WWII Veterans' Stories

Mabs Hoggard

In the service

In New Zealand

MY MEMORIES OF LIFE IN THE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE
DURING WORLD WAR TWO
- by Mabs Hoggard.

In August 1939, I was on holiday at Gt. Yarmouth with my boyfriend and his parents. Hitler's troops were sweeping across Europe and there seemed to be more aerial activity than normal off the coast. To most of us, war seemed inevitable.

On the 3rd. September 1939, we were at war with Germany and when, a few days later a RAF recruitment team came to Norwich, where I worked as a Legal Shorthand-typist, I enrolled in the W.A.A.F and became ACW2 Fuller, M.L. Servive No. 886221. I was also "shot down in flames" by my boyfriend, who was annoyed that I had joined up and so that was the end of that romance.

I was asked to furnish the names of two reliable referees because my work in the W.A.A.F might be of a very special character and also asked if I had had any architectural drawing or tracing experience.

On the 1st. November, I was sent a railway warrant and told to proceed to Audley End Station, Saffron Walden, Essex to do a course of training in plotting. At the station were several other recruits and we were taken to R.A.F. Station, Debden, in the back of a lorry.

There were already a few Administrative, Equipment and Cookhouse personnel there and there would have been about forty of us, Clerks Special Duty, with no training at all. We were billeted in vacated married quarters - 3 girls to each 2-bedroom house. I was very fortunate to be with Eve Mumford and Audrey Porter and we made our house as comfortable as possible, bringing from our homes a heater, toaster and kettle. We have remained friends since that day, although sadly, Audrey died a few months ago.

At first, our hours were irregular and the meals not good at all. We had so many baked beans that even now, so many years later, I avoid them. The bolsters and three small mattresses on our beds were uncomfortable and I, for one, felt quite home-sick.

There was some prejudice from the older RAF types and we had to work hard to prove that we justified the confidence the R.A.F. had in us. Outside duty hours we were drilled, taught R.A.F. regulations, had lectures on V.D., F.F.I inspections and innoculations.

In a short time we were a smart and disciplined unit.

Our uniforms took some months to arrive, and so we wore 'civvies' with an issue raincoat and beret. It was with tremendous pride that we wore our uniforms for the first time.

The early days of the war saw us doing plenty of exercises in the Operations Room and we were allowed to read, write letters or knit in our spare time, always ready for the real war to start. We had a very good team on our 'A' watch. I do remember the buckets of cocoa sent over from the cookhouse during the night, strongly tasting of unions.

Our Commanding Officer at this time was Group Captain King and he would not allow us to talk to the airmen on the camp grounds. We had to talk to them on duty, in the N.A.A.F.I. or mess etc.. Our W.A.A.F. Commanding Officer was Section Officer Farquhar-Petters. We had F/Sgt. 'Bill" Wilcockson and Sgt. Connolly as our WAAF. Admin. NCO's. Our Operations room senior N.C.C. was F/Sgt. Williams.

Booking in and out was done at the main guardroom. Normally, we had to be back by 22.15 hours, but had one late pass to 23.59 hours each week. Each month we had a 48 hours pass.

In February 1940, I slipped on the icy grating outside the Operation Room and injured my left wrist. I was sent home on a week's leave but the wrist was so painful, I rang the camp and was told to report to the nearest Army Medical hospital at Colchester, a distance of 70 miles by train. There, after an X-ray, it was discovered that my wrist was fractured and I left the hospital in plaster. However, I still had to report back to camp at the end of the week.

To most of us who served at Debden, it was a 'special' Camp. The airwomen at the begining of the war were all volunteers. Many were University graduates or had been to boarding schools, which seemed to give them more confidence than the rest of us. However,it was something we acquired. I can recall two of the older WAAF on our Watch making sure that I did not drink anything stronger than shandy when we went to the local pub.

