大象传媒

I joined the Air Force in 1941 when I was 19, and that was the first time I had ever been on a train. I went to Ainsworth and after training my job was balloon operator. I did most of my operating in different areas of Birmingham and then, as the war went on, we were asked to re-muster and I went in for flight mechanic airframe.

We went to Bomber Command in Knighton Heath and I was posted to South Wales and to North Wales. I was demobbed from the Isle of Man but while I was there we were inspected by King George V1th and the late Queen Mum who was then Queen Elizabeth.

I found it a very interesting life and would probably have stayed on in the Air Force if I hadn鈥檛 been married. I was a farmer鈥檚 daughter and lived over 2 miles from the nearest school, so it was a very strange life for me. It was a whole new way of life, opening up the world for me, and letting me meet hundreds of new people from all walks of life. I loved it and really had no complaint about being in the forces. I seemed to get on with everybody and am still in touch with one of the girls I worked with then. We ring each other and always send Christmas cards, and my late husband and I were invited to her 5oth wedding anniversary.

My husband was in the army and you could say I won him on the toss of a coin at a dance in South Wales. He and a fireman came across the dance floor and he took my friend, Betty, and the fireman took me. After the dance, they went off but when the music started again, Betty gave me a punch and said they were coming back. Back they came and tossed a coin! The soldier got me and that was it! We were married in December 1945.

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