Now 100-years old, Maurice’s WWII service began manning anti-aircraft guns in London with the Home Guard, before joining the Royal Signals.

Sent for parachute training, he broke his arm and missed his unit’s deployment to Europe. Instead, he threw himself into jungle training in the Norfolk fens, preparing to join the war in the east. While en route, the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan and the war was over.

We also talked about his post-war service in Kenya, Egypt and Libya; his career as a journalist and NUJ activist; and, at 66, filming a documentary in Mali with Bruno Sorrentino.

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Interviewed at her care home in Westcliff-on-Sea, Doris tells us about coming of age as WWII began, meeting husband Harry during the Blitz, her ATS service, and working for trade unions after the war.

Like so many, especially women, who served on the homefront, she never claimed the medals to which she was entitled. So Dan put that right, at the end of the interview, presenting Doris with an original Defence and War Medal pair. As well as an Armed Forces Veteran's Badge.

Thank you for your service Pte Rose D W184031! (Yes, of course she remembers her service number).

AJEX would like to thank Doris's son John, and Ben Conway at the Jewish Chronicle, for helping to facilitate this episode.

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It was a privilege to be welcomed into the home of 104-year old Mark Gerson, and to be joined by his daughter Jane.

Mark served as an RAF radio operator and mechanic in WWII, flying in support of the British Liberation Army as it freed France, the Low Lands, and on into Germany. For him, all the way to the gates of Buchenwald.

Mark tells Dan about growing up amid the rise of antisemitism in the twenties and thirties, his eagerness to join the war effort at 19, serving from 1941, his accolade-full career as a photographer after demobilisation.

Mark passed on 14 April 2026, one month after we recorded this episode. The second series of For Honour's Sake is dedicated to his memory, may it continue to be as a blessing.

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This week, Dan and Jonny hopped over to Belfast to interview Sue Warner (and husband Julian). There’s not many people whose military career spanned both the Falklands War and Afghanistan but Sue served as a Royal Navy nurse in the first and in the same trade as a Reservist in the second. With an NHS career overlapping, too.

We talked about leaving home at 16, the particular challenges of nursing on a hospital ship in a broiling sea, teaching her captain and crew to waltz, returning to service in Helmand, and her personal and professional experience of mental health treatment. She also swam at both the Invictus and Warrior Games for Team UK.

In 2022, she went to Argentina as part of the reconciliation ceremonies on the Falklands 40th anniversary, receiving a Rose of Peace sculpted from scrap recovered during the war.

This is a unique episode featuring one of the few women to have served in The Falklands War.

More details on R.A.I.N, mentioned by Sue, can be found here: https://www.tarabrach.com/meditation-practice-rain/

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Born in 1927, Ken Smith was an evacuee who just missed the end of WWII but served for four years in the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars, in Italy and Germany, as the allies began rebuilding Europe and staking out the Cold War.

We discussed his military career, his childhood in Notting Hill, his evacuation in Wiltshire, and his experiences in the film industry, which included mixing with many movie stars.

After the film industry, Ken became a successful businessman and has been a long support of AJEX.

Our host, Dan Fox, once again builds a special bond with our guest in this touching discussion across the generations.

Huge thanks to Ken's son Adam for his support and help in making this episode happen.

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Ruth Brook Klauber, born in Frankfurt in 1924, was just nine years-old when her family fled to Britain following Hitler’s rise to power. Now aged 101, she speaks with us on 'For Honour's Sake' where we also had the honour of presenting her with her UK War Medal and the UK Defence Medal in recognition of her service with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during the Second World War.

Ruth's decision to enlist came in 1941. She rejected role's as a cook or batwoman, and opted to train as a flight mechanic.

With our host, Dan Fox, she relives her family's flight from Germany, her integration into British society as a teenager, and her eventual wartime service - as well as what she did after the war. An episode and discussion we will cherish.

We also give one of our younger AJEX members, Chloe, an opportunity to ask some questions as the end! Do not miss out on that.

Huge thanks to Ruth's daughter Sue for her support and help making this episode happen.

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AJEX National Chair Dan Fox is joined by Henny Franks at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre.

Henny was born Henriette Grünbaum in Cologne in 1927. Aged 15, she escaped to London on the Kindertransport with her 12 year old sister. Her father was to die in Sobibor but her mother went into hiding in Italy, Switzerland and Belgium.

By 1942, Henny was Pte Greenbaum of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, driving trucks and working in munitions.

They talked about her childhood, her ATS service, and her life after the war, including reuniting with her mother in Brussels. At the end of the episode, we also presented her with a reproduction of Abram Games’s famous ATS recruitment poster.

In 2023, Dan presented Henny her medals from the war, which she never claimed at the time, on the occasion of her 100th birthday: the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-45 - together with her HM Armed Forces Veteran Badge, which she now proudly wears.

In this 80th year of commemorating VE and VJ Day, this episode is especially poignant. Thank you Henny and Jewish Care for making this special interview happen.

Check out our socials below for more content related to this episode.

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AJEX National Chair Dan Fox is joined by Royal Engineers veteran Jamie Cooper-Morris and his wife Amba (with a guest appearance from Cooper-Morris Junior!) at their home in Kent. They talk about Jamie's extensive operational army career, and his second calling in the Ambulance Service, a career introduced to him by Amba. They met through the Kent Army Cadet Force, in which they both serve as Adult Instructors.

We also discuss the effect of their careers on Jamie’s and Amba's mental health (with recounting that some listeners might find upsetting) and their experience of veterans' mental health pathway Op Courage. You can access more information about it here:

Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists - NHS

This is a story of the British Army in its busiest decades, as well as a family dedicated to public service. Jamie and Amba also talk about the discovery of his Jewish background, the establishment of his (and Amba's) Jewish identity, and how this is a key part of their family and community life.

Check out our socials below for more content related to this episode.

For more information on AJEX: https://www.ajex.org.uk/

To donate: https://www.ajex.org.uk/donate

Our social media accounts can be found here:

Instagram: @ajex_jma
Facebook: ajexheadoffice
YouTube: ajex_jma
For more information on AJEX: https://www.ajex.org.uk/

For more information on AJEX: https://www.ajex.org.uk/

To donate: https://www.ajex.org.uk/donate

Our social media accounts can be found here:

• Instagram: @ajex_jma
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