The Wren Magazine of the Association of Wrens (Women of the Royal Naval Services)
Number 383 June 2015
Number 375 October 2012
No. 383 June 2015 CHAIRMAN’S The Association of Wrens Women of The Royal Naval Services Letter PATRON: Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal PRESIDENT: Cmdt. Anthea Larken CBE SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT: Carol Gibbon Dame Marion Kettlewell DBE
Mrs Patricia A Jenkin BEM Miss Eleanor Patrick Mrs Marion Greenway Mrs Janet Crabtree Mrs Mary E Brown OBE Mrs Pat Farrington Mrs Anne Trigg Mrs Beryl Watt By the time you read this report I hope that we will be having Mrs Elsie Baring RD Mrs Julia Clark Mrs Patricia Wall Miss Rosie Wilson OBE some better weather and looking forward to a good summer. Mrs Marjorie Imlah OBE JP Mrs Mary Hawthornthwaite I am writing to say that The Team behind the Scenes, Miss Penny Wright MBE Miss Julia Simpson BSc CEng MBCS namely the Association are working hard on your behalf to CHAIRMAN: Mrs Carol Gibbon represent the views and suggestions of all our members VICE-CHAIRMAN: Miss Jill Stellingworth who take the trouble to write in. Your comments are HON. TREASURER: Mrs Rita Hoddinott always appreciated and we do try our best to act on these HON. EDITOR of THE WREN: Mrs Georgina Tuckett suggestions wherever possible and whenever appropriate. PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER: Mrs Celia Saywell MBE ADMINISTRATORS: Mrs Katharine Lovegrove All the time we are looking to improve and modernise the Mrs Lin Burton Association so we do take your views very seriously and try to make good use of them. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Membership renewal for 2015/16 payable 1st April 2015 Annual membership for UK members £12.50 or 10 years for £90 Annual membership for Overseas members £15.50 or 10 years for £120 I feel very encouraged when reading the Wren Magazine Association of Wrens, Room 215, Semaphore Tower (PP 70), HM Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LT Telephone: 02392 725141 by the wonderful letters and articles of how the Association All correspondence for the Association of Wrens should be sent to the above address. has put people in touch with one another, some of whom If a reply is required, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope. haven’t spoken for many years. This is what the AOW is all Registered under the Charities Act 2011 — Registration No. 257040 about. Speaking from personal experience, one member The contents of THE WREN are strictly copyright and all rights are expressly reserved. contacted me through the Association. Kate reminded The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Hon. Editor or the Association, and accordingly no responsibility for these will be accepted. me that I was her training Petty Officer at HMS Mercury in Whilst the Hon. Editor has high regard for all her advertisers, readers are 1973 and although we kept in contact when we lived in the recommended to seek appropriate financial or legal advice before entering into any binding agreement. Portsmouth area, we lost contact for over 30 years. So as
THE WREN IS REGISTERED AT STATIONERS’ HALL you can imagine I was delighted to receive an email from Kate and now we are in contact again and hope to meet up in the not too distant future. Don’t forget you can always Papers used in this publication are harvested from well post messages requesting whereabouts of former Wrens managed forests, those which are ecologically, socially and economically maintained through the Magazine, the website and also the official Facebook page.
Front Cover Photograph: VE70 WWII FAA Wren Air We are fortunate to have such good means of communication Mech (E) Memorabilia Dorothy Mitchell. and information, as not only have we got the Magazine which I know members really enjoy reading but the website continues to improve and new information is being added WOMEN’S ROYAL NAVAL SERVICE all the time. Then of course the official Wrens Association Facebook page is an excellent means of sharing information, BENEVOLENT TRUST this has been proved by the number of new people joining
through their connection with this social media site. The WRNS BT is your Trust and a registered charity, a completely separate organisation from the Association of After a fairly quiet start to the New Year, the work has Wrens, although both are now based in Portsmouth. now started to come in and Association matters seem To be a member of the Trust you must have served in the WRNS and transferred to the RN before November 1993, or to be increasing at an alarming rate. Apart from several served in the WRNS since September 1939. The Trust helps meetings which have taken place, invitations to events have both officers and ratings across the world. been forthcoming. We had an enjoyable meeting with our The Trust exists to provide relief in cases of necessity or counterparts from the WRAC Association which included distress amongst its members and their dependants and may their Regimental Secretary who is responsible for their twice also make grants for assistance with further education for yearly magazine and we also got to meet 2 members of the members. Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps. It was good to talk about our various Associations and compare notes, If you wish to apply for assistance or are aware of a former much of which are very similar but also some differences Wren who may need our help, please contact the General Secretary, WRNS BT, Castaway House, 311 Twyford are apparent relevant to the different Associations. Avenue, Portsmouth PO2 8RN At a recent Trustee Meeting it was suggested that we Tel 02392 655301 email [email protected], approach the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing website www.wrnsbt.org.uk Service Association to see whether they might like to send
1 a representative when we all hope to meet again in the summer. It would be lovely to include them in our discussions as we can all learn from each other. From the Editor
I am looking forward to attending my first RBL Women’s Georgina Tuckett Section Annual Conference which this year takes place (nee Scott) in Bournemouth in April. This will include their National Warspite 268 Standard Bearer’s Competition which I know I will enjoy with my experience of being a Standard Bearer at branch level and of course my years as the National Standard Bearer for Celebrations of the 70th Anniversary of VE Day are really the AOW. gathering momentum and in our own way we are also contributing – Celia has been asked by the BBC and other This will be followed by the Naval Service Women’s Network forms of the media to find Wrens who are prepared to Annual Conference to be held at HMS Collingwood in May, share their memories and we have included some of them again I am sure it will be an enlightening experience meeting in this edition of The Wren. Memories amusing, revealing, up with service women past and present. poignant and for those post war Wrens like me full of interest. The following day is the WRNSBT Annual General Meeting, Readers of The Times will have noticed that their letters this year being held at Trinity House in London, again I am page has moved from the right to the left hand page which sure, as always, this will be a memorable day. To complete has generated a fair amount of correspondence – well the week’s events we are looking forward to the Out of anything they can do we can do just as well if not better. Town Meeting at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, I The last topic that produced a huge post bag and deluged know this is going to be an extraordinary event and a huge my in box was on the topic of friendships. I am hoping that amount of planning has gone into making it an enjoyable the next topic to grab your attention will be how to update occasion. The Wren. With this issue you will find an insert asking for your views on the AOW and as part of this we are The Project Team for WRNS100 continues to meet looking at ways to update The Wren. Sadly, we aren’t in regularly. Jill, my Vice Chairman, has now joined the group the same league as a commercial paper and we can’t pay so it is good to have her input. I know there is a report in our contributors, we can’t afford to commission journalists The Wren Magazine so you will have an update as to what to write articles for us, instead The Wren is written by is being planned for 2017. members for members so that what is published is entirely home grown. If you don’t write it, it won’t appear in print! If As I have mentioned before there is much going on behind you want a particular topic covered then please write it! I the scenes of the Association and it is through the hard promise we won’t ignore the traditional letters with their mix work of many people both nationally and locally that the of up to date events or the memories of service that are so Association continues to thrive. Our PRO is working quietly popular but there have been suggestions that The Wren in the background reaching out to as many people as she could do with some updating. can. She has got some amazing contacts and has built up This is the second issue of the magazine that our a good portfolio of organisations and individuals who have administrators Katharine and Lin have produced on the got so much to offer, how she manages to record all the computer in the office and they are going from strength to individual stories is quite outstanding. It is hard to mention strength in their mastery of the technical side of producing individuals because there are so many people who give up The Wren – thank you ladies! a lot of their spare time to work so hard on a voluntary basis Finally I have to apologise for not being able to attend the for the benefit of others. Thank you to you all, you are an Out of Town Meeting but unfortunately work commitments amazing team and the Association is indebted to you for have to take priority occasionally! I am sorry to miss the your commitment. Those people are the unsung heroes of opportunity to meet those who can’t get to the London the Association. meetings. CONTENTS
1 Chairman’s Letter 12 Standard Bearers 30 Your Letters Report 3 Important Information 32 Book reviews 13 The Wren’s Garden 6 Trustees Corner 33 Veterans Corner 14 Branch Reports 8 Christmas Events 34 Events and Reunions 17 Birthdays and 9 Stop Press Anniversaries 37 Where are you now? 10 WRNS100 18 People and Places 39 Deaths 11 PRO Report 22 VE Day 43 Obituaries
2 details of the card are written clearly, the customer copy of Important the transaction slip will be retained by HQ, unless a SAE is included. Information from HQ Please ensure you renew your membership on time (by 1 April). Your annual renewal form was enclosed in the Association of Wrens February magazine. Reminders and individually posted Room 215, magazines cost the Association budget a great deal of money Semaphore Tower (PP 70) and unnecessary administration time. HM Naval Base Portsmouth P01 3LT CHANGE OF ADDRESS Notification should be sent to the Administrator at: Telephone number: 02392 725141 [email protected] HQ email address: [email protected] Editor’s email address:[email protected] MEMBERSHIP CARDS Public Relations Officer’s address: Replacements are available from the Administrator at £1.00 [email protected] each. Please note it is not necessary to send in your card Website: www.wrens.org.uk when renewing your subscription. Office opening hours: Monday to Thursday 0900 – 1700 and Friday 0900 – 1230. DONATIONS In order to avoid a wasted journey, please contact HQ before Heartfelt thanks for your kind donations to the Association. arranging to visit because security passes will need to be Each one is greatly appreciated and helps the Association obtained beforehand. work for the benefit of all the members. Please accept this acknowledgment in appreciation of your generosity. Individual CORRESPONDENCE & PAYMENTS letters of appreciation will only be sent for donations over All communications for the Association should be sent to HQ £25.00 due to the rising cost of postage. with a SAE if a reply is required. All cheques and postal orders must be made payable to All donations can be gift aided if you are a UK tax payer, thus the ASSOCIATION OF WRENS. Overseas members are increasing the amount donated. requested to send sterling money orders or pay by credit/ debit card. DEATHS Payments may also be made using debit or credit card by It is most important to inform the Administrator of a member’s telephoning HQ or by SAGEPay via the website. death. Records have to be amended and delivery of the Please do not send cash through the post, also there is no magazine stopped. Failure to inform HQ can easily result need to send separate cheques for a donation, member’s in unnecessary distress to surviving relatives and friends. subscriptions and insurance etc. As long as the individual There is no charge for a death announcement or an obituary amounts are clearly stated it can all be on one cheque. entry in The Wren. The informant will be sent a notification containing the death announcement. Email notification of Now that our HQ office is located in the Dockyard, we benefit deaths should be sent to: [email protected] from two postal deliveries each day. Bearing in mind the A copy of the issue containing the obituary is available to the recent increases in postal costs, use of First Class stamps deceased member’s next of kin on request. Further copies when writing to the Office is not really necessary. Second can be obtained for a donation of £3 each to cover postage Class will do! and packaging.
MEMBERSHIP YEAR THE WREN The membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March. The All items for consideration for the October edition must be with membership year will apply to all members who join between the Editor no later than 15 July 2015 for postal submissions 1 April and 31 December. With their membership enrolment and 25 July 2015 for email submissions. The Editor regrets letter they will also receive a copy of a previous edition of no personal communication will be entered into. Articles and The Wren magazine (subject to availability). Members photographs can only be returned to the sender if a SAE is who join between 1 January and 31 March will have the enclosed. The Editor’s email address is [email protected] commencement date of their membership deferred to 1 April to allow them to be allocated a full year. They will also receive “THE WREN” MAGAZINE & AOW WEBSITE a copy of a previous magazine (subject to availability). Please be aware that photographs and news submitted for publication to The Wren magazine may also be posted ANNUAL RENEWAL BY BANK PAYMENT on the AOW website www.wrens.org.uk and the AOW The current membership fees are £12.50 for UK residents Facebook page (not the ‘Wrens Facebook Group’). Personal and £15.50 for overseas members. If paying annually by information i.e. addresses, email addresses or telephone Standing Order please ensure that you have notified your numbers will not be included. NB members NOT wishing to bank of the correct amount and the payment date of 31 have their material posted on the website or on the AOW March. If you would like to set up an annual Standing Order Facebook page should indicate this when submitting items please contact HQ. Please ask your bank to include your to the Editor of The Wren. Items offered for inclusion on the name or membership number as an identifying reference. website should be made initially via HQ at If renewing by a Credit/Debit card please ensure that the [email protected] or 02392 725141.
3 BIRTHS, WEDDINGS & ANNIVERSARY NOTICES are in receipt of either of these payments to enable you to be Births, weddings and anniversary notices are £5.00 per entry. invited to one of these events.
ADVERTISING RATES WIMBLEDON TICKETS Adverts are charged at 15p per word. There is no charge for A number of tickets are available to members for this event ‘Where are you now’ requests or obituaries. each year courtesy of the Lest We Forget and Not Forgotten Associations. If you are interested in attending please contact TALKING WREN HQ. A recorded version of the Wren magazine is available free of charge to members who are registered blind. Please apply to AOW MEMBERSHIP OF THE ROYAL MARITIME CLUB HQ if you would like to receive it in this format. It is produced (Formerly the Home Club). The AOW has an Annual on a memory stick by the Portsmouth Area Talking News Membership of the Royal Maritime Club; mention it (PATN), therefore the appropriate equipment is required e.g. when you book and you will get a discount. The current a computer, laptop, or a speaker (which is available from discounted rates are £89.00 per night for a standard room PATN costing £15 or £25). Please contact the Administrator and £99.00 for a superior room (double or twin). The cost of for further details. Memory sticks are returned to PATN post- a single room is currently £48.00 per night. All rates include free by reversing the address label on the wallet. breakfast. Prices quoted are correct up to and including 29 November 2015. Winter rates were not available at the time DISSOLUTION OF BRANCHES & GROUPS of going to press. For further details please contact the Club Branches who become Informal Groups are, under the direct on 023 9282 4231. Constitution of the Association, in effect dissolved and should therefore take action in accordance with Section PORTSMOUTH HISTORIC DOCKYARD 9k of the Constitution which states: ‘In the event of the The Association has arranged for a discounted ticket for dissolution of a Branch, all assets of the Branch shall be members. If you show your AOW membership card at the realised and after discharging all debts and liabilities, any ticket office you can buy aDAY ticket, giving entrance to the remaining funds shall be forwarded to Headquarters together Museum of the Royal Navy, all historic ships (including the Mary Rose) and Harbour Tours, for £10 each for yourself and with the final Statement of Accounts’. The advice of the up to a further 4 family members or friends. You must visit Association Headquarters should be sought regarding the together. For example, you and 2 friends would pay £30.00 ultimate disposal of relevant archives and women’s service in total, i.e. £10.00 each. Day tickets are not usually sold to memorabilia (WRNS and RN). Please send details of your the general public. Informal Group to the Administrator at HQ who will keep There is no discount on yearly tickets which are sold to them on record. the general public. BRANCHES & GROUPS CENOTAPH CEREMONY 8 NOVEMBER 2015 If you are finding it hard to recruit for your Branch, please Tickets are essential for those taking part, but are not required contact the Administrator who will be very happy to write for spectators. The tickets are for current Association members to non-branch members in your area to see if they would only. The list for members to request a ticket was opened on like to join you. There may be a charge for this to cover 1 May 2015. Please apply to HQ quoting your membership postage costs. number and enclosing a SAE for the despatch of your ticket Many members who do not belong to a named Branch by 30 June 2015. The Association is usually awarded a continue to meet up with other members on an informal minimum of 90 tickets. In the event of oversubscription a basis. It would be very helpful to have a record of these ballot will be drawn on 1 July 2015. Please contact HQ after groups with a contact name and telephone number. The 2 July 2015 to confirm if you have been allocated a ticket. names of members in the area who would like to meet with the group will be forwarded to the contact. MOD SERVICE RECORDS Please send details of your Informal Group to the Ratings Pre 1924, WRNS WW1 records, Officers 1756- Administrator at HQ who will keep them on record. 1917 and all ship records: National Archives (PRO) Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU Tel: 020 8876 3444 www. DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998 nationalarchives.gov.uk Documents online: The Association database exists to maintain membership http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/navy.asp details only. Member’s details are only what have been supplied by the individual member when joining the Association and from subsequent information provided Ratings 1924-72, Officers 1906-1982, WRNS 1939-1955, by them to HQ. This information is not used for any other Reservists WWII : Director of Naval Personnel, Navy Search, purpose and is not shared with any other organisation. The TNT Records Management, PO Box 7814, Tetron Point, William database is protected by password access; any member Nadin Way, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11 1EG may request a copy of their data by writing to HQ enclosing Tel: 01283 227912 or 227913 email: [email protected] a SAE. Ratings Post 1939, WRNS Post 1956: NOT FORGOTTEN ASSOCIATION (NFA) INVITATIONS NSFOICC CINCFLEET Main Point G1, Leach Building, The NFA often invite members who are in receipt of a War Whale Island, Portsmouth PO2 8BY Pension or an award from the Armed Forces Compensation Tel: 02392 728654/8666/8670/8671 Scheme to very exciting events. Please let HQ know if you
4 WAR MEDALS Information leaflets and forms explaining how to claim War Medals are available from the Administrator. Please include a SAE.
BRANCH INSURANCE Branches are required to pay £12.75 annually to provide Public Liability insurance for Branch business and social activities wherever held - Limit of Liability £5,000,000. Where appropriate this includes parading the standard but not the standard itself, see below.
