Unseen Stories podcast
Unseen Stories is Blind Veteran UK’s podcast about personal experiences of military life and sight loss.
We speak to veterans about their time in service, how they lost their vision and adjusted to life as a blind person, and what it means to them to be part of our charity.
Our podcast features fascinating interviews and clips from our extensive archives, as well candid and often heart-wrenching conversations with our current veterans.
Blind Veterans UK was founded in 1915 as the Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Care Committee, to help veterans who lost their sight in the First World War.
Known for most of our history as St Dunstan’s, after the name of our first headquarters in Regent’s Park, Central London, we changed our name to Blind Veterans UK in 2012 to better explain who we are and what we do.
Today, we continue to offer practical and emotional support to thousands of veterans, regardless of how or when they lost their sight.
You can listen to their compelling stories below. Now available on Spotify.
I am delighted to support Blind Veterans UK’s podcast Unseen Stories, which brings to light the personal journeys of those the charity has helped over its long history of rebuilding lives after sight loss.
Author
Episodes
Episode 12: Remembering Afghanistan
As we mark the 10th anniversary of the end of Operation Herrick, we speak to former frontline soldier, Rob.
Episode 11: Remembrance 2024 - Honouring their legacy
In this special podcast, four blind veterans share their experiences of service and what Remembrance means to them.
Episode 10: The battle of Monte Cassino
As WWII veteran Matt Mackinnon-Pattison turns 100, he looks back on his fascinating wartime experiences in Italy.
Episode 9: D-Day 80, in their own words
Four Normandy veterans share their extraordinary accounts of D-Day in our special 80th anniversary podcast.
Episode 8: Alec Penstone
A Remembrance 2023 Special three-part interview with WWII veteran, Alec Penstone, who served on the Arctic convoys.
Episode 7: John McOwan
John, who wrote his war-time memoir at age 101, shares his stories from his time served in the Second World War.
Episode 6: Elizabeth Diacon
Elizabeth tells us about her wartime experiences, her time working at Bletchley Park and her life after the war.
Episode 5: Ron Cross
Ron opens up about his time serving during the D-Day landings and remembers those who were lost in the war.
Episode 4: Jim Hooper
Jim gives an account of his time in the Second World War and talks about battling sight loss.
Episode 3: Billy Baxter
Billy tells of the devastation of losing his sight, and working for Blind Veterans UK at our Llandudno Centre.
Episode 2: Fred Bentley
Fred talks about his wartime experiences, his career after service, his late wife and his time with our charity.
Episode 1: Barbara Bell
Barbara speaks to us about her early life, her time in the war and how she lost her sight.
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