The Nineteen Year Old WAAF

[Jacqui Harvey]

Picture of my Mum  that I have in a frame in my livingroom.  She was 19 years old when she joined the R.A.F. and was the first female Storekeeper at Sealand R.A.F. Camp.  She made friends with lots of the pilots as she gave  them their kit. and told me some sad stories of the 21 and 23 year olds who never came back.   On the lighter side of things, she always said my Dad (who she met at Sealand) was the best dressed Airman on the camp.
 

[Scunner]

It's great to see these photos, especially this weekend. Thanks for sharing Jacqui.

[tinkerman]

I agree keith   Thank you Jacqui  

[bewva]

Sadly RAF Sealand is now reduced to rubble. The main buildings were knocked down last year.
Great photo.

[usedbustickets]

Lovely photo Jacqui, I bet as well as your dad, she fluttered a few hearts.  I love the jaunty style that she has her cap set at, seemed to be the wartime fashion statement when having a picture taken, I have similar shots of mum and dad, especially on their wedding day, with their caps set at a similar jaunty angle.

Talking of their wedding, the story goes that both mum and dad were each given a 24 hour pass from their army posts to get married.  The next day the old man left 'for war' and they never saw one another again for nearly five years.  Mums postings were mainly in and around London anti-aircraft sites as a member of the ATS, and dad as an honorable member of 'the poor bloody infantry' went on what he called his 'free trip' via South America (long story) and South Africa to North Africa/most of the Middle East / Italy/ Yugoslavia and back to Palestine as it was all starting to kick off there, and then finally home ...... he always said in a light hearted manner to my brothers and I that we didn't know how lucky we were, and on all levels he was absolutely right!

[Jacqui Harvey]

Hello Mr Tickets, Why not put your Mum and Dad's wedding picture on, would love to see it.  This is my Mum and Dad's picture, they had a similar story.  Married on a 48 hour pass, all the neighbours got together with ration books to buy the wedding cake and food and also the bride and bridesmaids dresses.  Then a quick honeymoon in Blackpool and not long after my Dad was sent to India for 3 1/2 years.  I could not imagine a Wedding and honeymoon being arranged so quickly now.  This is my one and only picture, which I treasure.

[Colwyn]

Lovely and important pictures Jacqui.

[puma]

what lovely memories jacqui

[Lotty]

Very precious, I love these photos.

[buddy]

Seems it was the thing to do in those war years. My parents met at in the RAF at Wick, were married in Inverness, then he was stationed in Iceland and on to Palestine (hot and cold) for three years. We still have some lovely photos of those years in their lives, I suppose people were more impulsive then as they didnt know what lay in the near future for them.