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This story was submitted to the People’s War Site by Doreen Oaks for Three Counties Action, on behalf of Joan Jones, and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

At twenty, in 1941, I chose to join the WAAF. Home was near Uckfield, West Sussex, and from there I went to Bridgnorth, Shropshire, to do initial training. Conditions came as a shock compared to comforts of home, and our barracks were lined with beds and bunk beds, with no privacy anywhere. Being young and all being in the same boat did help overcome the hardships.

We soon received our uniform and civvy clothes were posted back home. Lectures begun and we were familiarised with aspects of war; once used to this new way of life we began to enjoy it.

Having completed basic training, we were interviewed to see which branch of the WAAF we would be best suited. Our previous working details had been submitted so it was assumed that we would be following similar occupations. In my case, I had done clerical and bookkeeping work, so was posted to Penarth, South Wales, to learn to be a Pay Clerk.

At that time many children from South Wales had been evacuated, so there were lots of vacant rooms in the offing. Four of us were billeted in a large house owned by a kind lady, who we all came to regard as our second Mum. Our bedroom contained two double beds, so sleeping arrangements weren’t ideal, but we made the best of it. Meals were taken in a nearby hall and our work place was a primary school. Although we were there for only six weeks it was a happy time.

Having completed the Trade Test we had a week’s leave and then, two of us were posted to No.1 Balloon Centre in South East London. This camp taught WAAF to be balloon operators, and from there went to active balloon sites.

After a while I went to Dover where there was a large concentration of balloons. Our clerical staff was in a grammar school (which was miraculously untouched by bombing), and my particular office was in the science lab. Each balloon site was self-sufficient with their own quarters, supplies, food, etc., and every fortnight we took the pay round.

During this time we had to contend with shelling from Calais. This was murderous fire and took out a lot of buildings along the Dover front. Our guns sometimes retaliated, although most of this shooting was at enemy ships daring to slip through the Channel. When Dover was receiving bombardment, we kept slacks and greatcoats on our beds in readiness for dashes to the cellar.

From Dover the High Speed Launches would race out to rescue shot down pilots, German or British. This was heroic work as the crews risked being strafed by the enemy if the pickups were British. Enemy fighters would also fly low and shoot down balloons.

I was married after two years’ service so left the WAAF, and awaited my husband to complete his war.

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