Valentine Howard’s Journey, from the Somme’s Trenches to Egypt’s Deserts

In this episode, I’m joined by Valentine Howard, a 94-year-old veteran whose life and experiences span almost a century. Valentine’s story reaches back to World War One, as he shares memories of his father and uncle who served at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Then growing up in County Durham in the 1930s, Valentine recounts his early life, school days and the path that led him to defer his National Service in the early 1950s. His journey takes us to Egypt, where Valentine served in the challenging years following World War Two. He recalls the remote desert, including one near-miss after dark that almost caught him off guard. Alongside these experiences, Valentine reflects on moments that shaped his view of others, such as the loss of respect for a fellow soldier, who abandoned him. Finally, he shares his return to civilian life and how his time in uniform left a lasting mark on him.