Our stories

Rifleman Stephen was 19 when he was wounded by a mortar bomb whilst serving in Basra in 2007. He received brain injuries which left him severely disabled. Stephen’s disability means that he uses a wheelchair and communicates via a tablet.

Stephen now lives at Royal Star & Garter, where he finds the care “Excellent”. He is sociable and enjoys sharing the activities on offer in the Home with his fellow veterans. His courage is striking: he perseveres with regular Physiotherapy at the Home which helps him to maintain his strength and wellbeing and to control pain. Staff work with Stephen and his family to help him live as independently as possible and to lead a full and interesting life.

In 1942, at the age of 17, Amy was given permission to join the WAAF. She trained as a barrage balloon operator. These were huge explosive balloons that forced enemy bombers to fly at higher altitude, making them less accurate when bombs were dropped, and forcing them into range of anti-aircraft guns.

Amy then went to work as a plotter. She was there during the Normandy D-Day landings and later on as Allied countries continued to gain the ascendancy over the enemy.

Amy was demobbed in 1945, shortly after WWII finished. By then she was already married to Ted, who she had met during the war.

Michael was born in Liverpool in 1929, and in his memoirs, recalled German air raids on the city during WWII. He joined the Army in 1952 as a regular serviceman, rather than on National Service, as it paid better. He demobbed in 1982, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

During his Army career, Michael was stationed around the world, including Christmas Island, where hydrogen bombs had recently been tested. In his memoirs, Michael recalled: “I was never present at a nuclear explosion. However, I have stood where they had been exploded. The earth at ground zero was ash, blackened and in many places had turned into something like glass and clinker, like the interior of an old burnt-out coke stove.” He later spoke of his relief that no more tests were carried out there, and, in 2024, received the Nuclear Test Medal.

Michael is now living with dementia, and moved to Royal Star & Garter in 2022. Daughter Sarah said: “I know that he is happy at Royal Star & Garter - he says to me that he’s in a good place and that’s very reassuring for me.”

Fresh out of university, 24-year-old Mathematics graduate Hilda couldn’t ignore the calling of the Armed Forces when she saw a Women’s Royal Naval Service advert asking for people with her skillset to enroll.

Hilda signed-up in 1950, and was trained in meteorology before going to Royal Naval Air Stations. She spent much of her time in Scotland, and worked with pilots before they flew on missions or training. She said: “We knew the route they were taking so we’d check the weather and then give them a forecast… it was an interesting job.”

After leaving the Armed Forces, Hilda worked as a mathematician at the British Gas Research Station, helping solve complex sums and equations long before computers could assist.

Hilda got to know of Royal Star & Garter through regular visits to see her sister, who was a resident. When the time came for her to find a care home, there was only one option for Hilda. She said: “I moved to Royal Star & Garter because I knew that I was going to be lovingly cared for and looked after for the rest of my life.”