INSURANCE OF BRANCH STANDARDS Insurance for Branch Standards is available from HQ at a cost of £8.00 per annum (running 18 March to 17 March inclusive). This covers fire/loss/damage anywhere in the world whilst in transit and includes both the Standard and the ceremonial equipment. An excess of £100 will apply to any claims made. Please contact the office to apply.
LEGACIES Like the life-blood of any Charitable Organisation, the Association of Wrens relies heavily on subscriptions and donations to fulfil its role of celebrating past achievements, preserving history and traditions, fostering esprit-de-corps, supporting the work of the WRNS Benevolent Trust, and assisting with the relief of necessity and distress amongst both serving and retired female members of the WRNS/ WRNR and RN/RNR by referring them to the appropriate Service Charity.
The Association’s main expenditure arises from costs in relation to the above objectives – these are primarily HQ staff costs, meeting costs, and costs associated with the production of The Wren magazine. While costs are constantly monitored and controlled in order to minimise any annual losses to the Association, it is also true that unfortunately each year subscription levels are decreasing and we become more reliant on donations and legacies to continue our work.
By remembering the Association in your Will you can ensure that the Association will continue to thrive and benefit those who follow in your footsteps in the Naval Service. A Legacy will also mean that you can take advantage of the tax privileges that are available to encourage such support, namely the reduction or even elimination of the tax payable on the balance of any estate and are themselves totally exempt from inheritance tax.
A Legacy is a specific sum of money left in your Will. You do not need to let the Association know your intentions as it is understood that the business of making a Will can be a very sensitive matter. For information the Will can be made by yourself, however, we would advise that you consult a solicitor or use a Will service to ensure your Will is valid.
Please consider leaving a Legacy to the Association – we do rely on and need your support.
5 TRUSTEES CORNER
ASSOCIATION OF WRENS TRUSTEES MARCH 2015 Back Row L to R Front Row L to R Vice Chairman, Jill Stellingworth, served 1964 – 2004 Dorothy Masters (née Wood), served 1968 – 1969 Alex Sard, served WRNR 1979 – 1997 RN 1997 – 2006 Fay Watson (née Robertson), Kathy Carter (née Connor), served 1964 – 1967 served 1961 – 1965 Andrea Wrigley (née Jackson), served 1977 – 1985 Chairman, Carol Gibbon (née Hayter), Rosemary Smith (née Wilkinson), served 1954 – 1961 served 1967 – 1976 Treasurer, Rita Hoddinott (née Willcox) formerly Folland, Not present served 1966 – 1984 Sheila Houghton, served 1976 – 1998 Nancy Hill (née Hughes) formerly Dawes, Rita Sayers (nee Pooley), served 1961 – 1964 served 1965 – 1969 Welcome To Trustees Corner Members sometimes write to the office with questions or comments which may be of interest to all members. Therefore, as well as answering the correspondent direct, the Trustees will share these issues with Association Members through a ‘Trustees Corner’. This will allow everyone to see questions, responses, and other issues – and more importantly for you to see that the Trustees are not just a group of people sitting in an ‘ivory tower’ but are a group who are here not only to serve the Association but also to reach out to all members wherever they may live.
Carol Service - one member commented that they thought the choir were involved too much – it should be a Carol Service and not a choral event – and why was it a week later than normal? The date of the Carol Service is dictated by the Church and the availability of choir members. This year’s Service will be held on Saturday, 12 December and the Choirmaster will be asked to allow for greater participation by the congregation. The comment on tea at Kings College being wonderful is fully endorsed.
Contact details of Branch Secretaries - this was raised at the AGM with a proposal that the contact details should be recorded on the Wrens Facebook Group page. Unfortunately, to do so would be a breach of the Data Protection Act as such details may only be published to AOW members and many of those in the Facebook Group are not members of the Association. The good news is that this year there again will be an Association Diary in which Branch Secretary contact details will be promulgated. This can happen because the Diary can be bought only by Association Members and it then becomes their responsibility to dispose of the details carefully once the diary becomes out of date - these are the ‘peculiarities’ of the Data Protection Act!
We hope that ‘Trustees Corner’ will become a regular feature of the Magazine but this will depend on what we get asked! In the meantime we attach a photograph of your Chairman and Trustees so that you can feel you know us all!
6 Nominations for Trustees 2015 AOW and WRNSBT Fundraising Dinner December 2014 In October this year five trustees will reach the end of their A huge thank you to all who attended last year’s successful term of office and are eligible for re-election. If you feel dinner which raised over £800 for the two charities and you would like to stand for election a nomination form is £220 to help fund the WRNS100 Project. Special thanks go enclosed in this magazine. to Rita Sayers, Paula Price, Joyce Courtney, Kathy Rolls, Mary Brittan, Ann Jones and Dot Gordon who donated Reflections of a Trustee by Penny Wright auction prizes, many of which were “Wren” related as well Having been a trustee for some time I thought it would be as our marvellous supporters who contributed to a superb appropriate to write down what I have learnt over the years. selection of prize bags which were raffled. Special thanks It has been a very rewarding experience where I and my also to Sarah Ayton for conducting the auction and raffle, fellow trustees have been able to manage our charity. Now who ably managed to compete with the noise level of 70 that I have completed my term of office I remember the old ex Wrens (and Melvyn) enjoying themselves. Thanks to all adage of a bucket of water. (Get a bucket of water, put your who attended and look forward to seeing you all again at hands in and splash for as long as you like. Remove your this year’s event on 12th December. hands and the hole that you’ve left is the amount that you’ll be missed!)
When I started I had no idea what I had taken on. I had not realised the complexity of Charity law. This is set out by the Charity Commission who has sweeping powers as to how charities are managed. The various charities have different rules depending upon their size so that not all rules apply to all charities. This means navigating to match your charity to the correct set of rules. The best guide is on the Charity Commission’s website.
The set up of a charity is usually such that the chairman is the chief executive with the trustees as board members of a company, and that is why a charity should be managed like a business. The Charity Commission’s remit is to prevent fraud. Thus all the trustees and the chief executive are accountable to them as well as to the members. The Charity Commission can come in at any time and scrutinise all documents. Any transgressions could be met by severe punishment, i.e. taken to court and given a heavy fine or even prison sentence if fraud is detected. Therefore all trustees are responsible for the conduct of their officers.
All trustees should take an active interest at all times and may be required to oversee topics within their expertise. They may co-opt non trustees to help them in their task but the buck stops with them. They must be a team player and leave their egos outside the door.
If you think that you have the skills and can bring new eyes to the party please step forward and volunteer to be a trustee because the executive needs to have a range of skills. Please do not be insulted if you are not elected first time. It may be that your area is covered by somebody already elected. The best way of learning to be a trustee is to volunteer to be co-opted in your area of interest by a trustee member.
For those people who are new to this, do not be frightened of putting yourself forward, there is support available. After all the Association of Wrens needs you!
Editorial Note: Penny’s contribution to the Association as a Trustee will be long remembered especially by the Finance Committee and by all those Trustees who attended her invaluable sessions for new trustees.
7
ADVANCED INFORMATION - CHRISTMAS EVENTS AND SALES
CAROL SERVICE AND FUNDRAISING CHRISTMAS DINNER SATURDAY 12th DECEMBER 2015 Dinner Booking Form enclosed with this magazine – Carol Service details to follow
ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS SALES
CHRISTMAS ORDERS With the AGM being held on 30th September 2015 it will be important for Branches and Individuals who wish to collect their Christmas items at the AGM to place their order as quickly as possible once they receive the order form.
CHRISTMAS CARDS Because of stocks held, due to the decline in Christmas Card sales, it is not proposed to offer a new card design for 2015. Instead, existing packs of 10, will be on sale at the reduced price of £3.00 per pack. Also on offer, due to popular demand, will be mixed packs of 10 cards (2 each of 5 designs) also at a cost of £3.00 per pack. Only 200 mixed packs will be available so make sure you order early from the Christmas Sales Order Sheet which will be available in the Autumn magazine.
ASSOCIATION DIARIES 2016 The unavailability of the Association Diary this year was met with dismay. After much searching it has been possible to source a Diary at the reasonable price of £3.75. The Diary will have the Association Crest on the cover and will contain 8 bespoke pages containing Branch contact information and the Wrens Prayer. In past years the numbers of Diaries sold has been disappointing, in consequence the 2016 Diary will be limited to 250 for sale and sold on a first come, first served basis, so place your orders early.
COLLECTION BOXES Collection Boxes were contained in the Warwick Reunion Welcome Packs and were sent out with all 2014 Christmas Orders. If you have been putting your loose change in the boxes during the past weeks could you please send what you have collected to HQ, preferably by cheque and a huge thank you for donating in this way.
8 STOP PRESS WRNS BT AGM
120 guests attended the WRNS BT AGM at Trinity House on 15th May with our Patron HRH The Princess Royal in attendance. After the business of the meeting came to an end, the guest speaker delivered an excellent presentation on the role of the WRNS at Bletchley Park. A full report will be ready for the next edition of this magazine.
l to r Jonni Berfield and Andrea Wrigley with HRH The Princess Royal, Carol Gibbon, Mary the AOW sales table Hawthornthwaite and Carol Asam
OUT OF TOWN MEETING AT YEOVILTON
The Out of Town meeting was held this year in the Swordfish Conference Centre at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton where our members were royally looked after by members of Yeovil branch. The raffle tables were loaded with donated prizes and the tea tables groaned under the weight and variety of scones, sandwiches and cakes, all homemade and provided by Yeovil branch members. The sales table and raffle both made over £400 and the archive team book sale made £170.50!!! All amazing achievements. The museum staff were so helpful and accommodating, nothing was too much trouble and the opportunity for every Bravo Zulu Yeovil branch and all who worked attendee to have a free day pass into the museum hard to make the event such a success. gave all the chance to view our Naval Aviation heritage. This heritage was also presented in an interesting and amusing talk by our guest speaker, Lt Cdr John Beattie RN (Rtd) who had been the SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS CO of the Royal Naval Historic Flight. Renewal forms are ALWAYS included in the During tea the HMS Heron Volunteer Band February magazine for members to take action played, rounding off a very enjoyable day much regarding their subscription renewal. appreciated by all the 127 members who attended, Please help by doing this. many of whom had not previously attended an Out of Town event. Rita Hoddinott
9 UPDATE ON WRNS100
The WRNS100 project group are meeting at regular intervals and we are making good progress. We are really delighted that HRH the Princess Royal has agreed to be Patron of WRNS100.
Portsmouth Cathedral has been chosen for a Commemorative Service and the Dean and Chapter are very pleased to be able to help us commemorate the Centenary. We did look at London Churches but they were either too small or far too expensive for us to use. The Service will be held over the same weekend as the 2017 Dauntless reunion which is currently planned to be the 4th and 5th November 2017.
We are in the process of getting quotations for a commemorative stone to be placed in the grounds of Portsmouth Cathedral. It will be funded partially by donations and, hopefully, some grants.
We are also planning to have a Reunion/Garden party in London during the summer of 2017 and have already started to investigate venues.
As you know we are looking at all types of fundraising and there is a shop on the WRNS100 website which can be found at www.wrns100.co.uk. We currently have some commemorative items to purchase and it is intended to add new Centenary products which will become available over the next two years. So keep an eye on the webpage. We also have a WRNS100 Facebook page which is linked to the webpage and a WRNS100 Twitter account @WRNS100.
The Project Group has no money but is most grateful to the Association of Wrens and the Dauntless Association for supporting us. Whilst most events will be self-funding, there are a lot of peripheral costs involved in running the various events over the course of 2017 so we will introduce other fundraising schemes.
Some regional events are being planned through members of the Association of Wrens and we will let you know more detail as we get them. Rosemary Smith (Trustee) has been appointed to co-ordinate these events on behalf of the AOW. Please contact her on [email protected] with details so that a diary of Branch and Informal Group events can be published.
We are waiting to hear from the National Museum of the Royal Navy because we hope they will put on a special exhibition in 2017.
Please keep your ideas coming and if you are interested in helping to fundraise or to assist with any of the events we have planned in 2017, do let us know via the WRNS100 website, WRNS100 Facebook page or you could of course tweet us @ WRNS100.
WRNS100 SCOTLAND COMMEMORATION EVENT CALLING NOTICE
We are planning to have a WRNS100 commemoration event in Scotland over the weekend of the 25th November 2017 (St Andrew’s weekend).
The event is likely to take place in either MOD CALEDONIA (Rosyth), Edinburgh (possibly onboard an RN ship or the BRITANNIA) or at HMNB CLYDE (Faslane) – but will largely depend on the expected numbers, etc. To assist with the planning (selecting the correct venue, activities, etc.), at this stage we’re looking for ladies to confirm if they would like to attend a WRNS100 commemoration event over this weekend.
Therefore, please could you drop a note with your name and contact details (e-mail, address, and telephone) to the event organiser, Karen Elliot e-mail: [email protected] or send a private message via Facebook, or post to: 20 Curlew Brae, Havenlea, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6UG, to confirm that you would be interested in attending (this is just for indicative numbers at this stage).
Indicative numbers are required by the end of June 2015 to allow the plans to be progressed, bookings made, etc. Please do not hesitate to contact me direct, on the above contact details, should any further information be required.
10 WRNS100 PRINTS AND MUG The WRNS100 prints and mugs are now available for purchase. Stoke Gallery of Gosport has very kindly offered a generous donation for prints and mugs sold via WRNS100 Facebook (www.facebook.com/wrns100), WRNS100 Website (wrns100. co.uk), The Wren magazine, Association of Wrens and WRNS BT events. Orders can be made by contacting the following e-mail address: [email protected] or through the General Secretary of the WRNS BT, [email protected]. Castaway House, 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth PO2 8RN. (Cheques to be made payable to the Stoke Gallery).
DESCRIPTION NO PRICE POSTAGE TOTAL £ Print only B&W 42 x 20 cm £19.00 UK £2.95 O/S £4.50 Print only colour 42 x 20 cm £27.00 UK £2.95 O/S £4.50 Print with border B&W 47.5 x 26 cm £29.00 UK Only £3.50 Print with border colour 47.5 x 26 cm £37.00 UK Only £3.50 Print with border and framed B&W 49.5 x 28 cm £49.00 UK Only £7.50 Print with border, framed and colour 49.5 x 28 cm £57.00 UK Only £7.50 Mug £9.99 UK Only £2.95 Total Amount of order
PRO REPORT Well, it has been an eventful time ‘chez moi’ and I regret that I was only able to attend our Carol Service, and not the Cenotaph Parade or the Christmas dinner. Apologies are also due for any outstanding replies to the many calls made to me directly or via HQ re VE Day. You will find quite a good selection of stories in this issue and if anyone would still like to send a brief memory of the day, then please feel free to do so.
I wonder if this rings a bell with anyone? At Lyness, Orkney the VE Day celebratory dance became so rowdy and unruly that at midnight some of the Wrens went outside and played netball! (From the website ‘rememberingscotlandatwar.org.uk’).
I am expecting that VJ Day will stir a few reminiscences and look forward to receiving phone calls and letters/emails. I understand that Wrens who were to be drafted to Australia (to relieve Celia Saywell the men going to serve in Japan) still fulfilled their draft, even after VJ Day. Any memories about Public Relations Officer this, ladies?
Back to the day job, once again we were asked by the BBC to ‘find’ members who would like to contribute to radio or TV productions about the events of 1945 and no doubt will hear from them again. Any more volunteers?
I did hope that the ‘WRNS Tartan Scarf Extravaganza’ story would be illustrated by several montages of Wrens FB models, but unfortunately the images are not sharp enough to reproduce in the magazine. However Catherine Davies has offered to print them off in order to display them for the Out of Town meeting. Will no doubt see many of you there – ‘seeing’ being the operative word as I’ve recently had eye surgery. Celia Saywell 01792 641747 [email protected]
11 STANDARD BEARERS’ NEWS
At the end of my last column I followed by me parading the South Dorset Branch mentioned that your National Standard at Weymouth’s annual Armed Forces Day Standard would attend the Parade on Sunday 21 June. On Saturday 27 June I Commemorative Service for intend to parade the National Standard at the National the 100th Anniversary of the Armed Forces Day Parade in Guildford. At the moment, Battles of Coronal and the there is then a bit of a break before the National Standard Falklands at St Martin-in-the attends the Biennial RNA Parade at the Cenotaph in Fields off Trafalgar Square in September. December. What a poignant I will close with my views on a couple of topics involving occasion that was. These Standards and Standard Bearers that our Chairman, battles were among the Carol Gibbon, has discussed with me recently. The first Elaine Smith earliest Naval engagements topic is Standard Bearers wearing their uniform when National Standard Bearer of World War I. In this first marching at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance battle in November 1914 off Sunday. On that particular occasion you are marching Coronel, Chile, German ships sprang a shock defeat on as a member of the Association of Wrens which is the Royal navy. However, the tables were turned one NOT a uniformed organisation, unlike the Royal Naval month later when a reinforced Royal Navy Squadron Association. I agree with the Chairman when she believes won a battle off the Falkland Islands against the German that Standard Bearers should only wear their uniform Navy. One of the main messages that came across in when conducting the duties of Standard Bearing. The the Service was the recorded respect the two opposing second topic concerns the carrying of Branch Standards Admirals had for each other. In the modern day of by non-Association personnel such as local Cadets. On NATO and the European Union it was moving to have this subject I admit I sit on the fence. On the one hand a Commemorative Service attended by personnel and it would be ideal if we had enough fit members to carry Standards representing both the Royal Navy and the the various Branch Standards but we all know that it German Navy united in remembering the more than is preferable to have a Standard out and about being 3,500 lives lost in total. A nice personal touch for myself paraded where it can be seen – especially when we are was that Pangbourne College provided me with 2 female so keen to keep our membership numbers bolstered – Cadet escorts who carried out their duties beautifully. So rather than laid up somewhere gathering dust. At the on to 2015. As you read this I will be embarking on a busy moment I think we will let you Branches and Informal period. I am scheduled to take the national Standard to Groups make your own decision on that one. Exeter for their Armed Forces Day on Saturday 20 JVA Hope you all have a good summer and look forward to possibly meeting some of you at the various parades. Why Is Georgie Wearing A Crown?
