General Talk is a regular podcast from the Army Benevolent Fund featuring interviews with guests from the British Army, past and present. The podcasts give an expert insight into the military's ever-changing role in the modern world and how we, as the Army’s national charity, promote the welfare of our soldiers, veterans and their families
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In this special podcast series for Remembrance Day from the Army Benevolent Fund, Harry Bucknall and guests spotlight incredible tales of gallantry during the two World Wars. The grit and heroism of the British Army and Commonwealth soldiers, and extraordinary moments of courage and self-sacrifice will be forever remembered.
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July’s edition of General Talk is the second of two episodes looking at the Army Apprenticeship Programme.By General Talk
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Harry Bucknall, the host of our General Talk podcast, visits Marchwood Port, Southampton and learns about the unique maritime nature of the privates’ roles as trainee Port Operators and the transferable skills, and civilian qualifications they are gaining as apprentices.By General Talk
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35: Episode 35: Lt Gen Tom Copinger-Symes
29:51
29:51
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Host Harry Bucknall talks to Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes CBE, Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command.By General Talk
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34: Episode 34: Coldstream Guards Sarajevo 1994
33:08
33:08
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In this edition of our General Talk podcast, host Harry Bucknall and guests remember the Band of the Coldstream Guards playing for peace in Sarajevo 30 years ago.By General Talk
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Daz Keelor, former soldier and Cornwall veterans’ welfare campaigner, looks back on his Army career, his love of rugby and the RAOC’s amalgamation into the Royal Logistic Corps in the early 1990s.By General Talk
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Harry Bucknall talks to Anthony Loyd, The Times’ senior foreign correspondent, about reporting wars and conflicts.By General Talk
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In this Christmas edition of our General Talk podcast, host Harry Bucknall talks to the Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, about life in politics.By General Talk
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Host Harry Bucknall and his expert guests tell three incredible stories of courage during the World War Two Italian campaign, which began 80 years ago in 1943.By Army Benevolent Fund
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Army veteran and award-winning fundraising campaigner, Mark Harding, talks about his work for military charities and overcoming a serious injury sustained in Afghanistan.By General Talk
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In this episode, Harry Bucknall talks to Lee Harris-Hamer, Royal Artillery veteran, about life after the Army as an award-winning businessman.By General Talk
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In a fascinating conversation, Lord Dannatt talks about British Army resource cuts, political and defence issues, veterans’ welfare and his new book. “Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-40”.By General Talk
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Army Sergeant Major WO1 Paul Carney talks about his pivotal role at British Army Headquarters.By General Talk
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26: Episode 26: King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery
30:13
30:13
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Harry talks to King’s Troop Commanding Officer, Major Francesca Sykes, who shares her proudest moments so far as CO during many recent historic occasions, including the 2022 Platinum Jubilee when the Troop’s horses displayed such “immaculate behaviour” in a crowd of three hundred thousand cheering spectators around Hyde Park.…
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Best-selling author Joshua Levine talks about the unsung heroes of the Special Air Service (SAS) during World War Two.By General Talk
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Our Chief Executive, Tim Hyams, talks about the challenges facing the Army’s national charity and the changing nature of the British Army.By General Talk
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23: Episode 23: WO1 (GSM) Andrew ‘Vern’ Stokes
27:16
27:16
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GSM Stokes talks about masterminding the ceremonial arrangements for HM Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral and his impressive Army career in the Coldstream Guards.By General Talk
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22: Episode 22: General Sir Patrick Sanders
31:59
31:59
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Host Harry Bucknall talks to General Sir Patrick Sanders, KCB, CBE, DSO, Chief of the General Staff, British Army.By General Talk
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In this episode, Mark Smith and host Harry Bucknall tell the incredible story of Captain William Leefe Robinson VC – an aerial tale of David and Goliath played out in the night-lit skies above London.By Army Benevolent Fund
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Alastair shares vivid personal memories of working with Queen Elizabeth II and his expert insights into the monarchy and the Armed Forces’ close links with the Royal Family.By General Talk
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In our new podcast for General Talk, we celebrate the Edinburgh Festival’s 75th Anniversary this year. Our host Harry Bucknall talks to the British Army in Scotland’s theatre and entertainment company Army At The Fringe.By General Talk
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SOE veteran Joyce Wilding shares her memories of World War Two.By General Talk
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Speaking in our new podcast episode for General Talk, our host Harry Bucknall speaks to the charity Waterloo Uncovered, which we fund, about how battlefield archaeology promotes veterans’ mental health and wellbeing.By General Talk
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Speaking in our new podcast episode for General Talk, hosted by Harry Bucknall, BBC Sports presenter Gabby Logan talks to broadcaster Simon McCoy about her impressive career as one the country’s leading sports presenters.By General Talk
