I shared an office (this was in 2005) with a certain old and bold avuncular Supply Sqn Ldr who used to tell tales of his time in Aden and other parts of the Empire we gave up long ago. It wasn't until we dined him out of the RAF that he told us he had been on route lining duty for Churchill's funeral.
If you join at 15 and leave aged 60 it is evident that you see some notable events!