Because she’s the Queen of the Tartan Scarves! She ‘sold’ the idea of re- ordering the WRNS Tartan scarves to Wrens FB members. Here is her report from Wrens FB:
“Many of us have Wrens tartan scarves which we love to wear to parades etc. We used to be able to buy them through Services Wrendered (l think that was where mine came from). Unfortunately when stocks ran out and more were needed the price had shot up so high it was decided that it wasn’t practical to sell them any more, l think the tartan makers were asking around £80 plus VAT for each scarf! Earlier this year l had asked a question about the scarves and said l wished we could still get them, l asked if anyone else would be interested, there were over 300 yes’s! l set out to find if we could buy them somewhere at a better price, one of the ladies on here put me in touch with Todd MacDonald who said he would see what he could do but it might be a bit difficult as Tartans have a sort of licence that stops anyone from copying them and a big company called Dalgleish held most of the licences. Anyway l asked Head Office if they would give Todd a letter of permission to produce our tartan for us and they did and the rest is history!”
The selling price includes a donation to the AOW of £1.50 for each scarf sold. Scarves are available at £21 inc P & P. Tel: 01506 872678 email [email protected].
12 The Wren’s Garden - Sixteen Years On ...... 1999 – 2015
The Wrens Garden at the NMA has really developed over the years. From a hesitant start with the initial planting the barren land having been gravel extracted and drought conditions when the beech hedging was planted, not just once, twice but three times. We had no water bowsers unlike today, the only thing we could do was go across to the nearby River Tame, approx 150 yds, chuck a bucket on the end of a rope into the river and carry it back to the garden. It was almost a case of “there’s a hole in my bucket dear Liza.” Strangely there never seemed to be as much water in the bucket when we got back to the garden !! Those of you who attended the Garden dedication service in June 1999 will remember the mud and desolation in the surrounding areas. The Service and refreshments were taken in an adjacent marquee with duck boards down !!
The soil was poor so all the trees and plants took a bit of extra time to get established. A few trees were replanted as they failed to thrive, however now everything is very well established with the addition The Wren’s Garden in the past of the two Wren Rose gardens. These are a real picture in the flowering season. The other major addition is the Wren Memorial remembering especially the 21 Wrens and 1 Naval Nurse who lost their lives taking passage in SS Aguila on 19th August 1941. This memorial is also dedicated to all Wrens who served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. It is very much admired by all who come to the Arboretum.
The AOW pay an annual maintenance fee. This means that the garden receives regular care, grass cutting, rose pruning, shrub pruning etc. This is done on a rotational basis, however if we know of a Branch visit, the NMA gardener will give it a bit of extra TLC. The beech hedge now stands over a metre high. When the garden is viewed from Millennium Avenue the carved wooden Wren appears to be sitting atop the hedge! The hedge will remain at the current height which tempts visitors to come and have a wander around inside. In the spring/summer the garden has lots of colour; lavender, Wren roses, buddleia and numerous other plants and trees all designed to attract birds and bees. In fact less than a quarter of a mile away on the site there are numerous beehives which appear to be thriving, or so their owners say! It was the intention that the garden should be attractive to wild life. It is a pleasure to go and sit on one of the benches and try to count the butterfly “invasion”.
All in all the garden gives a lot of pleasure to a large number of visitors. The beech hedge is home to lots of birdlife and hopefully a few Wrens...feathered ones.
Sue Elliott
The Wren’s Garden in February 2015
13 Branch Reports Exeter Branch secretaries are reminded that their annual This year, we will be celebrating our 66th birthday. We report should be no more than 120-130 words not have had a very good year. Our membership has doubled including details of their meeting times and venue. If over the past three years, and we now have an average there is a special event they wish to write about this attendance of twenty at our Branch meetings. Members should be done as a separate item - with no word limit! supported Armed Forces Day in Exeter where we marched in the parade with Elaine and our National Standard, and Cambridge at which Sue Briggs accompanied HRH The Princess Royal as she inspected the Royal Guard. We had an outing to Sidmouth in July, and in October we joined in By the time this is published we will no longer be a the Trafalgar Day service at Exeter Cathedral. Members Branch, due to the fall in numbers. In 1979 we formed also attended the CTCRM Christmas Concert, and the a Branch with over 60 members and now we are Not Forgotten Association Christmas lunch in Exeter. down to 10 meeting regularly and 6 who cannot get We look forward to this year as being our best year to meetings. During the past year we have visited ever. We meet every first Thursday at 1230 in the White Woburn Abbey, the Botanic Gardens, had a mini Ensign Club (not Jan or Aug), and always give a very reunion at Kings College, celebrated Trafalgar Day warm welcome to new members and visitors. with a lunch and just enjoyed a post Christmas lunch at Sylvia Lodge, Branch Secretary, 01823 333582 the catering college. We are looking forward to a visit Glasgow to the Shuttleworth Gardens which have recently had a makeover. Our oldest member is 94 and we have 4 Several of us attended the Commonwealth Games; more nonagenarians. Our non-attending members are Barbara Lyle volunteered to be a “Clydesider”, kept in touch by a newsletter at two monthly intervals. efficiently chauffeuring competitors and visitors around We hope to continue meeting as an Informal Group. Glasgow. In July we attended Armed Forces Day – in the grandeur of Stirling Castle. We have had interesting and entertaining speakers, and for our Cheltenham summer outing enjoyed afternoon tea at Blythswood Hotel - aka The Royal Scottish Automobile Club. At the AGM our brilliant Secretary, Pauline Dumbrill, We have twice been guests of the Not Forgotten resigned after 10 years in the post. Following a Association - in August a lunchtime trip on the Lomond house move, she is now just too far away to attend Prince - enclosing mountains magnificent behind rain, Committee Meetings although will remain a member sleet and hail. Just before Christmas members joined of the Branch. Other changes include moving evening other veterans for an excellent Christmas Lunch and meetings to afternoons, from the third Wednesday entertainment in Edinburgh - our sincere thanks to the to the third Thursday of the month and to a new NFA. In December Ailsa Stewart celebrated her 100th venue in centre of Cheltenham where we are served birthday. Ailsa regularly attends our meetings (travelling by excellent bus routes. The venue for our monthly from Campbeltown, Argyll). During the year we welcomed lunches has changed to the Everyman Theatre café/ three new members but sadly lost several good friends. New members and guests are always welcome. We meet bar and is still on the first Tuesday of the month. All at 1300, second Thursday of the month, at St Stephens information can be found on the AOW Website or from Church Centre, Bath Street, Glasgow (opposite the the Secretary on 01242 680420. Kings Theatre). We have had many interesting speakers, particularly For further information and our programme contact our “homegrown” ones: two of our WWII girls told us Mrs Kit Anderson, on 01475 797729. about their careers in the Wrens and travels with the Diplomatic Corps. Two younger members told us about Greenwich life as a Standard Bearer and training as a special Morse Operator during the Cold War. The Memorabilia We are a small and lively Branch. We meet alternate afternoon was great fun. We all brought items which months from February at Trafalgar Quarters, Greenwich. We started the year with what we do best; tea, cake and were important to us while serving and still remind us a chat! The weather shone for our annual strawberry tea of happy times as a Wren. Twenty seven members and again for the August lunch. October was the birthday attended the Trafalgar Lunch out of our current total meeting (more tea, cake and chat!), and closing the year of 36. with a very successful Christmas party. In fact we seem Chris, our Standard Bearer and a former MT driver, to have partied all the way through the year! Members arranged outings to see snowdrops, bluebells and to attended the AGM, the Carol Service and the BT dinner. the Warwick Reunion. A visit to Portsmouth Museums If you would like to join us you will be certain of a warm and the Communicators’ lunch is being planned. welcome. Contact the Chairman on 0208 316 1056. Visitors are always welcome. Linda Mitchell (Hon Chairman)
14 Ipswich Solent We have joined interesting themed town walks and a mys- tery tour of the area; visited an AOW member and Wilkin’s 2014 began with our AGM in March, followed by a Jam Factory at Tiptree, touring their museum followed by a Quiz Night in June. At the September meeting we held cream tea, visited the Mayor’s Parlour at Ipswich Town Hall, a very successful Indoor Fete which enabled us to took delicious refreshments with the Mayor and Mayoress make a large donation to the WRNS BT. In December and then viewed the Town Regalia. We attended a Forces we had our annual Christmas disco which included a Veterans Information event. We enjoyed a Trafalgar Social buffet and dancing round our handbags. with the RNA and their Annual Dinner, where we met the We held a Summer BBQ, some attended the CO and members of the SC of HMS QUORN (Mine Hunter Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph in London affiliated with Ipswich.) Later we enjoyed a Reception on and a group had a conducted tour of HMS Illustrious board, a demonstration of their work and a tour of the ship. before she was paid off. We are sad at the recent loss of our Treasurer, who with her We look forward to a successful 2015. We meet enthusiasm and vibrant·personality will be greatly missed. quarterly in March, June, September and December on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the RNA Gosport. Details from Sue Capocci (Secretary) on 02392 542385 (work). Branch membership is on Portsmouth the incline and a warm welcome and friendship awaits Greetings from Portsmouth. We now have 102 new members. Spread the word. members, all enjoying a wide a varied programme of activities. We had an amazing trip to Parham House South Dorset where the weather house and gardens were wonderful, the only problem being that there was a garden shop How lucky we are to maintain a membership of 40+ and so as you can imagine the bus coming home was have new members joining us. This year we celebrate more like a greenhouse on wheels! Then of course our 65th anniversary along with two founder members. there were the D Day celebrations and the photograph Activities have included a barbecue at a garden nursery, of our Chairman surrounded by four Hairy Bikers, (no a musical quiz by a local musician and speakers on explanation for this so far has been forthcoming!) Our diverse subjects from ‘The Land Army’, ‘Time in the programme for this year continues with in the same WRNS’ and ‘Walking over 12 Thames Bridges in varied and interesting vein to include another coffee London’. Elaine Smith our National Standard Bearer morning on HMS Warrior in Portsmouth Dockyard has attended events all over the country. The new enjoyed by so many last year. commanding officer of HMS Portland, Captain Simon Christine Courtney-Wells Portsmouth Branch, Asquith OBE has made contact. Some members went RMC Club Queen Street Portsmouth on board HMS Iron Duke for a social visit. Long may the fun continue. Mrs V Knight 4 NEW MEMBERS FOR PORTSMOUTH BRANCH! Portsmouth Branch Chairman Valerie Pennycook’s goal has been to increase our membership to Yeovil 100 by our 70th anniversary in October 2015. Branch members have enthusiastically embraced Our branch is very active with trips varying from the a recruiting drive and today at our monthly coffee Cornish seaside, Wisley, Historic Houses and BBC morning, we signed up 4 new members bringing studio’s to name a few. Our walking group are out in our membership to 102....and before our deadline! the countryside monthly and take at least one walking holiday a year. Coffee mornings and tea afternoons at members homes feature well as do monthly pub lunches, our annual lunch, summer get together and October skittles night when we invite our neighbouring branches in Dorset and we put on our own Christmas concert. All this in addition to the usual Association Remembrance and local veterans parades and visits to other Branch’s celebrations. Yvonne Lucas Vice Chair & Media l to r: Kath Hutton, Jo Spinks, Maxine Higgins (our 100th member!) and Mellisa Boswell.
15 Informal Groups Hastings
Devon This past year we have lost four of our members, one of them being our Cententarian, Mollie Hickie who was I enclose a photograph of the inaugural meeting of 100 years and 6 months old. We spent our December the Informal Devon Group, with 293 combined years meeting at her care home which Mollie was absolutely of service between us. We met on a Saturday at the thrilled about as the Wrens meant everything to her. Devon Hotel at Matford and a great time was had by all. Our other members who have crossed the bar are, We propose meeting every two months – one month Joan Hebden, Joy Jacombs and Joy Miller: all WWII near Plymouth and two months later nearer Exeter. Wrens. All are welcome, we have a page on Facebook called We had an outing to Canterbury, then continued on Devon 300 Informal Wrens. Next meeting will be 21st to a village for a very good lunch in a converted barn. March near Plymouth – please see the FB page or Some of us joined the RNA Bexhill Branch for Trafalgar contact me on [email protected] for further Night, our guest speaker was Cdr John Rodley. details. All welcome. We had our Christmas lunch with the RNA committee Judie Wilson members. A very enjoyable lunch held at The Northern The Senate, Southernhay Gardens, Exeter, Hotel was had by all. Devon, EX1 1UG We meet on the 1st Thursday of the month at The 01392 260145 Fax: 01392 422098 Northern Hotel, Sea Road, Bexhill on Sea, at 10.30 am until noon. (every month, except January.) Plymouth
We have now been an Informal Group for over 12 months and it has been great to see some “young” Jennies coming to join us. New members are always welcome and currently members travel from Callington, Saltash and Ivybridge as well as locally. Apart from our usual presence at Armed Forces Day on The Hoe, we visited the Rehabilitation Unit in HMS DRAKE where we were given a tour of the accommodation block (Parker VC) and the combined Gymnasium/Sports Devon Informal group Inaugural Meeting facilities (Endeavour Block).We held a Christmas lunch at the Cite Restaurant, part of the College of Further Education. Our younger members have helped bring Exmouth the average age down considerably. We meet on the last Wednesday of each month, 2014 was another busy year. We welcomed speakers except December, in the coffee shop of the Theatre from Devon Freewheelers and Guide Dogs for Royal, Royal Parade from around 10.30 until 12.00ish, the Blind as well as attending Royal Marine Band arrival time hinging around bus timetables. concerts at CTCRM – all really enjoyable. In March we Contact - by phone to either Sue Bedwell 01579 celebrated our oldest member Daphne Warburton’s 382448 or Pat Keyaerts 01752 564966 - by e-mail 85th birthday with a fabulous meal and a WRNS ‘cap’ to [email protected] or even better just join us for cake! One of our members, Jan Whittle, taught us the coffee on the last Wednesday of the month. art of card-making in June. Exmouth Armed Forces Day was celebrated in July and we manned a stall at this popular event. One of our founder members, Helen Dickinson, left us to return to the Isle of Man and is much missed. The year ended with a Christmas murder mystery evening at Exeter University. We meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm, alternating between Exmouth Police Klub and local eateries for supper. Our next meeting will be at the Police Klub, Rolle Street, on Tuesday 9th June. New members or visitors always welcome. Contact Zoe Allars on 01395 445749 with any queries.
16 Taunton Birthdays Five of us met on 23rd February for the first meeting of Taunton Informal Group, Eileen, Audrey, Maggs, Sylvia 90th Birthday and Paula. We met in a town centre coffee shop and chatted over coffee and cakes. We decided to meet Jackie Raleigh has celebrated her 90th Birthday with a about once a month and will try different venues. Any special tea and this lovely cap tally cake. members wishing to join us or visit, please contact Shirley Lyons me for details of meetings. Sylvia Lodge sylvialodge@ hotmail.co.uk or 01823 333582 Overseas Branches Western Australia
Wedding Anniversaries The Final Chapter in the closing of our Branch RUBY On 23 October 2014 members of the West Austra- WILLIAMS – POWELL-RICHARDS on 5 April 1975 at lian Branch of the Association of Wrens gathered at St John the Baptist Church, Great Amwell, Hertfordshire. HMAS Stirling (Garden Island) for the Laying Up of LS (RP1) Trefor Williams (HMS Dryad) to Wren (RP2) our Standard. We were met by the Ships Warrant Alison Powell-Richards (HMS Dryad). Now resident in Officer, Grant Leepere, who escorted us into the Sir Eastbourne, East Sussex. James Stirling Mess where the ceremony was to take place. We were given a tremendous reception by the GOLDEN Royal Australian Navy who made sure that we were GLEAVE – PHILLIPS on 29 March 1965 at St. Pauls, all looked after and given a warm welcome. HMAS Langlebury, Herts. AB Fred Gleave to L/Wren Stores (V) Stirling Command and personnel honoured members Val Phillips. Member of Portsmouth Branch. and the Service at a delicious morning tea; during this time the Navy photographer was making full use of her camera. Then, of course, it was time for the main DIAMOND purpose of our visit. Audrey Mantle, our Standard ROBERTS – STEWART on 9 April 1955 at Dartford Bearer of 25 years or more, was unable to be present, Registry Office (Kent). AB Peter E Roberts to L/Wren Helen so Elizabeth Newcombe, Secretary, handed over the A Stewart. Standard to Captain Angela Bond RAN, Commanding Present address: 38 Beverley Grove, North Hykeham, Officer HMAS Stirling who commented that it was an Lincoln LN6 8JJ honour to accept the Standard for safe keeping. She BRIDGES – ZAHRA on 5 February 1955 at Arbroath praised the work of the Association of Wrens (Women Registry Office. James Bridges (Private KOSB) to Mary of the Royal Naval Services). The Standard was then Zahra (Wren Steward O). Now living at Stoney Stanton, displayed on the wall in an upper corner of the Mess Leics. (Tel: 01455 273205). and our Branch Plaque and some memorabilia dis- played on a small table. We were given an invitation to visit at any time and there were 2 or 3 comfortable chairs available for our use. Captain Bond and her Congratulations go to our crew were thanked for all they had done to make the Webmaster, day successful. It was an honour to have our Standard Richard Hawthornthwaite laid up at HMAS Stirling and we all felt very emotional who will be getting married in when it was time to leave - I know that I had a lump in Germany on 6 June 2015 my throat. It was a fantastic day! Mary Tearne (Hirons), [email protected]
17 PEOPLE AND PLACES Parachute Jump Over Teesside I enclose a photo of the occasion last August, when one of the two remaining Lancaster Bombers in the world flew from Canada (where it is based) to Teesside Airport – formerly Goosepool, when manned during the war by the RAF and RCAF flying Lancasters. The Canadian Lancaster is named the ‘Menarski’ in commemoration of Pilot Officer Menarski who sacrificed his life to save his crew and avoid crashing on the town of Darlington when returning badly damaged from a raid on Germany. A lifesize statue of PO Menarski stands in front of what was the Officer’s Mess. The AOW member in the photo is Christine Elliott who very bravely did a parachute jump to honour the occasion and to raise funds for a veterans bus. BBC Teesside broadcast the event stating a parachute jump will now take place by two male veterans and ‘one sweet little Wren’!
