Life on the Line

Alex Lloyd speaks with David Sutton, historian at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today's bonus episode is with historian David Sutton. David works at the Australian War Memorial and his area of expertise is on conflicting Soviet and Nazi accounts of the Eastern Front in World War II.

Alex Lloyd interviews peacekeeping and Afghanistan veteran Elizabeth Matthews. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with WO1 Elizabeth Matthews, who is currently serving in the Australian Army. We spoke to Elizabeth about her service in peacekeeping operations, her deployment to Afghanistan and life in the modern military. Our thanks go to Defence Media for organising the interview.

Alex Lloyd speaks with World War II veteran Norton Duckmanton at the Reserve Forces Day Parade. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. For today’s bonus episode of Life on the Line, Alex Lloyd spoke with Norton Duckmanton, a World War II veteran. Alex met Norton at the Reserve Forces Day Parade held at Sydney’s Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park. This is the they had chat while they waited for the parade to start.

Alex also covered the Reserve Forces Day Parade in 2018, the final such parade.

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam veteran Ron Aitken. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran Ron Aitken. Ron flew 261 operational bombing missions over Vietnam.

Ron returned to the podcast in the episode Panel - The Vietnam War.

Alex Lloyd speaks with Dr Brendan Nelson, Director at the Australian War Memorial. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day and to talk about this very special day of reflection and commemoration, Alex Lloyd spoke with a very special guest. The Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson has a long and distinguished career in public service. Just to name a few prominent positions, Dr Nelson was the Federal President of the Australian Medical Association before serving as the Federal Member for Bradfield from 1996 to 2009, where one of his portfolios in the Howard government was Minister for Defence. After a key ambassadorial role, Dr Nelson was appointed as Director of the Australian War Memorial in 2012.

Angus Hordern continues his interview with Rear Admiral Andrew Robertson AO, DSC. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's episode is the second instalment of the conversation with Andrew Robertson, covering Andrew’s experiences in Vietnam, a near-death flight in London, and the career of a senior navy officer.

Click here to listen to Volume I, before you hear this episode.

Angus Hordern interviews World War II, Korea and Vietnam veteran Andrew Robertson. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with World War II, Korea and Vietnam veteran Andrew Robertson. This is the first of a two-part episode.

Click here to listen to Volume II, after you've heard this episode.

Excerpts from FOR SCHOOL AND COUNTRY interview with World War II veteran Arthur Pardey. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks 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 Arthur Pardey.

Alex Lloyd interviews Afghanistan and Iraq veteran, formerly of the 2nd Commando Regiment, Eddie Robertson. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Eddie Robertson. A former member of the 2nd Commando regiment, Eddie saw multiple deployments to the Middle East as an elite soldier. Alex Lloyd spoke to Eddie about his combat operations, the life of a Commando and about his good friend, the late Cameron Baird VC, MG.

Interviews with Angus Hordern, David Leafe and Rex Ward about Rex's service in the Vietnam War. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode focuses on Rex Ward, Vietnam veteran, who was Angus Hordern’s history teacher at school.

And don't miss David Leafe's individual story of service in his conversation with Angus Hordern.

Angus Hordern interviews Vietnam veteran David Leafe. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with Vietnam veteran David Leafe. David joined the army for a scholarship to study dentistry, and found himself in the heart of Vietnam’s jungle.

David returned to the podcast in the bonus episode My Teacher, My Hero with Rex Ward and the 2018 special episode Panel - The Vietnam War.

Alex Lloyd speaks with John Moore, former emcee of the Sydney Martin Place ANZAC Day Dawn Service. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Most weeks we also have a bonus episode, where we speak to historians, authors and others in the veterans community. Today’s bonus episode is with John Moore. John was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army Reserves, an ABC commentator for the Sydney Anzac Day Parade, and was the emcee of Sydney’s Martin Place Dawn Service for twelve years, the fourth man in all its history to hold that position. 

Angus interviews War on Terror veterans Sarah Turner and Michael Wright. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Today's conversation is with two veterans of the War on Terror, Sarah Turner and Michael Wright. Sarah and Michael served together aboard HMAS Kanimbla. They shared how battle scars travel across generations, stories of their time at sea, and the difficulties of life after service when one is trained for war - but not for peace.

Michael Wright returned to the podcast in the special episode Panel - Returning Home.