Pay day every two weeks was most welcome. We would march to the table where the Accounts Officer and his W.A.A.F. assistant sat, salute, then state our last three numbers after our names were called. Our rate of pay, as Clerks Special Duty, was two shillings and twopence a day. Our regular treat each pay day was a meal at the little cafe just outside the camp and buying bars of chocolate, when available.

In March, 1940, some of us caught German measles and were sent to the local civilian hospital. The Matron did not seem to like service women and she sent us out in a very cold wind, without a hat, to deliver mail. This resulted in bleeding of the middle ear and I was quite sick for a while. The other airwomen were not happy about this and reported the matter when they returned to camp. As a result, we had the Commanding Officer and Medical Officer coming for an inspection.

Despite our irregular hours of duty, drilling, chores and sleeping, we managed to have boyfriends and go to dances, shows and pictures. Roma Ridgeway, another friend on 'A' watch, and I, went for an audition with the Station band. The band was made up of all professional musicians. I was amazed when I was accepted and for a while I sang with the band at various functions but I could not do that for long as our duty hours made it difficult.

The R.A.F. N.C.O's i/c watches were being replaced with W.A.A.F. N.C.O's and Eve became a corporal.

For a time, I worked for the C.O. G/Capt. King and just before the fall of France assisted the S/Ldr who commanded No 17 Squadron. The Squadron went to France but returned soon after, minus some of their aircraft and equipment. I went back to Operations room.

During June, there were small, scattered raids, mostly by night and then, the airfields were attacked and we had our share of bombing and extensive damage. During one daylight raid when we were drilling, and the siren sounded, we just managed to get into the shelter when the bombs fell around us. Our house was, amonst others, badly damaged and so that was the end of living in married quarters There were craters and an unexploded bomb and it was nerve-racking finding our way amongst the debris. We slept on the floor of the Officers' Mess and other quarters and shortly after, the R.A.F. took over Debden Manor and some of us moved there.

On the 31st. August, Debden had about 100 high explosive and incendiary bombs dropped on the camp.

Here I would like to record a tribute by a Group Commander to airwomen in the Operations Room and all WAAF in his group and I quote " The W.A.A.F. personnel entrusted with these tasks have never given us any cause for anxiety and have established a reputation of which they can be well proud . During the Battle of Britain, on many of the Sector Stations, W.A.A.F. personnel were accomplishing their duties under a heavy bombardment from the enemy, and were therefore working under conditions of great stress. Nevertheless, their willingness, usefulness and capacity for hard work continued unabated ".

I have made special mention of the excellent work that has been achieved by those W.A.A.F. employed on Operation duties, but I am equally appreciative of the efforts of all W.A.A.F. personnel in my Group who have fully maintained the same high standard and devotion to duty.

Going home on leave was equally hazardous. Norwich was heavily bombed when the German Air Force decided to attack Cathedral cities. In one night, about 30,000 people were made homeless after incendiary bombs were dropped. I was in the City one afternoon, with my mother and grandmother, when a lone Dornier flying low, opened fire on us with machine guns and then dropped bombs on the Boulton & Paul's factory, killing about 50 people.

Much has been written about the Battle of Britain, but future generations need to be taught also, just how close we came to being invaded.

By this time, Eve and Audrey had been posted to other Stations and I had been promoted to Corporal, then Acting Sergeant. I worked now for the Controller, S/Ldr. Rees and was the senior Ops. NCO, WAAF. This meant no more night duties and being able to use and have meals in the Sergeants' mess. I found it exciting to be amongst pilots of many nationalities, listening to their experiences and sometimes being a confidante. Life at Debdon Manor, with it's lovely gardens, was very pleasant and I enjoyed having my own room.

In 1941, I was recommended for a Code and Cypher commission and went, with two other W.A.A.F., for an interview in London. We had an early morning breakfast of sausages and bacon. In the train, I had severe stomach pains and nausea and hardly made it to the interview. The Station Medical Officer later diagnosed my complaint as food poisoning caused by an undercooked sausage.

