Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Lieutenant Colonel Todd Vail, currently serving in the Australian Army. Todd is formerly of the 1st Commando Regiment and was ADC to the Governor of New South Wales.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week 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 World War II and Korean War navy veteran, Doug Symes Snr. Doug shared stories of his childhood, his family's wartime service and his own experiences of life on the sea. This conversation focuses a lot on Doug's life pre-war, showcasing how this cataclysmic conflict affected the average Australian family.
Doug Symes Snr’s story continues in Life on the Sea, beginning in Ep I - Korea.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with East Timor, Solomon Islands and Middle East veteran, Mark Wales. A former member of the Special Air Service, Mark saw multiple deployments to the Middle East as an elite soldier. Alex Lloyd spoke to Mark about aspiring to become Special Forces, his experiences abroad and how his military skills have served him in life after.
In Season 4, Mark’s wife Samantha Gash was interviewed. In Season 5, Mark returned to the podcast to promote his memoir SURVIVOR: LIFE IN THE SAS. Mark returned again to the podcast in 2024 to promote his debut novel OUTRIDER.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Charlie Baker, son of Jack, a Royal Australian Air Force veteran who served with British Coastal Command in World War II.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Victor Power. With both his parents disfigured from World War I, Victor had no interest in joining the fight. He was conscripted in 1939 and found himself at the front in Belgium. Then the order to retreat came - evacuate to Dunkirk.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Vietnam veteran David Buckwalter. David spoke to Angus Hordern about an historical topic he is passionate about, the Battle of Wau from the Second World War. David has researched the topic, spoken with the veterans and trekked the battlegrounds of New Guinea.
David's conversation about his service in Vietnam was with Alex Lloyd in Season 1. Listen here.
The photograph captions have been supplied by David Buckwalter. (Not visible on all mobile devices.)
Heading along the Buisaval Track towards Skindiwai.
This shot was taken in Aulac Creek on the Black Cat Track. After crossing this creek in a westerly direction, the Japanese headed up to the ridge line and into Wau.
The hill in the distance is where the Battle of Wau took place.
This shot was taken from the Wau end of the Black Cat Track, looking up the ridge line now known as the 'Jap Track'. The left-hand end of the previous picture is what you can see in this picture.
It tried to make it to Wau, but failed. One crew member died, the rest rescued by Australians from the Buisaval Track.
The Black Cat Track follows the river on the right-hand bank.
This shot was taken on Observation Hill above Mubo. I'm holding a Japanese 75 mm mountain gun round that we found nearby.
The memorial in the centre of Wau.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Commodore Allison Norris, currently serving with the Royal Australian Navy. Allison has seen a variety of deployments, including the Arabian Gulf and the search for MH370. Our thanks go to Defence Media for organising the interview.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week 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 Phil Stevenson.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Paul de Gelder. Paul is a former Australian Army paratrooper, Navy Clearance Diver and shark attack survivor - the first shark attack victim in Sydney Harbour in over 60 years. Paul spoke to Alex Lloyd about the pursuit of a better life, resilience and the power of individual choices.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with Royal Australian Navy veteran Captain David Michael (Ret'd), who is the current President of the Naval Historical Society. David spoke with Angus Hordern about his naval career and the society he now leads.
David returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Ben Flink, a veteran of the Australian Army who deployed to the Solomon Islands. Ben spoke to Sharon Mascall-Dare about his journey to the army, his time in uniform, the effect on his family and his passion for supporting veterans and their families.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is a collection of highlights from Alex Lloyd's ANZAC Day 2018. Alex spoke to people in the crowd before and during the Sydney march, and recorded some two-up adventures.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair, career navy man and former Governor of New South Wales. Alex Lloyd spoke with Peter in his home about his incredible naval career, experiences with pirates and in the Vietnam War, and his public life after the military.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with the makers of this podcast, Thistle Productions. The original crew of Angus Hordern, Alex Lloyd, Thomas Kaye and Rohan Viswalingam reflect on their first veterans project, the documentary miniseries FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY, and how the team became so invested in telling veterans' stories.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with a former aircraft technician, military policeman and legal officer, Glenn Kolomeitz. Glenn spoke to Angus Hordern about his early life, military career and his ongoing work in the veterans community.
Glenn returned to the podcast in the special episodes Panel - Returning Home and Christmas on the Line. He was also featured in #44 Mick Bainbridge.
Glenn was also featured in the video documentary series LIFE AFTER SERVICE.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week 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 Richard Miles. Richard spoke to us about remembering the fallen, and the service of his father, Thomas Alfred Miles, in World War I.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Air Force mechanic-turned-officer Cassie Collins. Cassie joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a grease monkey, has served on overseas deployments including the Middle East Area of Operations and Sudan, and spoke about how modern servicemen and servicewomen are perceived today.
Cassie returned to the podcast in 2018’s Christmas on the Line and the episode released for Remembrance Day 2019, Panel - Modern Veterans.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Chantelle Taylor is a veteran of the British military. She’s renowned for being the first female British soldier to kill an enemy combatant in close quarters. She’s also author of the bestselling memoir, “Battleworn”. Alex Lloyd spoke with Chantelle about her life in uniform.
Chantelle returned to the podcast in Christmas on the Line.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II veteran Doug Gilling. Doug saw action in the Battle of the Atlantic, including his ship being sunk at the Dieppe Raid.
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Every week 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 spoke to Alex Lloyd about the enduring resonances of Gallipoli and Kokoda to Australians, going beyond the Anzac legends.
Dr Karl James spoke with Thomas Kaye in Season 1, about Australia's Special Forces.
