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My sister Jo, joined the W.A.A.F. in 1943 and came home full of exciting tales and looking glamorous in her uniform. Once, when she went out dressed in civilian clothes, I borrowed her uniform, and went out on the town wearing it. She was furious when she found out.
I was so crazy to join the W.A.A.F’s, that I upped my age by one year and was called up together with my good friend Eddie. We wanted to be drivers but there were no vacancies, so we had to be content as Batwomen. We had a lot of fun looking after the Officers; shining their shoes, polishing their buttons and pressing their suits. When we ran the bath, we were only allowed to use five inches of water due to the rationing. We were stationed at Chigwell Essex. Quite near to our homes in Middlesex.
Eddie and I were always getting into trouble with the NCO’s. I was young and hated the discipline. Hair two inches off the collar, thick knickers, (blackouts), and horrible thick Lyle Grey stockings. Many a time I was caught wearing silk stockings, (non issue), my hair hanging below my collar and my cap at an angle. I was always being put on ‘Jankers’ in the Officers’ Mess. It was great. Some of them were even kind enough to help us with peeling potatoes etc. They nicknamed me, ‘The Jankers Queen’.
After a while I was posted north to Lichfield, a good posting with an Aussie Squadron; they were a wild and wonderful group. Eddie was posted to West Malling in Kent, but we arranged our leave together and met up in London. On one hilarious occasion, we were both improperly dressed as usual, when two W.A.A.F. Special Police spotted us at Piccadilly Station Underground and gave chase. The escalator was packed with servicemen and their kit bags. When they saw what was going on, they made a path for us and completely blocked the S.P.’s. We managed to jump on a train just as the doors closed and we waved to them as it pulled out of the station. When I look back, what a lot of nerve we had, but everybody seemed to be wild in those days.

Then there were the Yanks......

They sure knew now to treat the girls. They were well mannered, and romantic. There was a base near us and the dances they held were marvellous. The food was ‘out of this world’ to us poor rationed ‘Brits’. Whilst on leave one day, I met Leo, an American pilot. He came to our house very often, and if I wasn’t there, he’d take my sister out instead. If neither of us were there, ‘Mom’ got the privilege. He always brought plenty of cigarettes, candy, chewing gum, nylons etc.
I was also posted to Gravely, with 35 Pathfinder Squadron where I worked in the Pay Office. Life was exciting, yet sad, as many of my friends didn’t return from operations.
One day on leave, Eddie and I sewed Corporal stripes on our uniforms, together with an Australian flash on her shoulder and a Canadian one on mine. The following morning at home my mother was aghast when she saw my W.A.A.F. jacket with Canada and stripes on it. I didn’t realise just how serious an offence it was. She made me take them off immediately. The local newsagent congratulated her on my promotion.
My sister Jo had met her future husband at Saxmunden in Suffolk. He was a handsome Lieutenant in the Eighth Air Force. They now live by the sea in California. A heavenly place, which we have visited many times. I got posted to Ruislip and Eddie to Uxbridge, where she met and married a Flight Sergeant
Later on, we were both posted to Gibraltar. I wouldn't have missed the experience for anything and in spite of the 'Jankers' label, I was asked to stay on but chose to be demobbed.
It was 1947 and the war was over. Things were slowly getting back to normal. I was lucky to get a job with British Airways, (then B.O.A.C.) where I met and married my ex-R.A.F. husband. He was transferred to Kenya, where I joined him, and we were married. We have been together ever since.

Shirley Clifton.
Orpington Kent.

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