Lena harrison Nee Crawford
- Contributed by听
- 大象传媒 @ The Living Museum
- People in story:听
- Mrs Lena harrison Nee Crawford
- Location of story:听
- Oxford
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A4416545
- Contributed on:听
- 10 July 2005
Disclaimer for story gatherers: This story was added on behalf of (Mrs Lena harrison) by (Jane Barnes) of London CSV volunteers. The author is aware of the site's terms and conditions.
I had just left the convent when at the age of 21 years I was called up to join the RAF. I had to report to Somerset House in London.
I was billeted in RAF Benson in Oxford. I worked in the Laundry and in the canteen. I met Paddy Finnegan (The legless Pilot) and Vera Lynn 鈥渢he forces Sweetheart鈥.
She came to RAF Benson to entertain the troops by singing 鈥淭he white cliffs of Dover鈥.
After she had entertained the troops she came and had tea with me and my colleagues. She also took a photograph of us all. I was a corporal in the RAF and my men used to call me 鈥淭itch鈥. I served between 1940 and 1944.
I was often moved about, when in the RAF, sometimes I was in the laundry doing the airmen鈥檚 bundles and sometimes I was in the canteen. I didn鈥檛 mind and during the War you just had to get on with it and do as you were told.
I also packed the parachutes. This was obviously a very important job, because if you got it wrong, lives depended on it!
I visited a concentration Camp in White City Recreation Ground in West London. I was given a tablepoon with a Nazi Swastika on it by a prisoner of War and I have still got it to this day.
I also have a scar on my Right Hand, where I opened hundreds of tins of corn beef and I have still got the scar to this day!!!!
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Story with photo