Thomas Kaye interviews former Special Forces soldier Nick Caldwell.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Nick Caldwell reflected on his Special Forces career with Thomas Kaye, in this conversation about mindset, growth and what it takes to be a trooper at the tip of the spear.
Angus Hordern hosts a panel three significant battles where Australians overcame the odds, with David Buckwalter, Michael Kelly and Peter Slack-Smith.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's panel conversation is on three significant battles in Australian military history where our forces overcame overwhelming odds, moderated by Angus Hordern. The guests include: David Buckwalter, a Vietnam War veteran, speaks on the Battle of Wau from World War II; Michael Kelly, Australian War Memorial historian and army veteran, speaks on the Battle of Kapyong from the Korean War; and Peter Slack-Smith, a Vietnam veteran, speaks about the Battle of Long Tan, from his perspective as a Delta Company soldier in that bloody engagement.
Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Afghanistan veteran Kane Hall.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Kane Hall deployed to Afghanistan as a cavalryman. He now works as a veteran support officer. Kane shared his story of service, sacrifice and resilience with Sharon Mascall-Dare.
Alex Lloyd interviews modern RAAF officer Donna Watts-Endresz.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For this episode, Royal Australian Air Force servicewoman Donna Watts-Endrez spoke to Alex Lloyd. Donna spoke to Alex Lloyd about her experiences overseas, how military service impacts on the family back home, and her reflections on her time in uniform.
Angus Hordern speaks with David Buckwalter about his grandfather, a German veteran of World War I.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Vietnam veteran and recurring podcast guest David Buckwalter. David spoke to Angus Hordern about the Iron Cross that has been passed down in his family, and the story attached to it.
David’s previous appearances on the podcast include:
#5 David Buckwalter - David’s story of service in the Vietnam War.
The Battle of Wau with David Buckwalter - an historical bonus episode on this significant engagement in World War II.
Panel - The Vietnam War - David joins three other Vietnam War veterans in discussing the conflict and its legacy.
Alex Lloyd interviews East Timor and Solomon Islands veteran James Medley.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. James Medley has served his country in the Reserves for two decades, and in that time has had a range of deployments domestically and abroad. These include East Timor and the Solomon Islands (twice); border security operations with the Royal Australian Navy; security operations at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games; and assisting the firefighters in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
Alex Lloyd speaks with British Army veteran and author Geraint Jones.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Geraint "Gez" Jones. Gez deployed three times to the Middle East as an infantry soldier in the British Army's Royal Welsh regiment – twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. For his actions in Basra, Gez was awarded the General Officer Commanding’s Commendation. Upon leaving the military, Gez worked to protect commercial shipping against Somali and Nigerian based piracy. He now writes full-time and is a Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction books. He’s just released his memoir – “Brothers in Arms” – a recount of his time in Afghanistan. Gez spoke to Alex Lloyd about his military career, primarily on the Afghanistan deployment, his battle with PTSD and journey of post-traumatic growth.
The final photo below was taken by Tim Kolczak of The Veterans Project.
Angus Hordern interviews World War II veteran Avis Quarrell.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a veteran of the Australian Women's Army Service, of World War II. Avis Quarrell shared with Angus Hordern the story of her family's military service, and her own in World War II.
Alex Lloyd conducts the third part of his interview with 2nd Commando Regiment veteran 'H' about his journey beyond the military.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. This is the third instalment of Alex Lloyd's conversation with Wes 'H' Hennessey, a senior and highly decorated Special Forces veteran. The pair talk about the challenges H faced during his time as a commando, how he has changed as a result of his service, and his outlook to the future.
Listen to Volume I (joining the army, Somalia, 4RAR (Commando), Timor and TAG East) and Volume II (Afghanistan 2006) before you hear this episode, then in Season 4, Volume IV (Afghanistan 2008) and Volume V (Afghanistan 2010). The first three of these conversations are in Season 3, and the next two parts were recorded a year later, for Season 4.
Alex Lloyd continues his interview with Special Forces veteran 'H' about his combat experiences in Afghanistan, 2006.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is the second part of Alex Lloyd's conversation with 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Wes 'H' Hennessey. The episode centres around some of H's significant combat experiences in his first Middle East deployment, in vivid front-line storytelling.
Listen to Volume I before this episode. After listening to this episode, listen to Volume III (coming home), then in Season 4, Volume IV (Afghanistan 2008) and Volume V (Afghanistan 2010). The first three of these conversations are in Season 3, and the next two parts were recorded a year later, for Season 4.
Alex Lloyd interviews 'H', a 2nd Commando Regiment veteran who deployed seven times to the Middle East.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a former senior Special Forces soldier, thrice decorated for conspicuous service and valour. The 2nd Commando Regiment veteran known Wes 'H' Hennessey was a Warrant Officer Class One and served in the Australian Defence Force for 24 years. In the first instalment of a five-part conversation with Alex Lloyd, H described his journey to the army, training, his deployment to Somalia, the birth of the Commandos, his time in Timor, and the emergence of the Tactical Assault Group East.
After listening to this episode, listen to Volume II (Afghanistan 2006) and Volume III (coming home), then in Season 4, Volume IV (Afghanistan 2008) and Volume V (Afghanistan 2010). The first three of these conversations are in Season 3, and the next two parts were recorded a year later, for Season 4.