Joyce Santon, Flat 6, Linden Lodge, 5 Linden Ave, Darlington DL3 8PN
Christmas Party For Ed note: I am ashamed to say that although this happened in Kingston-Upon-Thames Branch my ‘patch’ I knew nothing about this! When events do happen in your area it is always worth a quick phone call to neighbouring Kingston-upon-Thames Branch enjoyed the most fabulous branches for some extra publicity. Christmas Party in December 2014 at London RMR with a sumptuous buffet, a glass or two of fizz and a wonderful homemade Christmas cake for which enormous thanks must go to Joyce Garner’s daughter, Susan (Joyce is one of our valued committee members). Not only did the cake look amazing but it tasted delicious! Entertainment was provided by TS PUMA, Sutton District Sea Cadets Band with a great range of music. Thanks must be recorded to Lieutenant Commander (SCC) Ian Turner RNR, the Commanding Officer and his terrific team for their help. Anne Marks Chairman, Kingston-upon-Thames Branch
Swindon Branch Coffee Morning
Swindon Branch enjoying a Coffee Morning (you may recognise our AOW Chairman seated on the right)
18 Buckingham Palace Garden Party 2014 This is the photo of our visit to Buckingham Palace last year. We had a wonderful time and met Pip who is in the centre of the photo. She was not a member of the Association but we did our best to persuade her to join! Despite rumours of its demise The Nottingham Branch is still in existence and we would welcome any new members. If anyone wants to my email is [email protected] Lynn Wing
L to R: Liz Mills from the Yeovil branch, Lynn Wing (nee Stokes 120976) from the Nottingham Branch, Pip, Marion Leaver, and Pat Pollock from the Nottingham Branch. Cheltenham Branch “Benevolent Representatives” Retire For over 30 years, two members of Cheltenham Branch, Gwyneth Wasley and Audrey Lennon-Brown have been the Branch “Benevolent Representatives”. They have visited, sent cards, flowers, or telephoned every member who has been sick during those years, raising morale wherever they went. They have decided it is now time to pass these duties to younger members. We shall find it difficult to follow in their footsteps. Visiting HM Dockyard Portsmouth While staying at the Royal Maritime Club in October for the Trafalgar Dinner I took advantage of the £10 ticket for the Dockyard. Together with my daughter and grandson we visited the Warrior, HMS Victory, the Museum and had a trip round the harbour. We had already visited the Mary Rose the year before and it cost £25 each. So you can see what good value £10 is. I understand the RM Museum is re-locating to the Dockyard so one will be able to visit there also. Although as an ex-Marine Wren who served at Eastney I have visited the Museum several times and I believe the entrance is free to ex-Wrens, one still has to pay for visitors. I do recommend people to take advantage of this offer. I also recommend to any of you who have never stayed at the Royal Maritime Club to do so. It is central for all places of interest in the area. I have been going to the Trafalgar Day Dinner for many years now taking various members of my family and though I will be 87 years of age in March 2015 will be going again in October. Ivy M Berridge (nee Woodward) served Dec 1947 to Dec 1950. Karasell, Cumberland Street, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Beds LU5 5BW
19 Darling Mummy and Daddy …… “ letters from a Boat’s Crew Wren, 12th November 1941 to September 1945
There are moments in my life as PRO of the Association that stand out as being truly memorable; one such was a conversation with Mrs Sarah Phillips, who is the daughter of the late Susan Cavendish, PO Wren Boat’s Crew Cox’n. Our subject was the collection of letters which were written by Susan to her parents approximately every two weeks throughout WWII.
My story begins after a first call was made to HQ and passed to me to follow up. I was not quite sure what to expect, or whether I would be able to offer the appropriate guidance. However a very pleasant conversation with Mrs Phillips ensued with my initial suggestion that should she so wish, the National Museum of the Royal Navy would be able to digitalise her collection, with a copy for the Association, before returning the original documents Top : L/Wren Joyce Purll to the family. We then spoke about the various events, l to r: Cox’n Susan Cavendish, L/Wren Jill Sparkes locations and people mentioned in the letters, including several naval expressions which I was able to explain. And so, on a Saturday morning in January with kind Apparently Susan was 6 feet tall so I suggested to Mrs hospitality offered, as always, by VP Julia Clark, ‘the Phillips that she was probably always the ‘marker’, which collection’ was brought to Locks Heath. There we were she remembered reading in one of the letters. entranced with the sheer volume and content of the letters, which Mrs Phillips had very kindly arranged to As our conversation continued I was very surprised to be copied and bound privately, for her visit. In addition hear that Susan’s father, an RNVR Captain who had there was a WRNS photo album which contained some served in the great War, had decided to have Susan’s excellent WRNS promotional photos of Susan and letters (sent home throughout WWII) to be ‘typed up’ her Wren ‘crew’, all carefully annotated with names, at his office in Cardiff, before sending them on to the together with Susan’s Service records. Mrs Phillips gave Director WRNS, Vera Laughton Mathews. No explanation permission for Julia to scan some of the photos. is known. As you can imagine this was perhaps also a great surprise to Susan and could explain why the letters Let me share with you a few excerpts from first hand stopped! My interest was really engaged by this point but experience of a WWII Wren writing from Falmouth, I felt that Mrs Phillips was not immediately ready to make Portland, Southampton, Milford Haven, and Plymouth any decisions about the collection so asked her what she and covering a career from Wren to PO Wren; from would like to do. I was delighted when she replied, “could Bowman to Cox’n, for both the Captain, and the Admiral’s I just show it to you”? Barge. Susan writes of the occasion when the Admiral asked her to cancel her leave ‘for a very important occasion that had just arisen’. She was needed to Cox’n the Admiral’s Barge for transporting VIP’s to witness the first surrender of a German U boat, U249, in Weymouth Bay. On 14.9.45 the London Evening News copied report has the headline;
‘The U249 gave herself up to London Wren’ Pride of the Royal Navy at Portland are the Wrens who manned the Admiral’s Barge to take their Admiral R.J.R. Scott into Weymouth Bay when the first German ‘U’ boat – the U249’ – surrendered. Proud of them too is their Chief Officer Nancy Osborne, Senior Wren Officer in the Portland area.
A later entry from Susan states that ‘I got back the other l to r L/Wren Joy Harper, Cox’n Susan Cavendish, Olive Erskine, day just in time to take the old man out in the barge to rd Joan Caslon, Enid Head, Joan McVicar, L/Wren Mary Pocock, escort the 3 ‘U’ boat in here. Am getting sick of the sight L/Wren Jill Sparkes of the things!!!
20 An earlier letter on 28.3.45 says that she ‘had a banana I will now leave my story having given you a flavour of today. It tasted wonderful’’ and on the same day she writes our quite exceptional day. With permission I hope to be ‘we were doing Liberty trips all night to four destroyers in given the opportunity to print further selected extracts the Sound. The last trip at midnight was the worst. It was for The Wren which will include evidence of the strong blowing pretty hard and we had to take about eighty men rapport and well-earned respect held by the sea-going out. About six of them were sober. Before we even started male fraternity (the RN, the overseas forces, and the four of them went over the side ….’ This continues in the local fishermen) for Boat’s Crew Wrens. Susan also same vein, ending with, ‘We had two of their officers on tells of encounters with many VIPs, from Royalty and board and one went down in the fo’castle and sat on the the Admiralty, and those conscripted from the world of fire, with the result that his pants lost their nice new look.’ entertainment.
Towards the end of the letters collection the issue arises You may be interested to know that once home I rushed of what will happen to those Wrens who were not able straight to Dame Vera’s ‘Blue Tapestry’ and on page 202 to continue in their wartime category once hostilities within a piece about ‘the sterling work of Boat’s Crew had ended? PO Wren Susan Cavendish, Cox’n of the Wrens’. found the following; Admiral’s Barge was in the same ‘boat’, but luckily ‘…. witness the following extract from a letter from a her pre-war driving experience meant that she was seventeen year old Plymouth Wren shown to me by her recommended for transfer to the M.T. category. The father, a naval Captain …’’ and there on the page is an biggest crunch however was an Admiralty Fleet Order extract from a letter I had been shown that very morning issued in mid-July 1945 which stated ‘that all Wrens in Locks Heath! How exciting! whose categories die on them and who are switched to other categories, automatically lose their rank, and Please do let me know if your memory has been stirred become ‘ordinary seaman’ again!!!’ Three exclamation by any of the events or names mentioned in this article, marks had been added by Susan, and I feel like adding or by those pictured in the photos. more!!! Celia Saywell 01792 641747 c/o AOW HQ at Semaphore Tower [email protected]
l to r: L/Wren Jill Sparkes, L/Wren Mary Pocock, L/Wren Joy Harper, Olive Erskine, Cox’n Susan Cavendish, Joan McVicar
PO Susan Cavendish’s Service records show her enforced change of category; she retrained as a ‘Wren’ at HMS PEMBROKE and at the London Transport Depot, was drafted to HMS LANDRAIL, Machrihanish, then to HMS BRITANNIA, the RN college at Chester, and then … what a discovery! Susan didn’t leave the WRNS until 1950, her last draft was Ship’s Company at HMTE Dauntless! For Julia and myself it felt as though history was suddenly brought right up to date and we could share our knowledge of Burghfield with Susan’s daughter. (A complimentary copy of the recently republished history of the WRNS training establishment (HTME and HMS Julia Clark, Sarah Phillips, Susan Cavendish memorabilia Dauntless) has been sent to Mrs Phillips). Jan 2015
21 VE DAY – THEN AND NOW
Joyce Aylard (née Baker) Pat Steadman (née Mayhew) was on compassionate – was a BP Wren based at Eastcote. She was outside leave looking after her mother in May 1945 but her Buckingham Palace with her family amidst a vast father thought she should go up to town with a friend crowd of people who all seemed to be in a state of utter for the celebrations. She remembers that there were euphoria. She remembers that the Wrens who worked so many people going along the Mall to Buckingham on the Bombe at Bletchley Park were immediately Palace that they had no choice but to go with the crowd. employed in dismantling everything after VE Day, They finally ended up alongside the huge memorial to before being drafted. Joyce remained there, retrained, Queen Victoria surrounded by hundreds of men and and joined the Japanese Section. women with so many different uniforms. They tried to get a better view of the Palace by standing on the Margo Picco (née Baker) together with other Wrens first steps of the memorial and then heard a voice say from Dedworth Manor Windsor, (HMS PRESIDENT “We will help you up” and found themselves looking III) took the day off to go to London. After spending at two very nice Norwegian sailors. Next, they were time on the Chelsea Embankment they went to the up aloft watching everything from the vantage point of Stage Door Canteen to see Noel Coward. The Wrens Queen Victoria’s knees. Perfect for a wonderful view were rather disappointed that he chose to sing the of the Royal family and Winston Churchill when they ballad ‘ ‘Sigh No More, Ladies’, as it didn’t seem very appeared on the balcony in response to the crowd’s celebratory - more like a ‘dirge’! Margo was drafted calls. Finally when the two girls realised that there to Berlin for 2 years post-war as a Writer (S/H). She would be no more appearances they decided to walk has recorded her memories for an audio installation through Green Park to Piccadilly, in the company of ‘VE Day Remembered’ at the Rose Theatre Kingston, their two new friends! It seemed to them that the whole which will feature personal recollections from the local of London was celebrating; men climbing lamp posts, community. (28th April to 21st May 2015). chains of conga dancing, singing and cheering; an evening to remember. When it was time to make their Pamela Brickman’s (née Perrins) story was published way home, the two Norwegian sailors very courteously in the Western Daily Press, 13 December 2012 and escorted them to Waterloo station. included the following extract ‘…finally, a day off for VE Day and a trip to London from Yeovil Junction to join in Harriet Wright (née Prosser) was a very busy Wren the celebrations in The Mall. Then a return on the 3am Telephonist during the period in question but was overcrowded milk train but with a really comfortable luckily off-duty that evening for the grand celebration sleep in the luggage rack. She says in her recent letter dance at HMS SPARROWHAWK, RNAS Hatson, to HQ that “On a recent trip on the Bluebell Line in Kirkwall. Everybody from all three services got together Sussex in such a carriage, I marvelled at my agility to and “let their hair down”. Harriet also commented on reach the same, and in a skirt too, on that occasion the weather experienced at the FAA station with the and not my faithful bell bottoms’. frequent need to wear wellingtons and sou’westers, which swamped her! Another WRNS memory was Pat Jarvis’ (née Lipscomb) father who had served in working on the second floor at Westfield College WWI, was posted to HMS CLIO, Barrow-in-Furness and having to go down to the basement to sleep on and his two daughters joined him there as immobile mattresses because of the ‘Doodlebugs’. Wrens. Pat remembers that they didn’t have uniforms VE70 2015 for a while and when the suits arrived there were no Photograph on left: BBC interview at Commemorative shirts so they had to have the men’s issue from Stores, Service at Westminster Abbey: l to r WWII Wren cutting the shirt tails off. Unfortunately they got mixed Veterans Harriet Wright and Megan Moir up in the home airing cupboard resulting in her father Photograph below: Cenotaph Service: Dan Snow having difficulty ‘tucking-in’ on one occasion! interviews WWII Wren Veteran Irene Peck
22 Hilda Wright (née Sutton)
Memories of VE Day 8th May 1945
I was stationed at a Royal Naval Air Station near Belfast during the war, working as a supply Wren. My friend Mercia Evans and I were on duty on the 8th May in the electrical store when an announcement came over the tannoy, “ The War is over and you can all have the rest of the day off!” We ran back to our Val Gleave at VE70 Day March from Westminster Abbey rooms to change from our serge bell bottoms and into to St James Park 2015 our No 1s and went into Belfast to the YWCA to book a room for the night, as we knew there would be no Jean Rawson (née Moir) (Dorset) celebrated VE Day transport to get us back on board that evening. As we in the Guildhall Square Portsmouth and returned there came out of the YWCA there was a throng of 100s of in 2005 to take part in a filmed programme for South people all singing and shouting and dancing past us Today TV. toward the centre of Belfast, we were a little bit taken Elsie Vickers was PO Wren Cook at HMS aback by this but we were pulled into the crowd and DEMETRIUS, Wetherby and VE Day was yet another then unceremoniously lifted up by some squaddies day to prepare and cook the food. However, that and put on their shoulders! I was worried I might lose evening she was Duty PO Wren in the Guardroom my friend so we tried to hold hands but it was not where she remembered drinking ‘kai’ cocoa to keep possible with the movement of the crowd. When we warm. It seemed as though everyone else had gone arrived at City Hall there seemed to be just one large ashore. They came back to camp generally very good mass of people singing and dancing in the square, hearted and quiet although a few were ‘legless’ and with bands playing. It was such a joyous atmosphere had to be supported by their friends! They all hurried and of course we had a great view from the shoulders through to beat the clock . Elsie says that ‘Chiefy’ was of the squaddies! Eventually we were lifted off their very understanding and said to “turn a blind eye on shoulders and put onto the ground and we joined in them”.. and then as she said … “the day was over”. the dancing. This story about the 7th May is different, not only The next day we were both on duty again so we left because of the date but that the Wrens involved were Belfast in good time and when we were on our way sitting reading in the wardroom of HMS PHILANTE. to our section someone shouted to us, “I know where The ship was on her way back to the Kyle of Lochalsh. you were yesterday, and it looks like you had a good when Megan Moir (née Price) and Lyn Mitchell heard time!” We had no idea how he knew what we had been a chorus of ‘hoorays’ from the Ship’s Company. When doing until he showed us the front page of the local the radio was turned on they heard the last piece of the paper The Northern Whig, which had a picture of us announcement that “Peace had been declared” and being carried along with the crowd. that “the next day was to be VE Day”. Alongside their boat the US Escort group straightaway began to put The picture shows Mercia on the left and myself in the up a good order of rockets. When the Philante arrived middle. back at base at 2230 Megan says that there were Wrens all along the rocks waving flags, and cheering, and the local villagers were hanging out of their cottage windows, waving white cloths.
