大象传媒

The Squadron Leader

In my previous memories I mentioned an Officer who was a very strict disciplinarian. I will not mention his name in case he is still alive! He was a Squadron Leader in Administration, if my memory is correct, and I know he was, or had been, a Conservative Member of Parliament 鈥� so I will just call him Squadron Leader.

I disliked him, as did others, and I kept out of his way wherever possible. He used to make us drill in the forecourt of the Royal Albert Hall, and before such drilling he would inspect us to make sure our buttons had been cleaned with button polish that day. They had to be cleaned every day, including the cap badges. On one occasion he made one WAAF and two airmen remove their caps and take their badges out so that he could scrutinise them to make sure that they had cleaned the backs of the badges (which is never seen anyway). They were all then put on a charge 鈥� two for not having them shining brightly, one because some of the button polish still adhered to the badge.

No doubt you are wondering what one could be punished for, having done so little wrong. Well, bear in mind that I narrate stories of 65 years ago and there was no such thing as 鈥淗uman Rights鈥� so one could always be charged with 鈥淐onduct prejudicial to the Service鈥�, which in my opinion could include anything petty, small and of no consequence.

Another story, still about the aforesaid Squadron Leader, is one which I love to tell!

Myself and another Policewoman ( we were Corporals by the way) were on duty at Waterloo Station in London. There were two escalators there, one up for passengers leaving the trains. At the top stood two RAF Policemen on duty and checking their notebooks was the Squadron Leader. None of them saw us. Four NCOs, all air crew, came up the escalator, not wearing their caps, wearing their flying jackets with all the buttons undone and one was wearing his flying boots, not finding them very comfortable either. They were about 20 years of age and were a bit 鈥渕erry鈥� having no doubt had a few drinks 鈥渁nd why not鈥� I said to my colleague. 鈥淭hey could be dead or prisoners of war within the next 48 hours鈥�. Air crew were dying in their hundreds, even thousands. The fighter pilots during the Battle of Britain saved this country and, knowing them as I did, they will always, in my memory, be my heroes.

But to get back to the story, the Squadron Leader met them as they got off the escalator with the two Corporals in tow. My colleague and I kept out of sight. 鈥淪tand to attention, take your hands out of your pockets and put your caps on at once鈥�, barked the Squadron Leader. 鈥淭ake their numbers, ranks and names, Corporal, I鈥檓 putting them on a charge鈥�. Suddenly one of the pilots, obviously a trained boxer, hit the Squadron Leader full in the face with his fists 鈥� right, left, wham, wham鈥� 鈥� just like two pistons coming out. All four pilots were on the downward escalator within two seconds before the Squadron Leader had time to draw breath. 鈥淕et after them and arrest them鈥� he ordered the Corporals, but of course by the time they reached the bottom of the escalator the culprits were well away on the first train that came into the station.

鈥淥h my God鈥� I said 鈥渟omeone鈥檚 going to be in dead trouble and it could be us. Quick get over the road to the Church Army before they see us鈥�! When we reached there I said 鈥淣ow remember this, we were not there, we took our tea break a little early as things were quiet at the station. Sister O鈥橬eill (who knew us ) will remember us being there and she won鈥檛 know the exact time and remember you do not tell anyone what you saw鈥�. And that is exactly what we did.

The two Corporals were put on a charge for not protecting the Squadron Leader and for letting the pilots get away. We were questioned but we stuck to our story. I reminded my colleague of the slogan 鈥淲hen in doubt, say nowt鈥�! Sorry reader of this, but I was on the side of the pilots and I hope I have not offended you. The Squadron Leader had black eyes and a bruised face for weeks.

Now, do not get the impression that all the Officers were like those narrated here. It is not so. They varied just as they do in places of work today.

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