大象传媒

I joined the WRNS in May 1943. My name at that time was Nancy Drysdale now Norrie.

After my training at Westfield College in London, where we received our uniform, our group met up with another group, all wondering where we were bound for. We were real ROOKIES! As it happened we were bound for Northern Ireland to RNAS Fleet Air Arm at Eglinton Northern Ireland near Londonderry. There I gained a love of the countryside, rain and all. I was city girl鈥� We had lots of fun and laughter, although we saw the serious side of the War too.

The planes at that time were Swordfish , they were very easy targets in the sky. These planes flew from our station to join their ship. Eventually news would filter through if there had been any casualties.

On our off duty time we had lots of companions. On such a large Station we also had a variety of entertainment 鈥� cinema, dances and Pantos at Christmas, laughter and quiet times too.

I was there about fourteen months. About this time D-Day Landings started 6 June 1944.

I was then drafted to Belfast 鈥� another big city, which reminded me of home and was very different from the countryside. WRNS quarters were scattered, mainly in large houses or private billets. A friend and I were billeted with an Irish family who were so good to us.

A neighbour used to give us a lift in to the docks on our early watch which was a great help.

It was at this time that a group of us were sent to work on a ship called H M S
Pegasus based in Belfast 44-45. This ship was originally named H M S Ark Royal in
WW1 鈥� and was renamed in WW2 鈥� it also had another claim to fame as it was the first
Seaplane carrier and sailed to Murmansk in Russian convoys .It was always known as the 鈥淥LD PEGGY鈥�. Alas it has long since been sent to the breakers鈥� yard. While we were on board the WRNS had their own mess deck (no males allowed!)

On VE day the commander took pity on us, as all of the ship鈥檚 company got a double rum ration, and when he passed by our porthole he handed in a bottle of rum! I remember we were dancing and singing 鈥淗appy days are here again鈥�.

I crossed the Irish Sea going from and returning home to Scotland. One time the ferry from Stranraer to Larne was stopped half way across, because of U-boats in the area It was quite scary.

Four of us WRNS were invited to join a frigate on its trial runs for a day at sea, which was good fun. We had to climb on board by a rope ladder up the side. I don鈥檛 know how I managed it, but we were young and game! A gunner officer started a shooting club. I had a go at that and my grandson was quite impressed to find that his old grandmother had done these things.

The Pegasus was sent north from Belfast to Lisahally submarine base, just outside of Londonderry. It was based there, where the German U-boats had been captured and brought there as POW after the surrender. About this time I got my promotion to Lt/WRNS.

Gradually, people were being demobilized and going back to civilian life. After 3 years in the service it was a strange feeling going back. I felt very unsettled.

In retrospect we have lots of happy memories of the good times, the friends we made, and the people we met from all walks of life 鈥� all doing our bit. The fun we had cycling down country roads to get egg and chips in the village, and picking masses of primroses in the spring.

I find that wherever I go, if I meet someone who has been in the WRNS there is immediate rapport and a link 鈥� once a WRNS always a WRNS. We made friends all along the way. I was sorry to lose touch with some, but am still in touch with special friends all over the country.

I am a member of the Association of WRNS, where we still uphold the traditions of the Royal Navy.

This year of commemorations of VE and VJ days, my thoughts have often been with my friends and colleagues and wonder where and how they all are now鈥�. I have been fortunate to survive this long.

In this year of the Veteran I joined in the commemoration services and the memories all come flooding back.

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