Marjorie Bonnamy, Jean Lawson, Nancy Callaghan, Joan Endersby, & Marion Athorne have volunteered to be contacted but unfortunately time was against me. Thank you ladies, we are always happy to have your memories of life in the WRNS.
23 Dot Palmer Memories of a Wartime Wren Joined up 30 June 1941 in Weymouth as a Steward General (Immobile).
I joined the WRNS because I couldn’t stand a lot of noise which you would get in a factory; so as there was only the Navy base in the area I joined the WRNS. My father was a policeman and my sister worked in a munitions factory so it was decided that I would not be drafted but would serve in the WRNS in the Weymouth area (Immobile). My mother suffered from nerves, anxiety etc. and this would allow me to live at home and support her. I served in HMS Boscowen at the WRNS Officers’ mess which was a hotel taken over in 1939. I also served in HMS Attack, Portland.
I don’t know why they make a fuss about flooding nowadays at Chesil beach. In the winter you couldn’t get to Portland by road when the tides were high, the water came right over. The officers and girls who went over to Portland to work had to be taken back by liberty boat when the roads were closed. They were supposed to be back for dinner at half past seven but sometimes didn’t get back until half past nine. It was girls who manned the boats. I had a lousy time down there, I’ll tell you. The hats were horrible things. I had the one in the photo. They were waterproof. We had the pill boxes when they came in, but pill boxes weren’t thought of My friend rang the Admiral’s house and somebody put her when I joined up. through to the .Admiral and she said she was stranded in Weymouth in the dive bombing attack, and she was walking Me and my husband knew each other from school. We went home with a couple of soldiers from the gun emplacement out before I joined up. I’ve only got one photo from that time. on Chesil beach and a couple of SBAs from the hospital. We never had time to mess about with photos cos when you He said right keep your eye out for my car, and he got his weren’t dodging Jerry from up above, you were up to here chauffer out of bed to pick them all up. running around behind WRNS officers. I had to be on duty that morning. Two o’clock we left the The Germans used to come across from the Channel shelter, walked through broken glass down the town, we Islands (minute and a half they were). They used to come went over the hill through water where they burst the water across to go to Bristol, Coventry and London. One night main and when we got round to the last bit of road, they a friend of mine, the Admiral’s cook at Portland and I had dropped a bomb just outside the children’s home and the been playing tennis and when the sirens went all the buses mud was all across the road. We had glass, water and mud: went. We had tennis racquets, gas masks and all sorts. So you can imagine what the service shoes were like when we we thought we’d better get in the shelter until it stopped, finished. It was pitch black so you couldn’t see where you and she had to be in at midnight. We didn’t get to a shelter were going. before I was hit by the shrapnel on my tin helmet. It was red When we went through the town there were police hot when I picked it up. (still got a piece). everywhere because of the looters. We walked five miles or more singing all the way. Wouldn’t have been bad if we’d As we walked down the street to the shelter they started had a drink, we’d have had something to sing for. dive bombing Weymouth and before we knew where we were we were on the floor. Two soldiers behind us pushed Another friend who worked in one of the quarters was a us down. We all managed to get to the shelter, there were Steward; we used to go dancing at night in the Regent two soldiers from the gun emplacement, two SBAs from the Dance Hall. Dancing nearly every night of the week we hospital in Portland, Beryl and myself. We were there until were. There was nothing else much to do. two o’clock in the morning and then we had to walk home. They had to get to Portland. We got to Wyke Regis which The Yanks were a pain in the butt. We used to say they’re was half way, and I lived there so that was alright. Went in overpaid, oversexed and they’re over here. We don’t want the telephone box and rang the Admiral’s house cos they them. The trouble was they had lots of money and our poor were all on a charge, soldiers, sailors the lot as it was past soldiers couldn’t keep up with them. I didn’t go out with 12 o’clock. them. I wouldn’t give them the time of day.
24 My future husband joined the Navy before I did, he didn’t know I was going to join. He was abroad when I joined up Phyllis Hobbs for 2 ½ years; he came home for six weeks, we got married Memories of War and he went off again for another 2 ½ years. That’s how much I saw of him. Phyllis Hobbs was born in March 1925 He docked in Plymouth at the end of December: got to Served from 19 May 1943 to 29 Oct 1945. Weymouth 1st January and I went up and got him out of bed. His Granny said “get him out of bed or he’ll be there all day”. We went to the vicar at the church, then we got a At 17 Phyllis was working as an apprentice hairdresser and Special Licence in town and posted that, and then went to was told her job was not essential so she would be directed town to buy a dress and things we wanted. Went back to into a munitions factory on reaching the age of 18. his mother’s and told them we were getting married on the 12th. We had £37 between us when we got married. She decided to join the WRNS instead and in May 1943 joined HMS VICTORY for basic training, learning how None of it was planned and I didn’t know he was coming to march and was given her uniform and pay book. She home. We had become engaged, I didn’t have a ring until remembers Pat Mountbatten there as well. he came home as I wouldn’t go to his mother and ask for any money. When we got married there were no bells. My Phyllis’ first posting was to HMS DAEDALUS as a Cook and husband Ron was a Chief ERA. this was from June to December 1943. She applied to be a Writer and was sent to Cowes but unfortunately while on On my 21st birthday there was me, two girls and three the IOW developed appendicitis and was sent to Osborne soldiers in my mum’s front sitting room. One of them was House to recuperate. playing the piano and I said “shut up I can hear a plane”. “You’re hearing things” he said. My mum had a settee in She remembers spending Christmas with Dame Vera front of the window, a table in the middle of the room, and Laughton Matthews in full uniform, so no time to relax. all of a sudden “bang!”, they shot off the settee under the During this period Phyllis’ mum travelled from Swindon on a table with the blast. My dad was out the door putting his special pass to see her sick daughter. Her mum then had to hat, and coat on; picking up his bike. They dropped a land spend the night in the next bed because the last ferry had mine in old Weymouth. Several of the houses had been left the island. knocked down, and my dad went into one place and there were two old ladies sat at the supper table with their bread Phyllis’ training as a Writer necessitated in her signing and cheese and drink on the table, dead as a Dodo. the Official Secrets Act because she was dealing with confidential ships’ logs that came to her department. They evacuated the Channel Islands and brought them over by the ferry boats, and they came complete with cows She then went to Leamington Spa in April 1944 as a and other animals. Confidential Book Corrector. This establishment was in a former brewery but the work was the same. I was waiting to go in the Wrens and my mate and I worked in two shops next door to one another. We were both The Wrens from Leamington Spa were taken to a local RAF outside putting out fruit and stuff and I looked up and saw station for a dance and she met her future husband there, this plane coming out of the clouds, no siren no nothing. We who just happened to be convalescing locally after crashing saw a bomb come down and a cloud of dust come up and during a raid with Bomber Command. I said “Doreen I’m pinching your bike”. So I was off to my Mum’s house. Phyllis also remembers the enormous masses of troops around for D-Day. They slept in corridors and then they This copper said “you can’t go down there, a bomb’s been were gone. dropped.” I said “do you know Ben that’s my father let me go?” I went round to the house; they had been sat having One funny story Phyllis remembers is the time the girls had their dinner. My mother was along the corridor frying bubble to “escape” from a “burning” building; 3 floors up and down a and squeak and my sister had got up to get some more. ladder on the outside. This exercise was a fire practice and My dad had got out of his chair ready to go back to work the Wrens had to climb through a small window onto a roof, and they dropped this bomb. My mum’s windows came in at then down the ladder. Phyllis was wearing a skirt at the time the back and she was blown from the scullery all along the and the officer at the bottom of the ladder remarked “You passage into the front sitting room, and ended up in front of are not wearing issue underwear” meaning the “passion the fire with the frying pan in her hand. killers” issued to the Wrens by the Navy. Phyllis left the WRNS in October 1945 after marrying her Dot Palmer RAF pilot in August 1945. She fondly remembers her time Swindon Branch spent in the WRNS.
Swindon Branch
25 THE MISADVENTURES OF A WREN Sheila Breen Rickerby I was 17 1/2 years old when I was accepted by the Royal I promptly slipped, fell, and still carrying the damned tray, Navy, a nine day wonder in my village. As an ex-Navy man, skidded through the glass doors of a bookcase. The next my father was against my joining, he said that it was no life minute a loud shout, I don’t know how long I sat there for a woman but I joined (my service number was 116418) amongst the wreckage, some two, five, ten minutes later, and started my training at Dauntless. still balancing the tray. The chippy’s disgruntlement I could understand, but the request through the ship’s radio for Off to ‘slops’ for my uniform which included a canvas hat Wren Breen, “to stop falling through all the glass” was as our No. 2 (working hat) that had to be blancoed with not warranted, and then if you please, this comment was whitener every week. The navy recalled these and issued followed by the song ‘Broken Wings’. a plastic hat with a wooden grommet stuffed rim instead. I did endeavour to protest, refusing to part with the canvas The second ship I was drafted to was HMS Sanderling, hat. To my disgust I was strongly overruled when the Chief a Naval Air Station at Abbotsinch near Paisley in Petty Officer swiped my hat as I wandered past her window. Scotland. As I wandered to the allocated mess to claim I preferred my canvas hat, white pancake or not. Anyway, my bed and introduce myself, I walked through the door, back to our uniform issue, the tedious task of sewing in tripped and fell onto the back of the armchair and as its name tapes and marking the uniform was interspersed with occupant spilt hot tea down her front, my kitbag skidded hilarious interruptions from anyone with different items of across the floor and ended up jammed under a bed, clothing. There was the Air Mechanic who paraded up and leaving a trail of scuff marks and scratches across the down the corridor wearing knee length thick black woollen newly polished floor. Oh, an instant breach of cordial knickers that were, she said, “to be worn over the top of the relations ensued as it was First Officer weekly rounds the normal ‘passion killers’ and under her bell bottoms for sitting next day. The mess spent the night occupied in re-polishing on cold and windy hangar floors”. Incidentally, ‘passion the floor. Due to the sudden outbreak of noise, some Wren killers’ were from the waist to just above knee length navy moaning about her burnt chest and tea stained shirt, and blue bloomers that had elastic very firmly around the leg others harping on about the scratched floor, I can’t recall hems and were standard regulation issue. ‘Rig of the day’ who said that a ‘Jinx’ had arrived, but unfortunately the was determined every day on a sign at the Quartermaster name stuck. A nickname I didn’t lose. Lodge: for men it was usually ‘No 8’ which was the daily working rig, whilst for Wrens, this was the uniform suit with All Wrens were ordered to undertake civil defence duties either a white or a blue shirt and tie. As a Steward I wore when the political event known as the ‘Cuban Crisis’ started. I a white front (the white square necked top that the’ sailors confess that it was not in solemn mood that we undertook such wore) instead of a shirt. activities as knot tying, basic seamanship skills, first aid, and search and rescue operations. The culmination of the training It worked out that we had just signed on, got our uniforms and was a scenario which involved searching for victims and survived the first kit muster, when we went on our first leave applying the principles of basic first aid in conjunction with a in December 1958. Everyone in the division decided to go partner. I put the presidential authority on, and with a colleague, home on leave in full dress uniform. I arrived at Huddersfield we ambled around the naval air base carrying stretcher and train station and was spotted by Mrs Bond the music first aid kit, hollering, “Helloooo, is anybody there”, “Help” mistress from High School. Oh was she keen to come and the wailing of despondent cries replied. The casualties talk to me, fair galloping up the platform. Reach me? I think were bandaged, and with splints and braces attached to an not, the snub this time was mine! As I reasoned afterwards array of perceived fractures, they were left in the recovery to my mother, if I wasn’t good enough to speak to when I position. At the completion of the exercise, with mug of tea was wearing clogs and an overall then there was no reason in hand, I tracked my progress through the array of bodies she could speak to me when I was wearing a naval uniform. and considered that providence was on my side: rather the first aider than casualty. My first draft was the Navy signals training ship HMS Mercury situated about an hour from Portsmouth. It was Then there was the fire training. After the talk on how to whilst I was stationed here that I was permanently scarred. operate the equipment we were expected to put theory to What happened? The smaller, underlying scars occurred practice and demonstrate the use of fire extinguishers on a as my left hand passed through the glass of the servery controlled blaze. These were old extinguishers which had window. There were no stitches or heavy bandages on this a large pointed button type device that had to be pushed occasion. A few days after this event, there I was carrying down into the cylinder in order to make the extinguisher a heavy tray to the Officer’s Quarters. These offices were work. Fuming and fretting with impatience the Wrens before down an incline and across the main drag from the Wrens me just weren’t strong enough to force this button device Quarters. I got down the deepish snow of the incline down with a hard hit with the hand. Well, it came to my turn successfully and, still carefully carrying the tray, I opened and, acting on my own initiative, I tipped the extinguisher the outer door into the passage and stepped carefully upside down, thumping the button end hard on the ground. across the passage and into the Chief Reg’s office. It worked!
26 The problem was the uncontrolled spraying of water as I had I had been standing there for quite some time with a pair of forgotten to maintain a hold of the hose. It’s always advisable to binoculars that I had picked up in order to watch the chase, have second thoughts before acting; water was everywhere when a male voice resonantly requested the binoculars. - over the floor, over the dustbins, over the windows, over the An ugly clash of wills ensued as I nonchalantly carried on Wrens, over the male instructors. It was when the watching the exercise, replying “not now”. Matters came to Sub-Lieutenant started giving out the order to where a head when on the second time of asking that I turned I should be directing the water that the scale of around and found the Captain standing behind me waiting the problem worsened. A step closer in obedience for the return of his binoculars. I can tell you, he got them to the instructions and water surged over his back that time. When we were sailing back into Helensburgh shoes and up his trouser legs. the Captain decided that the Wrens should ‘dress ship’. By now of course all the Wrens were engaged in thumping This was long before the days when Wrens served on the extinguishers on the ground. There we were clustering board ship so you can imagine the excitement as we slowly around the fire, armed to the teeth with fire extinguishers, moved into the dock area with the Wrens lined up and at having a whale of a time spraying water and foam on attention on the starboard side of the ship. It took only one anything that looked vaguely like a flame: the container on sailor to spot the Wrens dressing ship, for us to arrest the fire had taken on water like a tramp steamer. attention of the sailors, it was flattering. As we reached the berth, the dockside was packed with sailors cheering as the Whilst at Sanderling the Navy allowed a group of Wrens Blackwood berthed. to participate in an exercise tracking submarines in the I left the WRNS in May 1963 and returned to Marsden Gareloch onboard HMS Blackwood and away I went, to finalise my emigration to Australia under the assisted having swallowed sea sickness tablets. The day started off passage scheme. well with coffee in the mess and a tour around the business parts of the ship and eventually we ended up looking Wren Sheila Breen through the cabin window and watching the events as the Sent in by her daughter Karla Breen Rickerby, Main Street, Blackwood followed the on-surface submarines across the Labasheeda, Co Clare, Ireland. Gareloch. [email protected]
27 After a couple of hours of repetitive drill movements including BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL counter and slow marching and halt signals (with the wind TATTOO NOVEMBER 2014 continuing to whip across the airfield) and me taking the lead only using my Drum Majors Staff to provide voiceless In May 14, members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Band commands, we worked well together and Cpl Bug Beech Association (RNVBA) were asked if they wanted to be part appeared to be quite proud of us. A decision was made to of a ‘Massed Band’ for this event which was to be held at have a break and move inside the hanger. As I entered, the NIA Birmingham during November. Having been in the the musicians were having a break and some of them were RN and the RNVBA for nearly 30 years and played at many taking great advantage of the comfy sofas and chairs dotted prestigious events across the world I duly submitted my around the hanger (only in the Army…..). details. Subsequently over 140 personnel (both military and Bd CSgt Nicholls then stated that we would add musicians civilian) volunteered for this event and during the next few and the Drum Majors together and this was when I felt a months the behind the scenes logistics began. In October few butterflies. Although I had done this before at the Royal a final band of 110 personnel were selected to take part Tournament and played at many prestigious events, even carefully taking into account the requirements to have a today there is still that sense of ‘if it goes wrong it is all balanced band of all instruments and percussion. down to me’ feeling. However I puffed out my chest and shouted in my clear Master-at-Arms voice ‘Massed Bands I was informed that I was one of three Drum Majors selected of the Royal Navy, by the centre quick march’. for this event which made me very proud and I spent many hours making sure I had a full grasp of the music There was a wall of sound as the Corps of Drums played that the band would be playing. The last time I had led out their ‘two three beat rolls’ which those of you who have the RNVBA massed bands was in the 1990’s at the Royal heard the professionals of the RM Band Service know Tournament and then my No 1 uniform consisted of the how spine tingling this can be. And we were off with Cpl mandatory wearing of a skirt! How times have changed. Bug Beech and Bd CSgt Nicholls providing advice by the sidelines and my head was turning right and left trying to Personnel taking part came from all corners of the UK so take all the advice whilst trying to march in a straight line! the rehearsal could only take place over one day. RNAS I duly gave my voiceless Drum Major Commands and all Yeovilton was chosen which although involved travelling for three of us counter marched, in perfect unison and even the majority it was fairly central and also had an area large though this was a first ‘basic, lets see how it goes’ rehearsal enough to rehearse a massed band. Rehearsal day dawned I felt really proud and it went very well. and a large contingent from the Fareham and Portsmouth The band continued rehearsing throughout the afternoon area made their way by coach to RNAS Yeovilton. On arrival fine tuning marching and musical points until Bd CSgt we were duly arranged into a massed band by Bd CSgt Nicholls and Cpl Bug Beech were content. I wanted to video Simon Nicholls RM who is the VBI based in Devonport and the display so that I could ‘fine tune’ my own personal drill had been instrumental in putting the whole event together. in the coming days and during this last rehearsal the band pulled out all the stops and they sounded fantastic. Bring The three Drum Majors were informed of what the display on the NIA! On completion goodbyes were said and we all consisted of and I was delighted that I was selected to be departed for our various units. the lead Drum Major. I was informed that this was due to still being a serving member (the other two were civilian males) The following Friday all RNVBA members travelled to RAF and I felt a little ‘spark’ (and a lot of pride) as throughout my Cosford where we were to be staying for the weekend whilst career with all the changes occurring in the RN sometimes playing in the Tattoo. Various little ‘get togethers’ were held as a female I have to work twice as hard to show that I am in different cabins with some getting little sleep that night! just as capable of achieving the aim. We were all up early on Saturday morning as it was over an hours travel to the NIA. Although the morning was to be The hangar where our rehearsal was to be held was great spent rehearsing in the arena I still had a few nerves. On as we had quite a bit of room, but I was told that the NIA arrival at the NIA we sorted out the changing area and made would be twice as big! It appeared to be used by mainly our way ‘backstage’. Army personnel which was typical as it was heated!! Great I thought to myself, six hours of marching practice whilst All three Drum Majors were standing together and a member being nice and cosy and any members or former members of the production team (Army) came over to us. He spoke to of the RNVBA will know that it is rare to rehearse in such the two male Drum Majors (with his back slightly to me) and opulent surroundings! started to brief them on what he wanted until I butted in and stated that actually he should be briefing me as I was the ‘Right then, let’s go outside and rehearse the signals that lead for the display in the arena. There was mumbled ‘sorry’ we need to do’ Cpl Bug Beech RM (Assistant Drum Major from him and then we had the relevant discussion. He did RM Band HMS Collingwood) said to the three Drum Majors. look a little embarrassed at that point and from then on he So my visions of a nice cosy rehearsal clouded before my dealt with me quite nicely. (Bless him). eyes and the four of us moved outside to part of an airfield that had all the cosiness of the Antarctic (and having served As usual for these events, the displays before us went over there that is what it felt like at times!!) However, we ‘WRNS’ time and we only ended up with twenty minutes of our thirty are always prepared and my extra layer of clothing ‘just in minutes rehearsal time. Typical, just when I need all the case’ came in very handy. time I can get!
