Wallis, Anne (Oral history)

British aircraftwoman served as nurse and wireless operator with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1941-1945

REEL 1: Background in London and Essex, 1924-1941: family; employment; story of bus journey during air raid; memory of singing in Anderson shelter; reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939; reason for joining Women's Auxiliary Air Force, 12/1941; enlisted in Holborn; medical. Aspects of training with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1941: induction at RAF Innsworth; posted to RAF Weeton; story of breakfast; problem of cold weather; description of uniform and dress code; pay. Aspects of period as General Duties Nurse with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB: amusing stories of male patients and solarium; story of death of patient; duties in hospital; VAD nurses; description of nurse's uniform; cleaning ward; use of dry tea leaves to keep dust down; polishing floor; daily routine and duties in surgical ward; sterilisation; bed baths; relations with patients; attitude to discipline on ward; male nurses. REEL 2 Continues: role in taking patients to ward; sterilisation of thermometers; problem of ill-health as child and hospital treatment; state of health during period with Women's Auxiliary Air Force; description of hospital in South Wales; selected for training as wireless operator. Aspects of period of training as wireless operator with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB: posted to Blackpool; accommodation; description of Morse code training; word speed; procedure of sending and receiving messages; death of brother; finished course at Compton Bassett; story of shoes; role as switchboard operator; memory of lessons in Tower Ballroom; examinations. Aspects of period at Bomber Command Operational Training Unit, RAF Wing, 1944-1945: description of duties training air gunners on Morse code; problem of appendicitis; memory of VJ Day at RAF Halton hospital, 8/1945; convalescence; memory of D-Day, 6/1944; amusing story of Black American serviceman; washing clothes; accommodation and sleeping arrangements at RAF Weeton. REEL 3 Continues: amusing story of singing WAAF; cookhouse; dances at NAAFI; story of death of brother in air raid on Cinderella Club, London; further comments on training air gunners on Morse code; story of WAAFs killed by aircraft; different nationalities; story of meeting future husband. Post-war life: employment; marriage.