This country is at war with Germany.

We shall go on to the end.

I remember the sheets of flame which came up and almost blinded us from our guns. In this episode of the World War II Podcast,

we'll explore.

In this episode of the World War II podcast we'll explore the Royal Navy from

1918 to the end of the Second World War and won Man's Korea. Not an officer, but a regular sailor Herbert Leader who chalked up

27 years of service. Following the career of one sailor is an interesting way

to view the role Navy. It gives us a slightly potted history, but Herbert

did take part in a number of major actions during the Second World War, and it really brings

home how one man can be a witness to many great events.

I'm Angus Wallison joining me today is James Carter, after working as a volunteer researcher

for a local history project during the centenary of the First World War,

James was inspired to seek out the history of his own great-grandfather

when his mother handed him a four-page summary of Herbert Leader's

career. The outcome of that research is Hearts of Steel which tracks Herbert's

career and the Royal Navy in which he served.

Jim, thanks for joining me. Let's start with Herbert.

He enlisted in the Royal Navy age 18. In 1918 I did wonder how he'd

managed to avoid being conscripted into the army during the First World War.

Who was Herbert? Was there a naval tradition in the family? No, there didn't seem to be. No, there

didn't certainly seem to be. Although the lady that he married, her father, he was

in the Navy and he became a Coast Guard.

...