I joined the W.A.A.F in January 1943. I wasn’t old enough until then because the girls had to be just over 17 years of age, not the men, just the girls.

I was sent to Innsworth in Gloucester and was kitted out with my uniform.

From there I went to Morecambe Bay to learn ‘square bashing’ which means to learn how to drill and march correctly.

While there we girls went to the Floral Hall one night dancing and I was hauled outside and put on a ‘charge’ because of my pageboy hairdo. It was touching my collar and there were no excuses and I was confined to the house for seven days that we were billited at.

From there after the drilling and marching I was posted to R.A.F. Marham in Norfolk and sent on an electricial course to R.A.F. Melksham in Wiltshire.

I passed my electrical course and was then sent to R.A.F. Downham Market in Suffolk.

I met many young aircrew and groundcrew who I worked with on the 1,000 bomber raids which our squadrons took part in. We lost many young aircrew who I got to know well.

I met a lovely fellow named Tim who I became engaged to but alas I was moved to Mildenhall in Suffolk where I met my dear husband L.A.C. Charles Taylor who I married in 1947 on the 5th of April.

We had a happy life and had two fine sons but we lost our eldest Jeff in 1989 which devastated us.

I lost my Charlie in 2006 and still cannot come to terms with it but we had 59 happy years and a lovely social life with much dancing and lovely holidays.

It was good companionship in the Air Force “Bless them all.”

I will always remember the great people I met from all walks of life and am grateful for my experiences during the war years.

Submitted to this site by Rank : ACW1 Cummins. Number 2103358