Alex Palmer was a BBC Radio Manchester DJ who interviewed Albert Tatlock about plants on regimental badges during the Great War in 1971. During the interview, Albert - wearing his old war uniform - ignored Alex's questions entirely and talked about his experiences on the battlefield instead, and comrades he had fought with, despite Alex and Alf Roberts's attempts to keep him on topic. The interview turned into an argument between Albert and Minnie Caldwell over trivial details about people they knew decades ago, including which of Charlie Horrocks's legs was blown off and whether another man was married twice or three times. Despite this, Alex eventually got all the material he needed.