28 At the end of our rehearsal in which we only managed one full run through due to the technical personnel wanting to sort out lighting etc, Bd CSgt Nicholls informed me that we had to lose 30 seconds from the display. Therefore I would have to cease playing early in one of the marches and alter other drill points. I said to him ‘okay we’ll rehearse that now’ and he replied ‘sorry there is no time’, I’m sure my heart missed a beat at that stage but he said ‘don’t worry, it will be alright, I trust you’ and walked off smiling! I thought that’s okay for him to say that, as he will be stood on a nice cosy dais whilst I have the lead in a huge arena. Oh well, I work at the RN Leadership Academy and their motto is ‘Ready in all Respects’ and Be Prepared’ so I supposed I would have to be!
In true Navy fashion I went away and marched up and down the NIA corridors, singing the display to myself whilst pretending I was twirling a Drum Majors staff (a civilian Chef appeared to wonder if I had ‘lost the plot.’) The performance dawned and resplendent in my No 1 uniform, and after lots of ‘has anyone got a spare……’ etc, the band mustered behind the scenes forty minutes before Three of the female RN personnel involved in the Birmingham we were due to do our display. If you can imagine trying to Tattoo. keep 100+ musicians quiet when they have tubas, cornets, Master-at-Arms ‘Reggie’ Perrin – Drum Major trombones and a plethora of other musical instruments to Petty Officer (FS) Jo Rooke - Clarinet hand then you can imagine why I went and sat ‘quietly’ in Ex Chief Petty Officer Kate Dagleish – Military Side Drum the corner to reflect on the display.
The time had come to make our way stealthily into the Nicholls liaised with me and stated that the previous night’s arena under the cover of darkness whilst the field gun crews display had looked really good and he wanted a repeat were being presented with their trophies. My heart was now performance. (No pressure there then!!) I again was very racing and I was really nervous but there was no chance nervous but I felt this was a good thing as I was no way to back out now. During the introduction of the band there complacent that the display ‘was in the bag’. The band was a spotlight placed on me and I thought ‘this is it show repeated our stealthy manoeuvres into the arena and the them what you are made of girl’. Using my best Master- display went without a hitch. at-Arms voice I gave my commands and we stepped off. Coming up to the first counter-march I gave the signal, On completion I felt that I wanted to do the display again turned and observed that the other two Drum Majors had and again but knew that this was not to be, and that it was executed the move as required as I thought ‘yes’ it is going good to end on such a high. We again took part in the finale to be okay. Quick and slow marching and a fantastic drum and I am not ashamed to admit that at times I did shed a display followed and then it was the finale. So far so good tear as parts of the ceremony were very poignant for me. and I thought about the last minute command from Bd CSgt Nicholls of ‘you need to halt the band nearer the dais’, so I On completion we all boarded our respective coaches and counter marched a little early to get us in position and the departed to all parts of the country. In the comings days, band all halted together. I gave a little cheer to myself (and emails were received at various places stating that the shed a tear) and from now the band were out of my control RNVBA had provided an excellent display and the RNVBA and under the direction of Bd CSgt Nicholls for the finale hierarchy were very proud. The performance would not have piece. happened without Bd CSgt Nicholls’ vision and the huge amount of time he spent in and out of working hours for it Tremendous applause and a few ‘whoops Navy’ from the all to come together during the weekend. Cpl Bug Beech audience later and it was time to leave the arena just like provided superb direction for the Drum Majors display and we had marched in – under the cover of darkness. Behind other VBIs assisted at various times. the arena there were congratulations all round and Bd CSgt Nicholls informed me that he was very pleased (after giving The RNVBA is holding its annual festival on Plymouth Hoe me a lovely hug!) and the ‘think on my feet’ changes to the on Sun 28 June 2015, the day after Armed Forces Day. The display had worked precisely. We then took part in the finale festival involves eight to ten volunteer bands competing for which consisted of 1000+ performers and on completion various trophies throughout the day including best marching travelled back to our overnight accommodation at RAF and best concert performances. The event is free to attend Cosford. and all are very welcome.
The Sunday’s performance was to take place in the Drum Major Master-at-Arms ‘Reggie’ Perrin Royal afternoon and after loading the coaches with all our bags Navy Police and equipment we travelled again to the NIA. Bd CSgt
29 Your Letters THANK YOU ROEDEAN SCHOOL May I take this opportunity to thank the many members of I really enjoyed reading about the Three Winchesters in the Association who gave me support after I fell early on the the Feb issue and would like to add a little PS which might morning of the AGM. interest the authors. I was given painkillers before the meeting and afterwards I was a wartime Wren but before joining up I was a pupil when hospital seemed inevitable members stayed at at Roedean School in Brighton where Daphne was posted. the UJC until St John’s Ambulance arrived with superb The school was evacuated after Dunkirk and I would travel paramedics. Jill Stellingworth accompanied me to hospital to Keswick each term from Bletchley Park as Euston was out and did not leave until a broken femur was confirmed with of action after the Blitz and Roedean became HMS Vernon surgery programmed for the following day. On the Sunday, and now their ensign is laid up in the school chapel. One of members organised shopping for essentials and visited me the Wrens serving there has written and published her in the afternoon. Visitors came on subsequent days until I memoirs & the school proudly entertains her “ Old Boys” was driven home - ambulance again. which are fast shrinking in number. My thanks also to members of my own Branch who, with Just before I left Brighton I sat next to one such at a the help of most efficient Virgin staff were prepared to performance of “Oh what a lovely war” in the school Theatre manhandle a wheelchair which made it possible for me to and learnt from him that he had never seen the undercliff attend the Carol Service and dinner. Thank you all for your promenade because of barbed wire sea defences. cards, letters and flowers. How lucky we are in the UK to Roedean has its own little tunnel to the beach where I had have so many superb organisations not least our own. spent every night in that May month listening to the guns I have tried to avoid names as I would be sure to leave of Dunkirk and wondering if invasion was coming. I found someone out but Jill deserves a mention after being stuck in this intriguing and I wondered where Daphne was billeted a not very nice part of the East End at 2230 on a Saturday as I think the ships company of men took up all the rooms. I night. know that Marine Gate, a block of flats nearby where I lived, Rosemary Smith, Trustee was the officers quarters and was told that the little hospital at the rear was the Wrennery. ENIGMA AND UNDIES It is so interesting reading about all the places I have known I just had to reply to the Wren who said she hung undies on and loved and their wartime history. Later I did return to the enigma machines. It was an impossibility. The undies Brighton and stayed for 50 years. I am enjoying my monthly would have covered a drum making the machine inoperable. trips to Weymouth now. Whoever wrote that item could not have been an enigma Wren at Gayhurst Manor, because we did not do our own Pamela Perrins, [email protected] laundry, it was sent with the linen to the local laundry. Quarr Lane Farm, Quarr Lane, Bridport Dorset DT6 6AQ Margaret E Francis, 7757 Tommy St Apt.1, San Diego, Tel 01308 421477 CA92119, United States 60 YEARS - IS THIS A RECORD? I read with interest the letter from Mary Grant in the October Issue of the ‘The Wren’ - 60 years, is this a record? In February 1945 I was seventeen and a half years old and travelling by train from Perth to London en route for Mill Hill, when the train stopped at York and a young woman got on. She glanced nervously around then sat down beside me. We got talking and discovered that we were both going to the Wrens training depot at Mill hHill. As it was the first trip away from home for us both, we immediately became friends. Meg (Margaret Taylor) was from Castleford, Yorkshire and myself (Catherine Cuthbert) from Auchterarder, Perthshire. After training as Ships Cooks we were both drafted to Dunino, a Fleet Air Arm station in Scotland. We were at Dunino for a year or more when it closed down and we spent the next twelve months at HMS Vernon, Portsmouth. We were demobbed at the same time and kept in touch regularly. When I emigrated to Australia in 1962 we still wrote to each other and phoned occasionally. Around 1995 Meg came to Australia for a holiday and I visited Meg in Merseyside when I took a trip back to the UK. Sadly Meg passed away in 2012. That was 67 years of wonderful friendship with many fond memories. I belong to the Melbourne Branch of the Photo taken in 1946 at the Garrison Church in Portsmouth. Association of Wrens and enjoy reading your magazine L to R Meg Taylor, Jean Sperring from Weston Super Mare, each month. Catherine Cuthbert Catherine C. L Robertson nee Cuthbertson
30 WWII MEDAL PRESENTED AFTER 70 YEARS
Kathleen Knowles joined the WRNS via HMS Seeing an article in The Wren magazine giving PEMBROKE in 1943, and was then posted to HMS details of how to apply for service records of WRNS VICTORY III at Woodley Park, Wantage before joining who had served from 1939-1955, Jackie, with the HMS DAEDALUS (RAF Defford) in May 1943. It approval of Kathleen’s son, sent off for Kathleen’s was here that she worked in the highly confidential service record and thus discovered that, while area of the Radar Research Flying Unit where they eligible for the War Medal, Kathleen had never been tested radar systems which were to revolutionise issued with the medal nor had claimed it. With the the operational capability of Allied aircraft. Kathleen encouragement of, and on behalf of, Kathleen’s finally left the WRNS in 1946 without knowing that family, Jackie sent off for the application forms for she had been awarded a World War II Medal for her the War Medal which Kathleen’s son then completed time in the Service. After the war Kathleen and her and submitted. So it was not until 22 July 2014 – 70 husband moved to Brazil and then to Portugal and it years after it was awarded that the medal Kathleen was here in 1993 that she met up with another ex- was entitled to has now been claimed by her family. Wren Jackie Kennard (nee Piper) whose husband was The presentation of the medal by Rear Admiral T serving within the NATO HQ near Lisbon. In 2010, M Lowe (Deputy Commander Naval Striking and Jackie and her husband returned to Lisbon and she Support Forces NATO) to Kathleen’s family took made enquiries as to Kathleen’s whereabouts. She place on Wednesday, 12 November 2014 in the discovered that Kathleen had died in 2006 but then Messe de Cascais, near Lisbon. realised that someone she had known for several years was in fact one of Kathleen’s 11 children. Jackie Kennard
31 Book Reviews
BARBARA PYM – A PASSIONATE FORCE THE GIRLS WHO WENT TO WAR by Anne Allestree by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi
In 1977 Barbara Pym was mentioned twice by both Philip By the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone against Larkin and Lord David Cecil in a Times Literary Supplement Germany, with an army just one third of its size. In the as being one of the most underrated writers of the century. fight against Hitler, manpower alone was never going to be This biography tells her story. Of particular interest to Wrens enough. is the chapter on her WRNS service. The first years of the war were spent poaching eggs in the YMCA Canteen, Mothballed after the First World War, the women’s forces helping in the baby clinic and writing novels when not were hastily remustered and a massive propaganda drive on duty in Oswestry Military Camp, but a love affair that put into gear. More than half a million young women joined went wrong ‘catapulted’ her into the WRNS in July 1943. the Army, Navy and Air Force, lured by the opportunity for Struggling at first like so many Wrens used to very different independence and adventure, and the prospect of doing lives within a couple of months she admitted, ‘It has given something important for the war effort. me confidence’. Promoted to Third Officer in 1944 she They came from all walks of life, from the Blitz-ravaged East joined the Southampton Censorship Office and was praised End through to debutantes who worked their connections by her senior officers for being ‘intelligent and adaptable’. to get into the Women’s Royal Naval Service (“Wrens”) – Her subsequent posting to Naples provided experiences and even the young Princess Elizabeth, who became a she was able to use in her later novels. mechanic in the woman’s Army, the ATS. They left behind sheltered home lives for the rigours of drill practise and Published by Book Guild Publishing. Hardback £17.99 route marches, the humiliations of VD inspections and ISBN 9781910298510 harsh military discipline, and the spartan conditions of camp life. But along the way they found comradeship, freedom THE BLETCHLEY GIRLS and a sense of purpose that they would otherwise never have known. by Tessa Dunlop Published to tie in with the 70th anniversary of VE Day on Tessa wanted to write about the women who worked at May 8th, and including vivid descriptions of the celebrations Bletchley but she also wanted the story to encompass more in London and around the world, The Girls Who Went to than just their day to day life. War tells the remarkable true stories of three of those young In her search for information she interviewed several of women, and is informed by interviews with many more. those ladies and in the process uncovered not just their war Jessie Denby went from a quiet country village to shooting stories but the background to how they came to Bletchley down German planes in an ATS ack-ack battery, Margery and it has turned into a fascinating, lively and very readable Harley found herself working on an RAF base in the story. Egyptian desert, and Kathleen Skin toiled in the Land Army before winning her dream job as an armourer in the Available on Kindle and also in book form. Wrens. Their personal stories are woven into a readable Published by Hodder and Stoughton ISBN 978 1444 795938 and evocative work of narrative non-fiction, providing a fascinating insight into the experience and contribution of a forgotten generation of women.
Wren Geraldine Wells, 91, was working on a naval base at Scapa Flow, where she witnessed the surrender of the German U-boat fleet. “They were all lined up, about 20 of them,” she remembers. “We saw the crews being marched away and were allowed to go on board one. It was very strange to think, they nearly starved us out during the Battle of the Atlantic. So many merchantmen lost, keeping the country supplied with food. That was a strange experience.”
CORRECTION. February 2015 Many left the forces having made friends for life, and those In the write up for the book ‘Changing women’s lives’ by who still survive meet up regularly through local branches Alice Wilson, it states Dame Rosemary Murray as being of the WAAF, WRNS and ATS associations that still exist all Chairman for 25 years of the Cambridge and District around Britain. Branch. In fact she was our President for that time. A wonderful person, it was a privilege to have known her. The Girls Who Went to War published on 7 May by Harper Margaret Staples. Branch Chairman. Element (£7.99). ISBN 9780007501229.
32 Veterans Corner NOMINATION FOR FREEDOM OF BLETCHLEY PARK HEROES RETURN 2 - This is open to all those who worked there or at the Y Stations FUNDING EXTENDED UNTIL 31 DEC 2015 during WWII. Benefits include free entry to the park for life, a The Big Lottery Fund has extended its Heroes Return 2 certificate and pass, inclusion on a Roll of Honour andan programme for WWII veterans. To enable as many veterans occasional veterans’ newsletter (in addition to the Friends’ as possible have this opportunity, they only fund one visit for newsletter). Details are available from the Administrator, please each veteran, widow or widower. This means that if a veteran include a SAE. has already received funding for a commemorative visit since Bletchley Park Commemorative Badge On behalf of Her April 2009, they would not be able to fund a second visit. Grants Majesty’s Government, GCHQ is delighted to recognise the vital range from £165 to £8,140. service of those who worked at Bletchley Park and its outstations during WWII, by presenting veterans with a commemorative This will ensure WWII veterans from the UK, Channel Islands badge. If you feel you qualify for a commemorative badge and Republic of Ireland who are yet to take advantage of the please visit the GCHQ website: funding will have more time to apply for grants to cover travel www.gchq.gov.uk/history/commemoration or contact them on and accommodation expenses and enables them to make 01242 221491. trips back to places across the world and in UK where they served. They can also receive funding to take part in an official SEAFARERS LINK/WRENS VIRTUAL BRANCH commemoration in the UK. The Seafarers Link was established with the aim of tackling Visit the website http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/ isolation and loneliness by linking up retired and elderly programmes/uk-wide/heroes-return seafarers and their dependants through telephone support and or telephone 0845 0000 121. friendship groups using telephone conference technology. Members of these groups are able to link up every fortnight THE LONDON TAXI DRIVER BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION from their own telephone line, connecting between 4-8 people FOR WAR DISABLED together. These groups offer an opportunity to reminisce about The Association aims to help the war disabled and veterans by the past, swap stories and experiences. It is also a great way providing entertainment, outings and specialised equipment. to make new friends. In particular they run an annual trip to Worthing, collecting the If you know anyone who would benefit from these calls, or war disabled and veterans from all over London. For further are interested in joining yourself, contact Mrs Chris Rankin details telephone 07860 850102, email [email protected] or on 01752 812674 or email [email protected] for visit their website at www.taxicharity.org. more information.
