Ian Davies was born in Hong Kong in 1971 whilst his father was serving there with the Army. He spent his childhood up to the age of 15 living in Hong Kong, Brunei, Germany and the South of England and moved back to Pontlliw in 1987 when his father retired from the Army. After a short stint on the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) and in college, Ian joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in February 1990, initially to train as a Vehicle Electrician but switched to a clerical trade before going to his first unit in Germany in 1991. Ian served 15 years in Germany in Hameln (Hamlyn), Heidelberg, Bergen-Hohne, Bad Fallingbostel, Osnabruck and Gutersloh. Additionally, he served in Belgium and across a variety of units in England and Scotland, including an Air Despatch Squadron, Scottish and Welsh Cavalry Regiments, three different Engineer units, a Lynx/Wildcat Helicopter unit and several NATO and national headquarters. During this time, he deployed on operations to Kosovo and Iraq. Ian served as a solder for 20 years, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer Class One before commissioning in 2010 as a Captain. He served a further 6 years before having to retire on medical grounds owing to a long-term illness that began whilst on tour in Iraq. Ian now lives in the North of Scotland with his wife Micky and two dogs. He has one son, Liam, who is married and training to be a doctor. Ian is also a keen guitarist, painter and poet in his spare time, when energy allows. Dates of Interview: 19th November 2020 - 5th January 2021