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This episode of General Talk features Corie Mapp, former Lance Corporal, Afghan veteran and Britain’s first Para Bobsleigh European Champion. Corie talks about his Army career, the challenges he faced after becoming a double amputee and how sport helped him overcome his life changing injuriesBy General Talk
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15: Episode 15: WO1 (AcSM) Colin Kirkwood
36:22
36:22
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WO1 (AcSM) Colin Kirkwood talks about being selected for the prestigious position of Academy Sergeant Major at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), having joined the Army as a junior soldier aged 16.By General Talk
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Adam Holloway, Conservative MP for Gravesham, talks about UK Policy on Afghanistan, Parliament’s work on defence issues, and Global Britain.By General Talk
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In this special Remembrance Day podcast, Mark Smith and Harry Bucknall spotlight incredible tales of gallantry that deserved the highest recognition possible. From the selfless sacrifice of NHS staff during the pandemic, to the grit and heroism of the people of Malta during World War Two – gallantry and extraordinary moments of self-sacrifice are l…
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General Sir Michael Rose shares his recollections of commanding the SAS during the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege and his thoughts on the Army’s twenty years in Afghanistan in a new episode of our General Talk podcast series.By General Talk
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12: Episode 12: Chief of the General Staff Sir Mark Carleton-Smith
40:28
40:28
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By General Talk
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War artist and one of England’s leading portrait painters, Nick Bashall, reflects on his time working with the British Army in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan in a new episode of General Talk.By General Talk
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This wide-ranging interview covers Clare Balding's experiences during her presenting career; the strong link between the Armed Forces and sport; how animals can bring strong mental health benefits; and women and their beliefs on ambition. Clare Balding’s interview was originally recorded for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity’s virtual event, Friday Night I…
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9: Episode 9: Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence People and Veterans
28:47
28:47
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Podcast host Harry Bucknall talks to Johnny Mercer, minister for defence people and veterans. The wide-ranging interview covers the rights of Commonwealth veterans to residency after they’ve served; the ‘egregious’ experiences of servicemen and women at the hands of the Historic Investigations Unit; and the ‘huge resistance’ to talking about suicid…
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8: Episode 8: BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson
23:21
23:21
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The BBC’s world affairs editor, John Simpson, speaks to Simon McCoy about his wide-ranging experiences at key events in history in a new episode of General Talk.By General Talk
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7: Episode 7: General The Lord Richards, former Chief of the Defence Staff
32:27
32:27
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By General Talk
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6: Episode 6: Charity President General Sir James Everard
23:04
23:04
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23:04
General Sir James Everard has taken over the presidency of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity from General Sir Mike Jackson, having recently retired from an impressive full career in the British Army. General James carried out operational service in Cyprus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Iraq and Belgium; and his final appointment was as the Deputy Supreme All…
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5: Episode 5: Women in the Army with the Welsh Guards
23:29
23:29
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Women have had active roles in the British Army since 1902 when the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps was founded. However, it wasn’t until 1992 that women were given opportunities and careers in the wider Army; and it was 2016 before the ban on women serving on the front line was lifted. With this has come some major positive changes for …
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4: Episode 4: General Sir Barney White-Spunner, Britain’s commanding officer in southern Iraq
41:59
41:59
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General Sir Barney White-Spunner is this month’s guest on our monthly podcast: General Talk. General White-Spunner talks freely to podcast host, Harry Bucknall, about his time as Britain’s commanding officer in southern Iraq; and the difficulties faced by the Army being engaged in two major operations, Iraq and Afghanistan, at the same time. Genera…
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3: Episode 3: Army Sergeant Major, WO1 Gavin Paton
19:29
19:29
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Hear our Army Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 1 Gavin Paton, discuss his role as ASM, being proud of the British Army during the pandemic, recruitment and our vital women in the army.By General Talk
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2: Episode 2: Chief of Staff, Robin Bacon
32:33
32:33
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Robin delves into his own career in the Army and talks about the last ten years working for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity alongside where he sees himself going amidst the news of his retirement. He also explores the shape of the military charity sector amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and outlines the steps our charity is taking to ensure the Army family …
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Our first episode kicks off with former Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson. Tune in to hear him talk Kosovo, James Blunt, comradeship and gardening.By General Talk
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