33 Events and Reunions
WARSPITE 295 Picture the scene: I am pruning a couple of apple trees in my garden on a sunny summer Sunday afternoon last year to the tunes of BBC Radio 2. The Paul O’Grady show ran their regular ‘Where are you now?” slot. My attention was caught when they disclosed the plea came from two ex-Wrens, but when it turned out they had joined up in September 1975 and had been in WARSPITE 295 Division my pruning ceased! Those two ex-Wrens were Fran Stewart (nee Jones) and Rose Over (nee Smith) and I am back in contact with them both. As this year will be our 40th Anniversary of joining up we thought it would be fun to try and find as many more of that Division as we can and meet up in London over the weekend 5-6 September. So, if you are one of the ones featured below, or know someone that is, please make contact with Rose Over on 01297 560133 or by e-mail [email protected]. Let’s hope we can get quite a group together. Elaine Smith South Dorset Branch and National Standard Bearer
Warspite Division H M S Dauntless
Lascaris (Malta) Association Reuniting Men & Women who served the Crown in Malta G.C.
Did You Serve Ashore Or On A Ship Based In Malta G.C.?
The Lascaris (Malta) Association has around 200 members and are a happy bunch that produces a quarterly newsletter and holds an annual reunion at locations around the UK. The Association’s 2015 Annual Reunion is a special occasion as it is our 25th Anniversary and it will be held on Monday 21st - Friday 25th September 2015, at the Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea.
If you served with us in Malta, we would be delighted if you could join us for this reunion, whether it is for just the Gala dinner that will be held at 1930 on Wednesday 23rd September or any number of days across the period.
The cost for the Gala Dinner is just £29 that includes post-dinner entertainment by Shep Woolley with his unique brand of naval humour and songs. We will also have live entertainment on the evening of Tuesday 22nd September when the excellent comedienne / Vocalist ‘Ajay’ will be performing. If you require accommodation then a booking form can be sent to you or you can make your own arrangements although the B&B rate of £42.50 (+£10 Single Supplement} being offered by the Royal Beach Hotel is very good.
SO………Join with us in celebrating our Silver Anniversary Year by contacting the Association Newsletter Editor, Jim Goode for further information. [email protected] Four Winds, Rock Lane, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1SF
34 ARMED FORCES DAY MEDWAY TOWNS Saturday 27th June 2015
All veterans and their families are very welcome to join us for this FREE entry event as individuals or groups. They will find a huge amount to entertain them from arena displays to band concerts, a multitude of active display stands from Guildford will host celebrations the armed forces, all rounded off with a traditional Beat Retreat. We even have a Veterans Hospitality Area where for Armed Forces Day 2015 you can have a break and relax! We always have a major armed forces and veterans parade which all veterans and Guildford, with its strong historic and present day military association Standard Bearers are very welcome to join. links, has been chosen to host the prestigious Armed Forces Interested parties can visit the Medway Council website Day national event on Saturday 27 June 2015. which will be updated as more information becomes available - www.visitmedway.org/events/armed-forces-day Guildford Borough Council is planning an exciting line-up of events including a special service at Guildford Cathedral, a formal parade in Guildford High Street, and a spectacular Swindon & District Branch - 30th Anniversary High Tea military show at Stoke Park followed by ‘picnic and proms Saturday 12 September 2015, 2pm-5pm in the park’. An impressive air display will complete a De Vere Village Hotel Swindon memorable day. £12 per person - limited spaces Please send cheque made payable to The WRNS BT and AOW intend to be present at his event, “Swindon & District Branch of the Wrens Association’” but at the time of writing we do not have the final details of plus sae to the Hon Secretary, Swindon Branch our representation. If you live in the area and would like to c/o 2 Walcot Road, Swindon SN3 1BH be involved please contact either charity. by 1 July 2015 There are a limited number of rooms available at the PORTSMOUTH BRANCH COFFEE MORNING hotel at a special rate of £69 per room (non refundable) including breakfast. On 22nd July 2015 Portsmouth Branch are holding a fund- Email [email protected] for more details raising coffee morning on board HMS Warrior 1860 in We plan to take overnight visitors to Lydiard Park and/or Portsmouth Dockyard between 1020-1230. Tickets are £5 Swindon Outlet Village per person and include tea/coffee and cake(s) plus unlimited access to the ship. You will be allowed to ‘linger’ on board after 1230 should you arrive later rather than earlier. Tickets available by contacting Tina Lowe. Warspite 200 [email protected] or 01329 843347 On June 18th 2015 six members of Warspite 200 who joined up on 28th September 1965 will be meeting up in Fareham, FORT CUMBERLAND REUNION Hampshire to celebrate their 50th anniversary. If anyone else from that intake would like to join them, please contact I am organising what will be the final reunion of the personnel Tina Lowe (nee Hills) telephone: 01329 843347 or email: who served at Fort Cumberland. The Fort was in use from [email protected] the 1930s to the early seventies. Throughout this period a number of Wrens served at the Fort as clerks and in the Technical Stores Departments. It is possible that some of these ex-Wrens may like to Are you an ex-WRNS Writer? attend this reunion. It is to take place on Saturday 10 If so you are eligible to become a member of the World’s October 2015 here in Portsmouth. It will consist of a lunch Oldest Military Association, the Royal Naval Writers’ time get-together at the RMA Club Eastney, followed by a Association (RNWA) - £5.00 per annum membership. visit to Fort Cumberland in the afternoon. There will be an The RNWA 128th Reunion Dinner is being held on Friday evening function at The Royal Maritime Club, Portsmouth. 9th October 2015 at The Best Western Royal Beach Hotel Please contact Tony Cook Telephone 023 92 453953 email Southsea. For full details on membership, bi-monthly meetings at the RNA Gosport Branch, the RNWA’s history, [email protected] dinner and ‘dits’, please see www.rnwa.co.uk or contact Mr AGUILA WRENS MEMORIAL Les Heyhoe, RNWA Secretary, 112 St Vincent Road, Gosport, Hants PO12 4RF York Branch are holding the biannual Aguila Wrens Memorial Tel: 02392 357181 Mob: 07950 934888. on Sunday 16th August. Full details have not yet been finalised but the Service will take place at approximately Not an ex-Writer or RNWA member? then you are still 1230 at the Harbour Seat followed by a boat trip to lay the welcome to join us and take advantage of what has already wreath at sea. been organised so why not use this date and venue to For further details please contact Pat Farrington. arrange your own individual or branch reunion. Tel 01904 798306 email [email protected]
35 DISCOUNTS DEALS AND DETAILS! All negotiated by Associations which are members of CONA - Conference of Naval Associations - for all its members, and that means US. If you have a computer, download the CONA March 2015 Cruise Companies offer on board spending money to Newsletter, accessible from the CONA website: www.cona. Service and Ex-Service personnel. org.uk and read about the discounts and deals which are For Cunard tel: 0843 374 0000, quoting promotion code available. If not, then here are some contact details which HMS; for P&O Cruises tel: 0843 374 0111, code HMS; may be useful to you. Don’t forget to quote CONA. for Princess Cruises phone 0843 374 4444, code ZMB to take advantage. The CONA Holiday Service continues to offer excellent discounts on a variety of holidays, short breaks, cruises, RAC Breakdown cover is offered, through ARNO, at tours, for groups, families or individuals, and in addition cut price rates. Full cover, which includes: roadside, at gives 1% of the cost of holidays booked by members directly home recovery, onward travel and European cover is to CONA. If you are planning a trip you have nothing to lose £70 per annum. Without Onward travel, £65 per annum. by talking to the UK Holiday Group first. Contact [email protected] or tel: 0207 402 5231. Write to: UKHG, The Old Bakery, Norwich NR1 3PL or tel: 0844 264 2120 The China Fleet Club, in Saltash, Cornwall, has been given a substantial grant by RNRMC to upgrade and Coleman/Ansvar offer 15% discount on Home Insurance. refurbish its facilities. If you fancy a relaxing break this Contact Coleman Insurance Brokers, 8 Albany Park, Cabot year, and would like to check out the Club in person, Lane, Poole, Dorset BH17 7AZ, or tel: 01202 647400 contact www.china-fleet.co.uk, or tel: 01752 848668
36 WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
WERE YOU AT ST MERRYN IN 1950?
My Mum, Pam Gibson, was recently having a clear out and found two cards which were signed by all her colleagues and friends when she left St Merryn in December 1950. As we were looking at all the names, she said “ I wonder if anyone is still around, I would love to show this to them”. She knows some of her friends have died but there may be a few people who still read The Wren magazine and may recognise their name or signature? Mum loved being in the Wrens and often talks about her times there - she was based at St Merryn and in Abottsinch in Scotland where she met my Dad (Harry McKie) who was doing his National Service in the Royal Navy. Her name is now Pam McKie and she still subscribes to The Wren magazine which she reads avidly. She is nearly 91 and still full of spirit and wears her Wren badge with pride. Alison Baillie 0161 976 2036 [email protected]
JUNE HUTCHINSON MARION GOLAUP I’m looking for anyone who knew June Hutchinson. She was I was in the Wrens from 1967-72. I served at Faslane (twice), a Telegraphist. I know she was working in the Weymouth Singapore and Mauritius. I am trying to trace anyone who area in April 1944 and was on duty during Exercise Tiger. knew me especially a Wren called Denise Trott who was I am writing a book and if possible would like any information a bridesmaid at my registry office wedding to a Mauritian by July 2015 in order to meet my publication date of July local. She had taken some photos and signed as a witness. 2016. Also looking for Paula Alexian or Clewes from my Singapore My postal address in the UK is - Flat 3, 7 Vicarage Gate, draft. London W8 4HH and my phone number is 0781 706 6130. Mrs Marion Golaup. 63 Eastern Avenue, Largs KA30 9EQ Email [email protected] Email: [email protected] Thank you for your help. Liz Fenwick GIBRALTAR REVISITED GRACE HAWES (NEE FRY) was the secretary of the AUSCANUKUSNZ Navcomms I stumbled across ‘Gibraltar revisited’ on your organisation in Washington circa 1981-4. I was the Australian webpage. I was there from Feb 69 to July 71. member of the Washington working group (a somewhat I was based in the civil airport as part of Air Movements. loose term to justify the extent of our social program). I often met the Navy when they delivered diplomatic type Grace and Bill (her then husband) had Christmas dinner mail to us, destined for the UK. I remember the WRNS with us in either 1983 or 1984 so my wife and I decided being temporalily based at Devils Tower with the WRAF & we should contact her to renew the acquaintance after 30 WRAC. I helped to run the water ski club and often helped years. If anybody knows Grace’s whereabouts and could let the Navy to ski. I can only remember one name - Sue Lloyd. me know contact details, I would be most grateful. Ring any bells? Peter Mole, Ex Commander RAN, Steve Mawdsley [email protected] [email protected], +61 2 61611949
37 BERYL MARTIN (nee BOWMAN) Peter Finds his Old Friend Sylvia I would very much like to be remembered to Beryl Martin In February 2014 the Wren magazine posted a notice about (née Bowman) who was a work colleague at HMS Pembroke Peter Cooper’s search for an old friend called Sylvia who in 1957-1958. Beryl was a Wren Wtr (G) who, along with had been a Wren Radio Mechanic at HMS Merganser two other ladies (Ann Revill and ‘Freddie’- sorry, I cannot in Aberdeenshire in June 1946. He had found an old recall her surname), manned the Correspondence Office photograph of her whilst clearing out and wondered what in support of mainly Chatham-based small craft. A small had happened to her. As well as contacting the Association, Naval Stores and Victualing team gave added support. In Peter had an article in the Daily Mail’s ‘Lost and Found’ an adjacent building other Wren Wtrs undertook the pay column asking for help. With the help of ex-Wren Joy ledgers. Collectively, the S&S commitment was known as Oxlade, and by contacting the MOD, five possible Sylvias Pembroke IV. Having left there in December 1958, I have were identified and with careful research these were filtered little further knowledge of Beryl, other than she later married down to just one who turned out to be the right person. A and moved to Devon. I am hopeful that someone may know second article appeared in the Daily Mail in April this year to her. announce that Sylvia had been found. Subsequent to this Pat Humphreys (ex Jack Dusty (V)) article, Peter and Sylvia’s families have enabled them to [email protected] meet up again. Peter considers this a miracle as he had such a small amount of information to go on. PEGGY TERESA NANCY KENNETT I am writing a biography about Peggy Teresa Nancy Kennett (Jan. 1, 1924 - Nov. 4, 1996) Born in St. Leonard’s- WARTIME NEWS on-Sea, East Sussex England. WRNR, Division Sussex. I publish Wartime News and have done since 1995. From SD /W 160. what began as a simple newsletter, containing the personal Enrolment - 29 Oct. 1956, Discharged - 22 April 1959. reminiscences of the veterans of WWII, the publication grew Served HMS Drake, Pembroke, Sussex. Signals. and together we formed the Wartime Company producing a quarterly publication which quickly spread throughout the Anyone who knew her while she was in WRNR or during world. WWII (may have worked at Bletchley Park) please contact: I have a great rapport with the WAAFs but I have very Ronald Benson, P.O. Box 701, Lytton B.C., Canada little contact with the Wrens and yet a great number of V0K 1Z0, PH: 250 - 455 - 0344 readers are ex-Royal Navy. I’d be delighted if you could mention WTN to your members and invite their input to future editions. HERMES DIVISION 14 Barry Wilbraham My name is (nee Barker) and I wondered if Jackie Straker My address is: Wartime Newsreel, 34 Bushmead Drive, your readers would be interested in my photos. (See below Ashley Heath, Ringwood, BH24 2HU and back cover) I joined the Wrens in July 1981 and was in Tel: 01425 838805 email: [email protected] Hermes 14, the last division to pass out of HMS Dauntless, see: www.wartimenews.co.uk Burghfield, on 14th August 1981, before the WRNS training moved to Raleigh. As part of our passing out parade, we had to march out of the gates and down the road. We were Where Are You Now? then dismissed, to walk back to Dauntless and our waiting HMS Ariel 1953 families. I am front row, far right - waving my hands around). I The Wrens in this picture are Bridget Adams, Jayne would love to hear from any of your readers who remembered Baynes, Shirley Bolton (now Kearly), Wendy Catrall, Jane this event or the MT Branch from around this time. Humphrey (now Biggs emigrated to Canada) Maureen [email protected] Kelley, Viv Reynolds, Mary Shearmur, Judy Stangroom, Rosalie Salvatori, Margaret Thorman, and myself Pat Owen (now Howard and living in Texas). If anyone knows any of these people or their whereabouts, I would be interested in hearing. We are about 80 yrs now. From Pat Howard. Please contact Celia [email protected] 01792 641747
38 DEATHS With all our notices of members passing away, there will be many who have shared years of friendship and others only a short acquaintance. Each one will be sadly missed by family and friends and the Association would wish to record our appreciation of the loyalty and commitment given to the Association. ADAMS Winifred Agnes (née Lockyer) BLOWERS Yvonne (née Boiteux- DESERT Lucy Anne (née Cockeram, 1943-45. Wren Radio Mechanic. Buchanan) 1942-45. Served Balloch formerly Haines) 1942-46. PO Wren Served Gosport. Died December 2014 (Scotland), Bristol, Plymouth, WTR (P). Served HMS Pembroke, aged 96. Falmouth and MV Dahinda. Died 20 Drake, Hannibal, St Angelo, Eaglet January 2015 aged 89. and Forth. Died 2014 aged 91. AMBLER Avis Joyce (née Boaden) 1944-49. PO Wren. Served Bletchley BRENTNALL Doreen Evelyn DEVINE Ellen (née Kavanagh) Park, Colombo and RNAS Abbotsinch. (née Guilliard) 1942-46. Wren 1945-46. Wren Steward (O). Served Died 11 February 2015 aged 88. Minewatching. Served HMS Pembroke Glasgow. Died 29 January 2015 in III, IV and Richmond. Former member Ottawa aged 87. ARIS Maisie Doreen, known as of Stafford Branch. Died 28 January Susan, (née Hume) 1941-46. PO 2015 aged 90. DOREY Margaret Betty (née Dale) Wren Radio Mechanic. Served RNAS 1941-45. PO Wren Radar Operator. at Lee-on-Solent and Shrivenham. BRUSHFIELD Eleanor 1941-45. CPO Served Greenwich, RAF Yatebury, Died 17 March 2015 aged 91. Wren Special Duties. Served HMS Dartmouth, RAF Beer, HMS Ringtail Flowerdown, Excellent and Worthy (RNAS Burscough) and Formby. Died ATKINSON Joyce Marjorie (née Down. Died 23 October 2014 aged 97. 1 March 2015 aged 92. Shepherd) 1943-46. Wren SDO Watchkeeper. Served HMS Lynx. Died CHANCE Emily Elizabeth, known as EATON Charmian Frances Codyre 10 December 2014 aged 91. Leigh (née Gillespie) 1942-47. PO (née Ward) 1949-66. Died 2014 aged Wren Telegraphist Y Branch. Served 89. BAKER Joan (née Kirk, formerly Soberton Towers, HMS Flowerdown, Brown) 1943-46. L/Wren. Served HMS Irton Moor (Scarborough), Lanka and FINN Betty Kathleen. 1943-45. Wren Pembroke III, Beaver and Demetrius. Anderson (Ceylon). Died February Air Mechanic. Served RNAS Maydown Died 15 November 2014 aged 91. 2015 aged 95. and Crail. Died March 2015 aged 91.