The Commission Board recommended that I be sent on a W.A.A.F. Administration

Course at St. Athens' Station, Wales. This meant losing my Sergeant's rank but, on completion of the course, I returned to Debden and took over the W.A.A.F. Admin. Office with the rank of Sergeant, then shortly after, Flight Sergeant. I had a loyal and hard working team with Sergeant Edwards, Corporal Duerdoth, ACW Stanton and ACW Fraser. We had now about 800 W.A.A.F. and over 4,000 airmen on the camp. We coped with leave passes, railway warrants, complaints, arguments, pregnancies, compassionate issues and other administrative or disciplinary matters. Our W.A.A.F. Commanding Officer was Flight Officer Williamson, and amongst her assistants was Section Officer, the Hon. V. Lyttleton. Later, we had Flight Officer Miles. We were extreemly fortunate with our Officers as they were all first class. My other duties included drilling the airwomen and accompanying the Duty Officer when she inspected billets, the cookhouse and mess.

On two occasions I had to bring back deserters. One airwoman was held in a civilian prison in the North of England. Stolen goods were also involved. The prison staff fed me and gave me a bed for the night in an empty cell ( the door was not locked ! ). The other airwoman had been apprehended in London by a military policeman as she tried to solicit an Army Officer. She was held in a centre where there were prostitutes awaiting police action. Fortunately, we arrived back in camp without any problems because some individual had told me that if I lost the airwoman, I would be court matialled, How true that was I do not know as I thought it better not to ask.

Wartime travelling by train was rather a game of 'wait and see'. Sometimes, trains were re-routed because of enemy action; they were usually late and always full of service personnel of all shapes and sizes. One was extreemly lucky to find a seat and it usually meant standing in a corridor.

On my birthday in December, 1941, I met my future husband, Sergeant Pilot Mick Stone who was serving with 418 Canadian Squadron, flying Bostons. Mick came from Leeds and his airgunner was a New Zealander, Colin Forsythe. We were married on the 10th. April 1942 in the picturesque Debden Church. The Station Adjutant, F/Lt. C.A. Mackay gave me away and our guests included the C.O. G/Capt. J.A.R. Peel, D.S.O.,D.F.C., W/Cmr. G.F.C. Hopcroft D.F.C. and Flight Officer W.L. Miles and the R.A.F. Chaplain, S/Ldr. K.J. Morgan officiated. R.A.F. and W.A.A.F. personnel formed a guard of honour. A reception was held on the camp. I was granted permission to wear a white wedding dress. The wedding was originally planned for March, but at that time I was in the local isolation hospital with mumps. Mick caught mumps in May.

Mick had bought an M.G. sports car from another pilot, and with the special allowance of petrol allowed for pilots, we were able to go to Devon. By now we were allowed to wear civilian clothes off camp. Whilst walking around the Devonshire coast and taking a few photographs an Army vehicle suddenly appeared and out jumped a Sergeant and soldier. We were reprimanded and our film confiscated for taking photos of military installations. Apparently, there was a camouflaged gun emplacement hidden on the cliff ! When we returned to Debden, 418 Squadron was moved to Bradwell Bay.

One incident which happened, when I was on duty in the OPs. Room one night, was a plane circling the aerodrome and which was presumed to be one of our bombers in distress. The landing lights were switched on, the aircraft landed and taxied to the control tower. One of the crew got out of the plane and ran to the tower and spoke to the Duty Officer IN GERMAN. Both men got a shock. The Duty Officer ran back into the tower and the German ran back to the aircraft, which then took off. I seem to remember that we plotted it back to France, but I cannot be sure of that.

At some stage, we had Peter Townsend as C.O. of 85 Squadron.

Sad occasions were when we had to line the route for funerals of pilots killed on the aerodrome. The first W.A.A.F. who died on active service was stationed at Debden at the time.

I managed to have a few flights in aircraft. It was the ambition of most W.A.A.F. but difficuly to achieve.

