Episode 5: Ron Cross
![A photo of Ron Cross a blind veteran](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/ttrfuzej/artboard-5.jpg?width=1920&height=610¢er=0.507445350954843,0.38260745938193214&mode=crop)
About Ron
Ron served with the Royal Engineers during the Second World War and was one of the first soldiers to land on the beaches in the D-Day landings. In this interview Ron talks about preparing for D-Day, the experience of taking part in it and reflects on those who were lost in the war.
Ron joined Blind Veterans UK in 2013 having lost his sight as a result of age-related macular degeneration.
This interview was conducted in 2019 by our friends at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for their Voices of Liberation: Preserving our memories of the Second World War podcast and is included in Unseen Stories with their permission. Sadly, he died in 2020.
![Blind veteran Ron in his living room, smiling as he holds a phone](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/opopvj2d/21797_member-ron-cross-_-case-worker-kirsty-lane_17_05_2019.jpg?width=735&height=415¢er=0.46996240300775938,0.53932663743103693&mode=crop)
![Blind veteran Ron wearing his military badges and laughing with care worker Kirsty](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/msuacfh3/member-ron-cross-case-worker-kirsty-lane-33.jpg?width=735&height=415&anchor=center&mode=crop)
![Blind veteran Ron pointing at his framed medals on the wall in his home](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/qhnbeq4m/ron-cross1.jpg?width=735&height=415&anchor=center&mode=crop)
Episodes
Unseen Stories podcast
Unseen Stories is our podcast about personal experiences of the military, loss of sight and adjustment to life.
![Four blind veterans accompanied by two nurses going for a walk at Church Stretton during World War II](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/wcibfh1g/3063_out-for-a-stroll_13_06_2014-10_43_46.jpg?width=432&height=286&anchor=center&mode=crop)
Episode 1: Barbara Bell
Barbara speaks to us about her early life, her time in the war and how she lost her sight.
![An archive photograph of a young blind veteran Barbara sitting on an armchair and sewing](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/ob5jvn2d/artboard-1.jpg?width=432&height=286¢er=0.46923180050945168,0.57584834060393641&mode=crop)
Episode 2: Fred Bentley
Fred talks about his wartime experiences, his career after service, his late wife and his time with our charity.
![Blind veteran Fred, left, wearing a poppy at a Remembrance event](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/2lncjfkj/fred-bentleyhero-image.png?width=432&height=286¢er=0.4999555027748761,0.25830263776859969&mode=crop)
Episode 3: Billy Baxter
Billy tells of the devastation of losing his sight, and working for Blind Veterans UK at our Llandudno Centre.
![A close-up of blind veteran Billy, looking across the room](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/s0ibxlmr/artboard-3.jpg?width=432&height=286¢er=0.4915761719622827,0.41635077863809794&mode=crop)
Episode 4: Jim Hooper
Jim gives an account of his time in the Second World War and talks about battling sight loss.
![A close-up of blind veteran Jim, wearing a maroon beret with a suit and tie](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/2b2l31dw/artboard-4.jpg?width=432&height=286¢er=0.485990079099075,0.579991134421231&mode=crop)
Episode 6: Elizabeth Diacon
Elizabeth tells us about her wartime experiences, her time working at Bletchley Park and her life after the war.
![Blind veteran Elizabeth smiling](https://bvuk-prod-hya9ascgaygsathh.z01.azurefd.net:443/media/sytjakjz/elizabeth-diacon.jpg?width=432&height=286¢er=0.49687297821867588,0.47156899054331647&mode=crop)