On a cold autumn morning I went by train to Gloucester to join the W.R.A.F. I was twenty-two years of age.

On arrival we were checked and given a number and two discs to wear on a string round our necks. We queued up and were issued with uniform. My greatcoat was so tight at the neck the sergeant did it up for me for two days, but my tunic was a size too large for me. We had to stitch our identity on all our kit or mark it with a pen.

For two days we had lectures and for a fortnight we were billeted in the town houses where we were drilled on the promenade to learn marching, saluting and square bashing. We were also checked for 'free from infestation' ( fleas ).

At the end of the fortnight we were posted to a unit. I was to go to Drem but it was cancelled the same day and I was moved to various M.1. rooms that were situated in the Sunday schools of the town. The church rooms.

After two years at Morecambe I volunteered for Air Ambulance. I went to Hendon and passed my exam and reached third from the top, getting second place with a girl who had trained two years out of three as a doctor.

When I returned to my unit I was posted to a Troopship so my next trip was to Gurrock to K23 on a ship in convoy taking the W.A.A.Fs to India. We arrived in Bombay. We had to have a male escort and when we entered the British Centre an E.N.S.A. concert was on. I heard a man say "They've come" I was very embarrassed and as I went out the men formed two ranks and I had to walk through the file. My face must have been scarlet.

We were chased in the Mediterranean twice by 'U' boats and one morning quite early as I sat on some pallets I saw a 'U' boat floating in the wake of the ship. I just sat and watched it mesmerised. There was nothing I could do and they must have seen it from the bridge.

We returned home via Gibralter and had six days leave.

During the Second World War I was stationed at Morecambe in Lancashire as a W.A.A.F.

Approximately 300 girls a day were posted to Morecambe and all were billeted in civilian houses of the town for two weeks. We had lectures, inoculations, FFI's and learned to march on the promenade. It was a seaside town. The bay onto the Lake District was comprised of an area called Bare at one end, Central Pier and the Clock Tower, then Heysham End where the Army units were stationed.

The Battery Hotel at the end was for Officers only. The Midland Hotel in the Centre of the Promenade was a hospital for all ranks and was used for all Service personnel, even for people coming to see specialists from outlying units of the R.A.F.The Bare promenade and sands were not used because of quicksand. The road leading to the Clock Tower was used for Medical Staff billets and was known as Bed Pan Alley.

Right along the road facing the promenade were lots of hotels and large shops such as Burton's and the Winter Gardens where we danced and saw Stage Shows. A number of Officers lived in the Central Hotels. One Burton's was a Medical room where men were checked for overseas fitness. Another was used as a NAAFI and we took our W.A.A.F. underwear to be changed for new if necessary, we would walk back with our corsets in our hand.

One of the W.A.A.F. Officers was very artistic, she painted the brick pillars in the NAAFI with Airforce flying scenes whilst we were having a lecture. All Chapels in the town were used as M I {medical inspection} rooms, mostly for treating blistered feet.

The Railway Station was opposite the Midland Hotel and nearby was a fun fair which visitors used and screamed as they used the Big Dipper. The Y.M.C.A. was a hut in the town and two inner huts. Also a small isolation hospital near to the local church at Bare end. The local hospital was in the town centre and was not used by any service personnel.

I had ten billets in Morecambe.
An M.T.{medical training} unit was also there plus a Polish Squadron.

These stories have been submitted by Ex W.R.A.F Corporal Joyce Borley. Service Number 2061441. Hospital Wardmaster's Office, Midland Hotel, Morecambe. Medical Staff.
Now known as Mrs. Joyce Jenkins.