When the war clouds over Europe began to gather, I was working near Canterbury as secretary to a Mrs O’Brien, a very kind lady whose husband, an ex-Naval officer, was the owner of a local brewery. Mrs O’Brien was terrified of an imminent war, living so near to the coast, and, in the spring of 1939, she bought a house in Scotland, near Inverness, overlooking Loch Ness. It had stables, kennels, eight bedrooms and a nice garden with moorland view. My mother had been invited to go ahead to open the house and receive all goods when they arrived.
So at last in mid-July, after several false starts, we left by overnight sleeper. Everything went smoothly and we settled down to our usual routines, with the wireless continually on listening for news. On 3 September war was declared, and about 6 September I joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in Inverness, and there my story really begins.
I was posted to RAF Morecambe as Aircraft Woman 2nd Class. I was issued with a number, uniform and bedding; given a thorough medical and assigned a hut with 30 other girls, from all sorts of places and backgrounds. A Corporal was in charge of each hut and a regular WAAF Sergeant in charge of every three huts. We signed the Official Secrets Act, declared loyalty to the Monarchy and the Service, then to bed.
The idea was to ‘knock us into shape’ as soon as possible, so it was drill, eat, sleep, lectures, drill, eat, sleep, etc. After two weeks we were asked what branch or trade we would like to join. Those with previous experience, such as cooks, clerks, waitresses, drivers, opted to continue in those branches. I asked for Operations and was given the intensive training as a ‘Plotter’ and promoted to ACW 1st Class, issued with a rail warrant and posted to No 11 Group Headquarters RAF Uxbridge, where I was assigned to a ‘watch’ and introduced to my hut mates.
For operational purposes, the country was divided into Bomber, Fighter, Transport, Reconnaissance (which included Photographic) and Coastal Commands, liaising closely with the Royal Observer Corps and Barrage Balloons. Each Command was divided into Groups (9, 10, 11 & 12) - Fighter Groups and all under their own command, but working together as a whole for the defence of the country.
Each Group had an Operations Room, consisting of a table showing a grid map of the area. Above, in a gallery over-looking the table, were RAF officers who directed operations. Offices, canteens and rest rooms were underground in ‘The Hole’.
The map table was divided into squares with numbers running downwards and lettered squares across. Round the table were stationed WAAF and sometimes RAF personnel connected by headsets to the Fighter Stations within the Group, and the Observer Corps Operation Room. When an enemy raid approached, it was spotted by the Observer Corps who gave it a number with height, estimated number of aircraft and direction to the operations round the group table. The plotters then positioned a small metal disc operated by a magnetic rod on the grid reference in the map square as told by the Observer Corps, who had similar map tables. This was continued across the table and other raids dealt with in a similar way. Up in the ‘Ops’ balcony, the controllers assessed the situation. There was a WAAF, usually a Corporal, who was connected by direct telephone to the controllers at the Fighter stations who were responsible for the readiness of the squadrons at their disposal. They immediately ordered interception of the raids from the nearest airfield to take appropriate action. All airfields reported the number and readiness of aircraft available, continuously. This was shown on a board at the end of the Ops Room and was always changing. The controller’s orders were relayed to a WAAF, usually a Corporal, sitting beside him with direct lines to the controller at the Fighter station who had direct contact to the crews by their planes. Accuracy and speed were essential; it was amazing how quickly the pattern emerged and a target was anticipated. If there was a heavy sustained raid in progress the watch was not changed in case the continuity was lost. We just kept going. Each raid was given a number which was displayed on a small wooden stand, it may sound complicated, but it worked.
Our area covered London, the south and east coast from the Wash to the Solent, and north as far as Birmingham. We also had a secret line direct to Rye in Sussex. Our airfields were Northolt, Tangmere, North Weald, Kenley, Hornchurch and Biggin Hill. We also had Polish squadrons, a Free French and Dutch squadrons in the Group.
Because I spoke and understood French well, I was promoted to Corporal and made Ops ‘A’ Operator, next to the controller. There were three of us on that watch, Elizabeth, whose husband Charles was in the same squadron as my fiancé Alexander, and Judy, whose husband was a Royal Marine stationed at the Admiralty.
One of the first things we did was to get our own uniforms made to measure at Gieves, the military tailors (very illegal, but most of us Ops staff did it). We were always assured of a plentiful supply of cosmetics and silk stockings from our Naval pals.
Sadly, war being a savage, cruel business and no respecter of persons, Charles and Alex were shot down in the same raid - especially heartbreaking for me as I was on duty at the time, and had to tell Elizabeth the news. She was wonderfully brave especially so as she discovered she was pregnant. Judy’s husband was posted to Plymouth and she got a posting near him.
My WAAF CO recommended me for a commission, for which I was grateful. I couldn’t have stayed on alone. After a frightening Interview Board, I was given an Admin Commission. I had been put up for an Intelligence Commission, as the Ops post had been made up to officer rank and 11 Group wanted me back. But it was not to be. I was sent to the WAAF Officers School at Windermere in the Lake District with the Assistant Section Officer rank, to begin the next phase of my wartime service.