During 1942 after another interview in London, I was posted to No.1 O.C.T.U. at Loughborough as an Officer Cadet. There were 90 of us on the course which lasted from the 5th. August until the 2nd. September. Unfortunately, 30 were failed. Great relief for the rest of us.

We were given a week's leave in which to purchase our uniforms and during this time, I returned to Debden as the guest of Flight Officer Miles. It was wonderfull to see everyone again and I felt so humble when the girls gave me a lovely handbag.

Mick's commission had also come through which was great.

My first posting was to RAF Marham, where I found life so different on a bomber station. On a fighter station everyone seemed geared up for instant action, wheras bomber pilots and crews knew their timetables in advance and life seemed more leisurely. Here we watched the planes take off at night and listened anxiously for their return.

After 3 months at Marham, during which time I seemed to have less responsibility than I had had at Debden as a Flight Sergeant, I was posted to R.A.F. Cheadle. Here I found myself responsible for about 70 W.A.A.F. who, like myself, were billeted with families in the town of Uttoxeter. I lived with a wonderful family. My office was in town, where I had the assistance of Corporal Pat Shipp. Our W.A.A.F. C.O. was Flight Officer Kay Moir, a charming lady, with whom I corresponded after the war, until her death. Here I was promoted to Section Officer.

Pat Ship and I attempted to organise activities for the W.A.A.F. and we had a most successful concert, which necessitated a journey to the Dury Lane Theatre, London, to hire costumes. I sang at this concert. We held a dance on the 17th. November and a party at Bradwell House for billetors and airwomen. Our Commanding Officer, W/Cdr. Swanton was very pleased with our efforts.

However, I missed station life and in 1943 applied to change to R.A.F. Administration, which would have meant a posting as an Assistant Adjutant. From the 10th. June until the 21st. July I attended a course at the R.A.F. School of Administration at Stannington.

From there, I was posted to the Air Ministry War Room, not a station. Officers had to find their own accomodation and I was fortunate enough to be able to live with a lady and her daughter at Anerley Park. Win's husband was a Captain serving in the Middle East, so she was pleased to have my company. Unfortunately, it was a long way from the War Room and I found the journey took about one and a half hours each way. We worked twelve hour duties, either from 09.30 to 21.30 hrs. or 21.30 to 09.30 hrs.. Coming up from underground we would often face bomb devastation nearby. With complete blackout it was difficult to walk to the railway station at times and when guns were firing and bombs dropping in the distance I would walk across the railway line at Penge Station helped by a thin pencil of light from the attendant's torch. These nights we slept in an Anderson shelter in the study and hoping and praying that a bomb would not fall on the house and bury us.

I had a short period liasing with the Americans at their headquarters and really enjoyed meeting them and eating their tasty meals. My only other real contact with Americans had been when the Eagle Squadron were at Debden for a short period. We enjoyed games of tennis with some of them.

On the 29th. November, when I reported for duty, I was told that I was incorrectly dressed and on looking at the notice board found that I had been promoted to Flight Officer. A tremendous thrill.

I regretted not being able to get to get to know my fellow officers better, especially when there was the chance of having a drink and a chat at the bar after work at night, but I had to rush to catch my train or I would have been stranded for the night.

In the middle of 1944, I was attached to Fighter Command Headquarters for a few weeks, but there, discovered that I was pregnant and so I reluctantly had to leave the service.

The W.A.A.F. originally had about seven or eight trades but now there are over fifty. When the war ended there were thousands of airwomen and over six thousand Officers.

When I became a civilian, I realised how really exhausted I was from stress, long hours of work, reponsibilities and sadness. Sadness for all those fine young men and women who did not survive the war. We must not forget the fun we had too and we have not lost "the esprit de corps". We had a hard battle but we came through in victory and we are better people for it.

It was interesting to learn, a few months ago, that an ex-airwoman now living in the South Island of New Zealand had actually been on a bombing raid over Europe, as a result of a dare.

September. 1997.

Tauranga. New Zealand.

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