Author Topic: WAAF in WW2  (Read 1353 times)

Offline Claravale

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WAAF in WW2
« on: Thursday 30 March 17 07:30 BST (UK) »
Hello,

Is there anyone out there who has a good understanding of Women at war? I've just been given a photo of a great great aunt in a uniform which I believe is WAAF. When I've tried to search records nothing is coming up but I'd really like to find out more about what she did.

Thanks

Offline medpat

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Re: WAAF in WW2
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 30 March 17 08:43 BST (UK) »
The women's services in WW2 took over jobs to release men to fight. Around 2000 women died in the services.

My mother was in the ATS and was rewiring damaged tanks in Chilwell Nottingham for 4 years. There were ATS in France as it fell and was overrun by Germans. The ATS telephonists stayed at their posts until the very last minute then made a dash for the coast and were amongst the last taken from France to UK at the time of Dunkirk.

The photo of your gt gt aunt - does she have any badges on her lapels or flashes on her arms?

WAAF at the time of WW2 would be doing many jobs. Clerical, medical, dental, stores, catering. Drivers may have had to know the working of the engine like their ATS counterparts (Princess Elizabeth was a driver in the ATS and there is a film of her tinkering with an engine - she is now Queen Elizabeth ll). They worked in the radar stations checking for German planes. They'd work as telephonists, movements, typists. Lots of the ancillary jobs would be covered by women.

If you find badges or flashes let me know and I'll try to identify them for you. I'm ex WRAF but quite a few years later than your gt gt aunt. ;D

 :)


GEDmatch M157477

Offline roopat

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Re: WAAF in WW2
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 30 March 17 08:55 BST (UK) »
You could contact the WAAF association (www.waafassociation.org).  They were certainly very active when my mum was alive - she attended many reunions and had a lot of fun. She had been a teleprinter operator in WW2 & was based all over the UK at different times.


They would be able suggest books to give you a general overview.


Pat
King, Richardson, Hathaway, Sweeney, Young - Chelsea, London
Richardson - Rayne Essex
Steward, Hindry, Hewitt - Norfolk, North Walsham area

Offline Claravale

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Re: WAAF in WW2
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 30 March 17 09:02 BST (UK) »
Thank you for that! I'll def get in touch with them, there is a badge on her hat and something on her arm but you can only see the edge of it, and you can't make the badge out properly well I can't anyway. I know she used to also work in a big house in Essex I believe but wether that was before or after the war I'm not sure.


Offline medpat

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Re: WAAF in WW2
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 30 March 17 09:06 BST (UK) »
At the top of the arm she would have an eagle as standard the same as the badge on her hat. If she doesn't have a badge on her lapel she wasn't medical or dental.

 :)
GEDmatch M157477

Offline Claravale

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Re: WAAF in WW2
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 30 March 17 09:20 BST (UK) »
Literally can only see the edge of the badge so can't tell what it is I'll have another good look

Offline medpat

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Re: WAAF in WW2
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 30 March 17 09:29 BST (UK) »
Google       waaf uniform ww2


There are many good photos to show the hat and the arm and to show you the uniform.
GEDmatch M157477

Offline Claravale

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Re: WAAF in WW2
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 30 March 17 09:55 BST (UK) »
It is definitely WAAF uniform just went through a load of them

Offline medpat

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Re: WAAF in WW2
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 30 March 17 09:59 BST (UK) »
If your gt gt aunt is in a standard uniform it is difficult to say what exactly she did. I can eliminate some jobs that's all.

 :)
GEDmatch M157477