蜜芽传媒

I was just 18 when Neville Chamberlain returned from Germany with the Peace message in September 1938 and I had started on my first job. It was with the 蜜芽传媒 in the Variety Department in London at the St George`s Hall, next to the Queens Hall. War clouds however were gathering and civilians were being urged to join voluntary National Service organisations.

As my elder brother was training to be a Pilot at Cranwell he encouraged me to join an organisation called the 8th City of London ATS (RAF). Living in London, I went for an interview with the Commandant at Finsbury Barracks who persuaded me to be a cook. At that moment in time I could not even imagine a War, so I agreed and signed up.
鈥淭his Company, 鈥� she continued ,鈥渋s affiliated to the 600 City of London RAF Auxiliary Squadron who have their training base at Hendon. I suggest that you go out there on Sundays on a voluntary basis, to get experience in their Canteen. Also on Friday evenings we will be holding Meetings in the Hut on the grounds here of the HAC (Honourable Artillery Company) to learn more about the RAF as well as marching, saluting etc.鈥�

At the beginning of May 1939, the ATS (RAF) selected me to go for a week`s training course at Chelsea Barracks at the Duke of York`s Headquarters, and with the 蜜芽传媒`s permission, I was to report there each day to attend lectures and the inevitable drill parades. A bristling Guards Sergeant Major was in charge. I was the only one from my Company, we were from all walks of life, many of them were 鈥淒ebs鈥� wearing pearl necklaces, bracelets and ear-rings. I well recall that first day as we set about marching. 鈥淲hen I call attention鈥� the Sergeant-major screamed, 鈥淚 don`t mean shuffle shuffle, clink, clink, giggle, giggle. Please ladies to-morrow no jewellery and no high heels鈥�.

Despite the tragic news that my brother had been killed in an aircraft accident, I continued the course. We had been told at the Course that plans were afoot to form an RAF organisation but so far nothing had been announced. One day I was asked by my Commandant to be one of four models for the proposed new Uniform. Two would be for officers and two for the other ranks. I was to be a Corporal. So on a number of evenings after work, we were inspected by members of the Air Council and other officials at various locations. Comments were fired in all directions: 鈥漷he skirt is too long, I don`t like the hat, will the material stand up to constant wear? etc鈥�. Quick decisions had to be made for the uniforms to be approved by King George, to be ready for the National Service Rally to be held in Hyde Park on 2nd July 1939. The Women`s Auxilliary Air Force was formed by Royal Warrant on the 28th June 1939.

With eight others and one Officer from our Company I was chosen to attend the Parade.
I was given Corporal stripes for the day. Other formations from the ATS, the WRNS, the Red Cross, St.John`s Ambulance and countless other organisations paraded that day. It was hard not to have a lump of pride in one`s throat as we passed the saluting Dais where the King and other dignitaries stood.

All too soon it was August, and I was due a holiday towards the end of the month, war threats grew with each day. I joined my Parents in Brittany, France, for a few days. But my father was recalled and on 31st August it was a feverish rush to St Malo where many like-minded people crowded the dockside, trying to get a boat back to England. We arrived on the evening of 1st September to find a telegram from my WAAF Company asking me to report immediately.

The next day 2nd September still dazed and surrounded by holiday clothes, I reported to the Company. After a brief interview with the Medical Officer who pronounced me fit, I was given a Railway Warrant with instructions: 鈥淵ou will meet up with five others from this Company at Kings Cross Station for the 10.30 train to-morrow morning. You are going to a hush-hush job, only take a small suitcase enough for two weeks, wear the uniform you had for the Parade, and you have been promoted Corporal. I could not believe all this was happening, I was now part of the WAAF.

The next morning as the six of us, all strangers boarded the train, I noticed I was the only one in uniform, and felt out of place. The platform was thronged with young children, labels pinned on their coats, a cardboard box containing a gas mask slung over their shoulders, and carrying a small suitcase. Their faces were screwed up with fear as anxious parents cajoled them towards the carriages, while trying to hold back their own tears. It was a sight I had not expected to see and one I have never forgotten: those little defenceless evacuees being herded off to unknown destinations and futures. Was this to be part of a war that had not even begun? And where was I going? The doors were slammed, whistles blown and the train chugged along. We six sat in silence overcome by the atmosphere. After a while as the train came to a halt, suddenly our carriage door flew open. The Station Master, smart in his gold braided uniform put his head through the doorway and in a grave voice announced: 鈥淲ar has just been declared.鈥� The slamming of the door gave a harsh finality to his statement as we looked at one another and began to voice our fears, while tears trickled down our cheeks. Thankfully it was not long before our destination , but what then I asked myself. The station seemed crowded, there was a Brass Band, the Mayor and many helpers had come to welcome the Evacuees, who were soon marched off with their minders. We stood apart wondering who would be fetching us. I had no idea of our final destination. Almost in despair as the station cleared, suddenly a lorry drew up and the Airman driver shouted: 鈥漎ou from London, hop in鈥�.

So my WAAF days had begun. On our arrival at a group of buildings, we were ushered into a large room where other WAAF from various companies were already seated. I suppose about 30 of us. 鈥淪ign the Secrets Act鈥� we were told as we entered the room and filled in our names. Soon we were addressed by an Air Force Warrant Officer who outlined our role - two weeks of training. He warned us to be very careful not to get into conversation with any outsiders - spies were known to be around. I began to wonder what I had let myself in for. With that, he introduced us to another gentleman on the platform: 鈥淭his is Robert Watson Watt (later Knighted). He proceeded to initiate us into to what I felt were the realms of science fiction. He explained that his team and others had been responsible over many years in developing a system of communication known as Radio Direction Finding - RDF (later to become RADAR). Our assembly was going to be divided up into Plotters and Filters and the next 2 weeks we would be learning all the procedures. He ended with the sentence I have always remembered: 鈥淭his morning War has been declared, even as I speak German Bombers may be heading towards our shores. This system will either be a success or a complete failure.鈥� I shuddered with apprehension. Now of course it is known as one of the great successes of the War.

The next day we started in earnest. Later I remembered I should soon be going back to the 蜜芽传媒, so I asked what to do. 鈥淵ou have signed the Secrets Act, you have started learning RDF, so you cannot leave now.鈥� I continued the Course, passed the exams top and was promoted Sergeant in charge of a team of Plotters, with a posting to Fighter Command Headquarters at Bentley Priory. We were told that we would never become officers as there was no call for them as a Plotter. So much for enrolling as a Cook!

I went home for the week-end, my mind in a whirl, life had suddenly taken a new turning. I got some clean clothes, said good-bye to my Mother; my Father, being in the Army, had already left. I was sorry to leave her alone in the house, as I knew she was still grieving for my brother Bobby, and my younger brother was away at school. She had experienced the horrors of the First War, being in the Red Cross, and now it was happening again.

Continued in Part 2...

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