The Blind Man's Victoria Cross with Tim Rayson

Alex Lloyd discovers the stories of four Victoria Cross recipients in the British Army, speaking 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 four British Victoria Cross recipients. All four are also former members of Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms. Alex Lloyd spoke with Tim Rayson, the ‘Axe Keeper’, about the incredible stories of Ernest Towse VC, Harry Schofield VC, John Campbell VC and David Jamieson VC.

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 Rayson last appeared on the podcast talking about the history of Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.

#72 Craig Cook

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Craig Cook.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Craig Cook has served in the Australian Army for 34 years, as a member of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. He has deployed to Somalia, Afghanistan and three times to Iraq - twice with US forces, who have recognised his achievements with a Meritorious Service Medal and a Bronze Star. Today he’s the Regimental Sergeant Major at 9th Brigade in Adelaide. Craig shared with Sharon Mascall-Dare stories of high intensity combat, having a bounty on his head and the effects of the military life on his family.

#71 Bob Semple

Alex Lloyd interviews World War II veteran Bob Semple.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Bob Semple served in an artillery gun crew in World War II. He fought in Tobruk, El Alamein, Lae, Finschhafen, Tarakan and Labuan, against all three Axis powers. The Rat of Tobruk shared his memories of the war with Alex Lloyd.

Remembering John Hordern with Angus Hordern

Alex Lloyd speaks with Angus Hordern about his late father, John Hordern, a World War II veteran.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Angus Hordern, who shares with his Thistle Productions colleague Alex Lloyd some memories of his late father, John Hordern. John served in the Royal Australian Navy in World War II, including the largest naval action in history.

#70 David Evans

Thomas Kaye interviews Berlin Airlift and Vietnam War veteran, Air Marshall David Evans.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. David Evans served in the Royal Australian Air Force for 42 years, retiring as the Chief in 1985. He just missed out on action in World War II, but had a variety of deployments, including operational service in the Berlin Airlift and the Vietnam War.

A Captain's Cancer Battles with Hugo Toovey

Alex Lloyd speaks with currently serving Australian Army Captain Hugo Toovey.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with Hugo Toovey, who is currently a Captain in the Australian Army. Hugo has endured two battles with cancer while in his twenties and serving his country in uniform. In this conversation with Alex Lloyd, Hugo describes the military career he dreamed of having, how testicular cancer then bowel cancer changed that, and the work he’s doing today to encourage the younger demographic to be in tune with their bodies, as it just might save a life. Hugo is the co-host of the 25StayAlive podcast.

#69 Dr Ajitha Sugnanam

Alex Lloyd interviews modern RAAF dentist Dr Ajitha Sugnanam.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For this episode, Royal Australian Air Force officer Dr Sugnanam spoke to Alex Lloyd. Ajitha spoke about her passion to help people, how she combined a career in dentistry with a military one, her volunteer work, and her time overseas.

#68 Harry Moffitt

Alex Lloyd interviews former Special Forces team commander Harry Moffitt.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Harry Moffitt is a former team commander in the Special Air Service Regiment. He passed selection in 1990 and finally left in 2015, when he decided his body, family and future would best be served by moving on - 25 years after he initially joined the Regiment. Harry has extensive operational experience, including deployments to Timor and the Middle East. He spoke to Alex Lloyd about the psychology of being an elite soldier, leadership in high-tempo deployments and how best to equip yourself for life after service.

Read more about Harry’s service and the cricket bats he took to war in this Sydney Morning Herald article by Nick McKenzie.

The closing music of the episode is by The Externals, an Australian SAS original rock band. Harry is the band’s singer-songwriter. The track is called “Edge of the World”. Look up the band on Facebook and Spotify, and find out more on the 16th episode of The Unforgiving60 Podcast.

Harry returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line Vol II and for another solo interview in Season 4. He published his memoir Eleven Bats in 2020.

Battle of Long Tan with Peter Slack-Smith and David Buckwalter

Angus Hordern hosts a conversation between Peter Slack-Smith and David Buckwalter about the Battle of Long Tan.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. After meeting in the podcast 'Panel - Australian Infantry Against the Odds', Peter Slack-Smith - a veteran of Delta Company 6RAR and survivor of the Battle of Long Tan - wished to thank David Buckwalter - a Vietnam veteran of Alpha Company 6RAR - for the role other A Company soldiers played in the bloody battle.

#67 Ian Knox

Angus Hordern interviews former Vice Chief of Defence Force and Vietnam veteran Ian Knox.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vice Admiral Ian Knox. Ian spoke to Angus Hordern about a few highlights from his career, from Vietnam to captaining HMAS Melbourne to his time as Vice Chief of Defence Force.

Battle for Milne Bay with Michael Veitch

Alex Lloyd speaks with author Michael Veitch about the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's bonus episode is with author, actor and presenter Michael Veitch, widely published on the subject of Australian airmen's experiences in World War II. His ninth book, TURNING POINT, is about the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942. Michael spoke about the book and this fascinating, relatively untold piece of history with Alex Lloyd.

Michael has appeared on the podcast before to discuss his writing career, love of history and his seventh book, BARNEY GREATREX, which was worked on by Alex Lloyd and Angus Hordern. You can find out more about this book here and also listen to Season 1 podcasts on the topic:

--Australian Airmen's Untold Stories with Michael Veitch

--Barney Greatrex - Out Now

--Launching Barney Greatrex with Michael Veitch

--Retracing the Resistance with Charlie Mort

--RIP Barney Greatrex

The last image in the above slide is of Alex Lloyd at the Yushukan in Tokyo, Japan, in January 2017. This is discussed in the podcast.

#66 James O'Hanlon

Sharon Mascall-Dare interviews Rwanda, East Timor and Afghanistan veteran James O’Hanlon.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. James O’Hanlon served in the Australian Army for 23 years full time, and is currently in the Army Reserve. He joined as a regular soldier before transitioning to being an officer. Sharon Mascall-Dare spoke to James about his six operational deployments, leadership and encounters with the Taliban.

#65 Adrian Talbot

Angus Hordern interviews Australian veteran of the British Royal Marine Commandos, Adrian Talbot.

Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with an Afghanistan veteran, Adrian Talbot. Adrian is an Australian who, while living overseas, found himself signing up to serve in the British Royal Marine Commandos. Adrian shared with Angus Hordern his memories of his Afghanistan deployment, his difficult journey leaving the forces and the work he's doing back in Australia to support fellow veterans. Adrian was interviewed on the podcast last year, in a bonus episode about the Invictus Games.

The Menin Gate

Podcast host Alex Lloyd spent a week in Belgium travelling across sites of the Western Front from World War I, such as Hill 60 and Caterpillar Crater, and visiting many cemeteries, including Tyne Cot and Langemark.

A highlight was laying a wreath at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. The evening remembrance ceremony at Ypres has been conducted daily since 1927, with the exception of the occupation by Nazi Germany in World War II. Alex had witnessed the ceremony in 2008 and was honoured to participate on this occasion. His words are below:

"“On Monday 15 July, my friend Marie Claire and I laid a wreath during the daily evening ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, in remembrance of all Australians and New Zealanders who put their lives on the line. 

It was particularly poignant to participate in this service on the anniversary of the passing of my grandfather, a British veteran. 

Lest We Forget.”

#64 Jodi Farmer

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.

Archive Interview - Eric Thew

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.

#63 Andrew Wells

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.

Her Majesty's Body Guard with Tim Rayson

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.

#62 Oliver Andrews

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.

Archive Interview - Ted Carter

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.