Description
Object description
British driver served with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry at Greenford Ordnance Depot in GB, 1940-1942; NCO and officer served with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry attached to Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB, 1942-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Heswall, GB, 1921-1940: family; education; awareness of events in Europe; father's support of Winston Churchill, late 1930s; deferment of university; clerical training in Liverpool; interview for Women's Royal Naval Service; background to joining First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. Aspects of period as driver with 6th Western Motor Coy First Aid Nursing Yeomanry in GB, 1940: opinion and description of petrol accounting duties in Chester; volunteering for radar training; posting and accommodation in London; details of basic training in Camberley including description of uniform; air activity during Battle of Britain; listening to BBC News; journey home for leave; story of bombing of family home during leave; situation following explosion including injuries suffered by mother; details of rescue from rubble; night in hospital; collection of rescued uniform; subsequent extension of leave and activities including method of working trauma out of system. Aspects of wireless and radar training in GB, 1940: summary of wireless training at Regent Street Polytechnic, London.
REEL 2 Continues: details of generators; lessons in workshops; lectures; final exam; interest in training and further details of education; leave; posting to Gainsborough; reaction to learning alongside men; accommodation; details of Mark I Radar; introduction of Mark II; secrecy of work; lectures; description of radar equipment; opinion of instructors; voltage used by transmitter and use of earthing stick; details of exam; relationship with male colleagues. Aspects of period as driver with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry attached to Greenford Ordnance Depot in GB, 1940-1942: role of depot; duties repairing radar sets including state of sets and value of work; memories of NCOs and rations; bullying from Auxiliary Territorial Service NCOs and revenge gained; story of instructor at NCO cadre course; further details of maintenance work at Greenford Ordnance Depot; opinion and description of marching in formation.
REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry attached to 22nd Coy Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB, 1942-1943: posting in Upton; make-up of company; memories of Captain John Bonner; activities during visits to gun sites; description of radar cabins; working with high voltage; details of slip rings and story of replacing damaged ones; involvement in research for GL Mat; story of accident involving falling aerial; contact with artillerymen; relationship with Royal Engineers; story of work on floating fort; work aboard HMS Coronation and relationship with crew; pride in and membership of regiment; problems with clothing and health; story of subsequently gaining more suitable clothing; process of application for officer training including description of tests.
REEL 4 Continues: details of radar maintenance course taken at Petersham; maintenance of radar. Aspects of period as officer with First Aid Nursing Yeomanry attached to Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in GB, 1943-1946: posting to Hampstead Gun Site; make-up of staff at gun site; duties; choice of posting; details of searchlights; explanation of Inner Artillery Zone including approach of German bombers; comparison of British and Canadian Mark III radar; details of American 584 radar; posting of 487 Battery to south coast and reason for not joining them; use of Mark II radar; use of chicken wire and geese at gun sites; story of incendiary air raid.
REEL 5 Continues: description of Park Royal Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers workshop including own visits to Park Royal and Loughton workshops; details of gun sites at Muswell Hill and Mill Hill including problems at Mill Hill; use of radar in aiming of guns including description of and problems with Identification Friend or Foe system; communication with gun sights; methods of maintaining accuracy; description of command post; details of guns on sites; noise and light generated by guns and lack of compensation for loss of hearing; security at gun sites.
REEL 6 Continues: concerns about security at Dollis Hill including story of illicit coal; ban on photography of radar; state of German radar; details of anti-radar 'window' and its use by both sides; reason for increase in women in gun crews and Winston Churchill's championing of this; anti-aircraft defences at Chequers and Downing Street; description of diversionary tactics used on D-Day; description of mulberry harbours used in Normandy and memories of Captain John Duck; details of anti-aircraft rockets fired from Hampstead Heath; ceasing fire; civilian attitude toward anti-aircraft fire; results of anti-aircraft fire; connection between anti- aircraft rocket fire from Victoria Park and Bethnal Green underground disaster.
REEL 7 Continues: contact with Tommy Flowers and General Post Office; impact of V1 weapon on gun sites including movement of guns to south coast and Belgium; posting to and duties at Park Royal workshop; details of V2 raids including story of seeing one on its way up; details of anti-V1 fire; stories of V1 raids and shelter taken; disbanding of gun sites; process of demobilisation; period as education officer; story of visit from colonel; story of demonstrations at Women's Electrical Association Exhibition. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1946: period at university including comparison with war service; reflections on war service including award of Order of Merit; changes to lives of women.