大象传媒

"This story was submitted to the people's War site by CSV/大象传媒 Radio Nottingham on behalf of Kathleen Perry with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

in jan 1942 I was released from John Player and Sons and joined the W.A.A.F, to be trained as a wireless operator.
After collecting uniforms and having 2 weeks square bashing in blustery, rain swept Morecome and a month in Porthcawl, Wales I was posted to Compton Bassett, Wiltshire, for 6 months wireless operator training.
The discipline was very strict. There was severe punishment if beds weren't made exactly right, with equipment placed in perfect order and uniform immaculate. (We posted our collars to the Chinese laundry!)
I met some great friends and out of the terrible time of war, there wasa wonderful comradeship and pride in doing our best to be the finest squadron and finest nissen hut on camp.
I was posted to Spitalgate, Grantham, where I worked first on the actual aircraft - Oxford, Anson, Blenheims etc: Climbing into the cockpit to check the radios. Later I moved into signals Head office and nightshift work, meant I very often worked at Harlaxton flying control and on the night flying radio.
During this time I enjoyed being part of the concert party - giving shows in American and English camps and "workers playtime", shows at Aveling Barfords Factory in Grantham.
Being near to Nottingham, I hitch hiked from Grantham - catching anything with wheels - from cars, trucks, coal lorries and even a fire engine!
Sadly, that's something I wouldn't dare do today.
My husband - Frank Perry - was a mechanic, and we met, climbing in and out of planes at Spitalgate. We married July 1945 and were together until his death in 1983.
I was on duty in signals at Hixon, near Uttoxeter, when word came through the teleprinter at 0400 am, that the War in Europe was over ! Wonderful news! I kept the paper and a few years ago gave it to Hixon War Memorial Museum.
Just three weeks before we married, Frank was posted to Brize Norton and I was posted to Cranwell, where I stayed until Demobilization.

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