Description
Object description
British private and NCO served with Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 1940-1947; officer served with Auxiliary Territorial Service and Women's Royal Army Corps in GB, 1947-1951
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Beeston, GB, 1917-1940: family including father's service in First World War and family homes; neighbourhood; attendance at chapel; holidays in Lincolnshire; further memories of childhood including discipline and respect for elders; leisure activities; visits to grandparents; father's love of music.
REEL 2 Continues: brother's bout of pneumonia; medical arrangements; supply of food; visits to Nottingham; family car; education including childhood games; opinion of education; removal of tonsils; options for work in area; wait for interview with Boots; work in Boots factory including promotions; wages and working week; dangers of work.
REEL 3 Continues: highest wage; leisure activities as teenager including boyfriends; first marriage including reason for divorce; reaction of parents to boyfriends; sex education; knowledge of political situation in Europe; preparations for war; reason for joining forces; outbreak of war; family; air raids; blackout; rationing; death of father.
REEL 4 Continues: process of volunteering; reasons for joining Auxiliary Territorial Service; hope to serve at Chilwell Depot; call-up and posting to Neville's Cross; journey to Neville's Cross. Aspects of period as private with No 2 Training Centre Auxiliary Territorial Service in GB, 9/1940- 10/1940: arrival in Durham Station; reception at No 2 Training Centre; registration and army number; first night; accommodation; issue of uniform; comfort of uniform; introduction to training; posting as batwoman and duties; accommodation; cleaning and heating of room; visits to ice rink; ablutions; relationship among recruits and girl who ran away; morning procedures; route marches; kit inspections; march to breakfast; breakfast; utensils issued; publication of timetable; mail; learning of drill; wearing of make-up; personal items issued including name for sanitary towels; shoes issued; issue of items in threes; parade ground; settling into army life; taboo surrounding VD; NAAFI.
REEL 5 Continues: discipline and punishment; physical training; leisure activities; visit to Sunderland; contact with civilians; news of posting at Chilwell Depot; reaction of parents to posting. Aspects of period as private and NCO with Auxiliary Territorial Service at Central Ordnance Depot in GB, 10/1940-3/1947: arrival at and description of ATS Camp; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; room inspections; description of how bed was made; storage of kit and uniform; heating of room and cleaning of stove; disturbance from farmland surrounding camp; morning procedures; description of Building 157 and details of work; connection of railway with depot; boxing vehicle spares; collection of stores by units; civilian workers; duties covered by ATS; methods of packing spares; organisation of stores for vehicles; NCOs at Chilwell.
REEL 6 Continues: courses attended; help from downgraded military; depot security; organisation of ATS Camp; punishments; passes for leaving camp; problems faced during winter 1940-1941; rivalry between huts; Tuesday kit inspections; shift system; command of depot and departments; items stolen; searches on entry into camp; strain from pressure of work; rehabilitation course attended in 1946; health of depot; relationship between women and men; church parades and presence of chaplain; relationship with civilians; leave entitlement; cookhouses; entertainments; classes attended and new duties taken on; promotion to lance corporal and corporal; visit from King and Queen; promotion to and duties as sergeant; accommodation; duties including experiment sleeping on double bunks; promotion to staff sergeant.
REEL 7 Continues: sergeant's mess; cooks in mess; social activities in mess and drinks available; mess bills; Royal Army Ordnance Corps cadre course attended; morale and personalities in depot; story of conscripted girl introduced to King and Queen; impressions of King and Queen; dealing with conscripts; pregnancies; reason for arrival of Russian contingent and sealing of tanks for transport; changes after introduction of rationalisation.
REEL 8 Continues: spheres of command; changes to work before D Day and effect of Colonel McCorseland; music during work; air raids in area; fire prevention duties; memories of D Day; VE and VJ Day celebrations; decision to continue service with Hilda Dunning; leave in Jersey; decision to take commission; process of joining regular Women's Army; application for commission; activities and interviews with War Office Selection Board in Lingfield. Aspects of period as officer cadet with Officer Cadet Training Units in GB, 10/1947-3/1948: posting for pre-OCTU training at Guildford; change of rank to officer cadet; accommodation; practical administration experience gained in Norfolk; visit to British Airways; teaching of ATS Regulations; Christmas 1947; posting to OCTU Imperial Services College at Windsor Barracks; memories of drill sergeant; organisation of church services; learning of etiquette; giving of lectures.
REEL 9 Continues: renaming of ATS; administration courses; visits to morning service at Eton College; visit to nunnery; confirmation and importance of religion at OCTU; memories of Lieutenant Colonel Bower-Leighton; instructors; learning in inspect rooms and accommodation; learning to take drill; story of snowball fight; cadets turned down; enthusiasm when an NCO; passed out as subaltern; story of officer placed under her charge when an NCO; importance of putting girls first; passing out parade; leave. Aspects of period as officer with Auxiliary Territorial Service and Women's Royal Army Corps at Old Dalby Central Ordnance Technical Depot in GB, 3/1948-3/1951: rank and appointment; accommodation; accommodation and journey to work; role and responsibilities; relationship with staff; library and other duties; visits to Donnington; departure of senior officers and search for accommodation; duties in officers mess; details of commission; meeting of future husband.
REEL 10 Continues: relationship with men in army; pay; details of uniform; promotion of Lieutenant; work going on at Old Dalby including duties; duties with Colonel Jackson's family; opinion of Colonel Jackson; duties in officers mess; handicraft course run; details of a Court of Inquiry and an Audit Board attended; reaction to never being posted abroad; improving conditions following war; story of Sam Browne given; Armistice Parade; dining in night at officers mess; marriage and departure from army; return to Old Dalby and details of civilian work undertaken.
REEL 11 Continues: increase in work at time of Suez Crisis; closure of Old Dalby; retirement and summary of working life; continuing association with army; best parts of army service.