BASTER Janet. 1956-60. Wren CHOULES Ena Mary (née Golding) FITCH-NORTHERN Joan (née Air Mechanic. Served HMS Heron, 1942-47. Wren Air Mechanic. Served McVicar) 1942-46. Wren Boats Crew Gamecock and Fulmar. Much loved Worthy Down and St Merryn. Died 2 and Wtr Pay (DEMS). Served FS Paris, member of Bromley Branch. Died in February 2015 aged 91. HMS Britannia II, RNC Dartmouth, Petts Wood, Kent, 27 February 2015 HMS Drake, Pembroke III, Lanka and aged 77. CLARKE Ethel, known as Penny (née Victory IV. Died 4 December 2014 White) 1943-44. Served Southwick aged 96. BAXTER Evelyn Elizabeth (Betty) House. Died 26 December 2014 aged 1944-47. Wren Wtr. Served HMS 90. FITTON Nanette Gordon (née Fleet) Pembroke III, Victory III and Pembroke 1943-46. Wren Visual Signaller. I. Member of Kingston-upon-Thames COLDWELL-HORSFALL Mary Served HMS Dinosaur, Cabbala, Branch. Died 18 February 2015 aged Charlotte (née Poole) 1941-45. 3/O. Nemo and Ganges. Died 1 January 89. Served HMS Lynx, Defiance and 2015 aged 91. Alexandria. Died 2 February 2015 BEST Elizabeth Kaye (née Robinson) aged 93. FLETCHER Audrey (née Jackson) 1940-45. PO Quarters. Died 10 1944-45. Wren T/P Operator. Served February 2015 aged 92. COURT Elsie Mary (née Stanton) HMS Pembroke III and Dartmouth. 1940-45. PO Wren Cook (O). Served Died January 2015 aged 89. BIRD Julie (née Coard) 1967-81. HMS Hornet and Attack. Died 24 PO Wren Writer (Pay). Served HMS November 2014 aged 91. FORSON Elspeth (née Harper) 1970- Pembroke, Excellent, Goldcrest, 85. Chief Wren Comms (WRNR). Heron, Seahawk, Daedalus, CTCRM. DALE Joan Evelyn (née Banks) Served HMS Claverhouse. Died 10 Previous Treasurer of Ipswich and WRNS 1943-46 and WRNR from March 2015 aged 79. District Branch. Died 28 February 1948. L/Wren Wtr (G). Served HMS 2015 aged 65. Pembroke III, Spartiate, Europa, RNH FOWLER Kathleen Ursula (née Haslar, Kilmalcolm, Lowestoft and Freeman) 1945-47. Wren Wtr (G). BLAIKIE Audrey 1954-67. WRNR Corsham. Died 13 December 2014 RPO. Served HMS Claverhouse. Died aged 92. FRENCH Marjorie Joan (née Sims) 5 January 2015 aged 81. 1949-57. Wren Steward. Served HMS DEAR G Elizabeth (née Baldwin) Collingwood and RNAS Culdrose. BLIGH Lady Ruth Pamela (née 1942-48. CPO Meteorologist. Served Died 6 January 2015 aged 86. Robertson, formerly Stokes) 1942- HMS Pembroke, Heron, Nightjar, 45. SDO. Served RM Eastney, HMS Jackdaw, Goldcrest I and Goldcrest II. FYLES Joyce (née Broadhurst) 1948- Vectis and St Angelo. Past President Died 24 March 2015 aged 91. 51. Wren Air Mechanic (E) Served of Aylesbury Vale Branch (1993–99). HMS Heron and Fulmar. Died 16 Died 2 February 2015 aged 91. February 2015 aged 84.
39 GAVIN Jean Dyson (née Rob) 1941- HUGHES Audrey Eileen, known as LAWTON Pamela Joan (née 45. Wren Telegraphist. Served HMS Terry, (née Mills) 1947-50. L/Wren Parkinson) WRNS 1943-46 and Cabbala, Warren and Faraway. Cinema Operator. Served HMS WRNR to 1956. Wren Wtr. Served Former member of Reading Branch. President, Pembroke, Seahawk, HMS St Christopher (Fort William) Died 11 February 2015 aged 93. Daedalus and Cochrane. Former and Glendower (Criccieth). Died 30 President of Nottingham Branch. Died November 2014 aged 89. GEE Alice Lucy (née Cyphus) 1943- 19 November 2014 aged 85. 46. L/Wren Cook (O). Died December LEES Margaret Mary (née McDonnell). 2014 aged 91. JACKSON E Lavender. Died 2014/15. Died 2014.
GILDER Sylvia May (née Tyrer) 1940- JACOMBS Joyce Edith (née Clark) LOADER Joan (née Watkins) 1943- 46. Cook. Served HMS Greenwich 1943-46. L/Wren Wtr. Served HMS 50. Chief Wren Reg. Served Liverpool, and Padstow. Died 16 December Heron, Forte, and Drake. Died 16 Torpoint, Abbotsinch, Lee on the 2014 aged 97. December 2014 aged 94. Solent and St Merryn. Daughter of Master Mariner, Capt Thomas Railston GRIFFIN Joan Mary (née Smith) WWII JENNINGS Eileen (née Wright). Watkins and wife of the late CPO Eric Wren Signals. Died 12 February 2015 Frank Loader. Died 25 January 2015 aged 93. JOHNSON Muriel Doreen (née aged 90. Arthurs) 1944-46. Wren MT. Died 11 HAMMOND Nancy (née Drew) 1942- January 2015 aged 91. MANN (BEM) Maureen (née White) 46. PO Wren SDO. Served at Leith 1956-78. Chief Wren Stores (V) and Granton, HMS Proserpine and JONES Joan Margaret (née Snelling) and Welfare Worker. Served HMS Shrapnel. Died 13 March 2015 aged 1943-45. Served HMS Cabbala Caledonia, Phoenica, Pembroke, 93. and Coastguard Station (Mumbles). President, Victory, Raleigh, Daedalus Former member of Swansea Branch. and Osprey. Died 16 December 2014 HICKIE Mollie (née Willing) 1943- Died 2 December 2014 aged 95. aged 78. 47. L/Wren Wtr. Served HMS Kestrel (Winchester), Royal Arthur JONES Yvonne June (née Clark) MARSHALL Patricia Margaret (née (Skegness), Beehive (Felixstowe) 1952-56. L/Wren Met. Served Roads) 1945-47. L/Wren Special and Naval Party 1749 (Lubbecke Nuneaton, N.Ireland, Scotland and Duties Wren Writer P5. Served HMS and Hamburg, Germany). Died 17 Wales. Died 1 October 2014 aged 80. Pembroke, Demetrius. Died 3 March February 2015 aged 100. 2015 Takapuna, New Zealand. KELLY Marguerite Blanche (née HIGGINSON Kathleen Dorothy, Ryser) 1943-46. Died 13 December MARTIN MBE Audrey Grace 1956- known as Lesley, (née Rushton) 2014 aged 95. 60. L/Wren Comms. Served Admiralty, 1944-47. Wren M/T Driver. Served Malta and HMS Dauntless. Died 17 HMS Northney, Victory and Peewit. KILLBY Margaret Elizabeth, known February 2015 aged 82. Personal Driver for Admiral of the as Mollie, (née Woodyear) 1943-46. Fleet (HMS St George) and also for 3/O Signals. Served Lyness (Orkney), MEDLOCK Margery (née Curry) 1943- Dame Vera Laughton Matthews. Died Portsmouth, France, Germany and 46 and 1947-49. PO Wren Signals. 11 February 2015 aged 88. Whitehall. Died 26 February 2015 Served HMS Pembroke III, Calliope, aged 93. Paragon, Proserpine, Cochrane II, HILDERLEY Doris Enid (née Jackdaw, President I, Heron, Condor, Gurney) 1945-47. Wren Steward. KING Vivienne Rebecca (née Stacey) Mercury, Kestrel and Admiralty. Died 4 Served England and Scotland. Died 1944-46. L/Wren Wtr (S) Served March 2015 aged 90. September 2014 aged 87. RNAS Hinstock, HMS Lucifer and Drake. Member of Swansea Branch. MILLER Laura Joyce (née Miller) HOBSON Joyce (née McGregor) Died 22 January 2015 aged 88. 1941-46. PO Wren W/T. Served HMS 1942-46. Served New College Unicorn, Elfin, Bherunda, Garruda and (London), Soberton Towers, HMS LANE Beryl Vimay (née James, Cochrane. Died 26 December 2014 Flowerdown and Scarborough RN formerly Tranter). WWII Wren. Died 23 aged 93. Wireless Station. Died 30 December February 2015. 2014 aged 91. MONEY Phyllis Lillian (née Lovell) LAWLER Pamela Mary (née 1944-46. Died 1 February 2015 aged HOLBEACH Joanna (née Mellor) Hickman) 1942-46. L/Wren AM (O). 88. WWII. PO Wren served Hanover with Served at Crail, Mill Meece, and Control Commission and Algiers. Died St Merryn. Former Secretary of MORTIMER Patricia Elizabeth 8 January 2015 aged 92. Kingston-on-Thames Branch. Pam (née James) 1942-46. L/Wren T/P will be particularly remembered for the Operator. Served Fort Southwick and HOPLEY Vera Joan (née Edwards) wonderful Garden Parties held over HMS Flowerdown. Died 2007 aged 1943-45. Wren Cinema Operator. many years in her beautiful garden 83. Served HMS Valkyrie. Died peacefully and the production of an amazing 18 January 2015 aged 92. array of delicious homemade cakes. MUNOZ-RAMOS Constance Deneice Died aged 90. (née Wild) 1944-46. L/Wren. Served HOWARD Helen (née Norris) 1967- Millmeece, HMS Landrail and Gosling. 71. PO Wren Steward (O). Served LAWSON Ellen Emily (née Bradford) Died 14 January 2015 aged 88. HMS Vernon, President, Seahawk and 1942-46 L/Wren Wtr. Served Forth Victory. Died 5 January 2015 aged 65. and Ardnadam. Died January 2015 aged 93.
40 NEWTON Jean Winifred May (née RICHARDS Madge Cecilia (née TAYLOR Gertrude Joan (née Swann) Faulkner, previously Kirk) 1943- Hall) 1942-46. PO Wren Radio 1942-46. Died July 2014 aged 92. 46 and 1949-53. Wren Wtr (S) and Mechanic. Served RNAS Warrington, RPO. Served HMS President, Drake Ronaldsway, Arbroath and Farnham. TERRY Catherine Elizabeth. 1942-46. II, Raleigh, NCHQ, Vulture, Garuda, Died 12 March 2015 aged 94. Died September 2014 aged 97. Dauntless, Gannet and Seahawk. Died 10 February 2015 in Sydney, ROSS Anne (née Taylor) 1942-45. L/ TOOLEY Marjory (née Linsley) Australia aged 89. Wren VS Signal School. Served HMS 1944-46. Wren Steward (O). Served Cabbala, Calliope, Proserpine and HMS Pembroke III, Cochrane and NICHOLSON Sheila (née Hunter) Scapa Flow. Died 13 January 2015 Proserpine. Died 25 January 2015 1953-55. Wren Cook. Served HMS aged 92. aged 89. Dauntless and Victory. Died 28 November 2014 aged 79. ROWLANDS Winifred Margaret (née TURK Elsie (née Benson) 1942-48. Lewis) 1942-46. Wren Supplies (V). Died aged 97. NORMAN Patricia Margaret (née Bell) Served at Blundellsands Liverpool, 1943-45. L/Wren Cook. Served HMS Bristol and Milford Haven. Treasurer WASTELL Joyce Evelyn Mary Badger and Ganges. Died 5 January of Rhyl Branch. Died 12 January 2015 1943-46. L/Wren Air Mechanic/EVT 2015 aged 89. aged 92. Instructor. Served HMS Spartiate II, Fledgling, Dipper, Hornbill, Kestrel, PAGE Iris Margaret (née Turner) 1944- SAUNDERS Rosamund Lucy (née Jackdaw, Cabbala, Peewit and 46. L/Wren Radio Mechanic. Served Barker). WWII Wren. Died 15 August Godwit. Died 3 January 2015 aged 91 HMS Pembroke, Mercury, Spartiate, 2015. Siskin and Ariel. Died 10 December WEARDEN Margaret Louisa (née 2014 aged 88. SCHUSTER Audrey 1941-46. Wren Wood) 1949-53. PO Wren Regulating, Degaussing Recorder & Coder. previously Wtr. Served Portsmouth, PAUL Doris Joan 1941-47. 2/O. Served HMS Elfin, Belfast Castle, Rosyth and Abbotsinch. Died 30 Served HMS Fortitude, Orlando, Colombo and Trincomalee, Ceylon. December 2014 aged 83. Warren, Monster, Eaglet, Golden Hind, Member of the Cheltenham Branch. Tamar and Drake. Died 10 November Died 2014 aged 93. WHITE Dorothy Olive Sophia (née 2014 aged 93. Grosvenor) 1942-46. L/Wren T/P SMITH Ellen Dorothy (née Robertson) Operator. Served Mill Hill, Greenwich PHILBRICK Cecilia Ellen (née Marsh) 1943-45. PO Wren Special Duties College, HMS Drake and Flowerdown. 1942-45. Wren Photographer. Served Y Branch. Served South Wales, Died January 2015 aged 92. RNAS Arbroath, HMS Condor and Withensea, Scarborough and Ceylon. Dipper. Died 28 November 2014 aged Died 24 January 2015. WHITEHEAD Norrisse Mary (née 90. Ford) 1939-45. 2/O Cypher. Served SMITH Jean Lillian (née Rankin) Weymouth, Greenwich and Belfast. POPKIN Barbara Helen (née Brown) 1947-49. Wren Signals. Served Died 16 October 2014 aged 93. 1943-46. Wren Air Mechanic. Served HMS President, Scotia, Mercury and Donibristle. Died 22 January 2015 Sanderling. Member of Newbury WILLIAMS Doreen Winifred (née aged 90. Branch. Died 13 March 2015 aged 85. Doyle) 1944-46. Wren Wtr. Served Mill Hill, HMS Drake, Liphook and Eastney. PRATLEY Jeanne Anita (née SPERRING Sheila Mary (née Died 16 December 2014 aged 90. Margetts) 1944-46. L/Wren Cine Gun McMahon) 1956-65. L/Wren VR. Assessor. Served at HMS Pembroke, Served Burghfield, RNAS Culdrose, WISHART Marian (née Ingman) 1940- Heron, Cabala, Merlin, Vulture and Yeovilton & Arbroath. Died 19 January 45. PO Wren Steward. Served HMS RNAS St Merryn. Died 3 March 2015 2015 aged 79. Dolphin, Forward, CONU and HMS aged 95. Daedalus. Member of Bristol Branch. STOKES Joan (née Barnard) 1940- Died 28 December 2014 aged 94. PRATT Dorothy Mabel 1943-46. PO 45. PO Wren Driver and Boats Crew. Wren Wtr (P). Served HMS Pembroke Served HMS Badger, Britannia and WOODHOUSE Phyllis Margaret III. Life member of AOW and founder Beehive. Member of former Singapore (née Pinset) 1942-46. L/Wren QO member of Reading & District Branch. Branch and long standing member of (A). Served Fleet Air Arm. Died 2 Died 15 October 2014 aged 89. Ipswich Branch. Died 13 November December 2014 aged 90. 2014 aged 93. PUTTICK Florence Phyllis (née WOODS-TAYLOR Ida Edie (née Hill). Holmes) 1939-46. 3/O. Served HMS SUTER Chris (née Jones) 1958-62. Boscawen, Flowerdown, Singapore, PO Radar Plotter. Served HMS Harrier, WOOTTON Marie Joyce (née RNC Greenwich, Ceylon, Mombasa, President, Collingwood, Phoenicia. Bisson) 1942-46. PO Wren. Served Cowes, Bombay and Bangalore. Died Former Secretary of Whitstable HMS Cochrane II, Pembroke III, 8 January 2015 aged 95. Branch. Died 14 March 2015 aged 74. Nile, Princess Kathleen, Rooke and Alexandria. Died 23 December 2014 RATCLIFFE Evadne Alice (née TAYLOR Stella Barbara (née Angles). aged 93. Potter) ‘Pippin Potter’ 1940-46. Wren WWII Wren. Founder Chairman of Radar. Served Fleetwood, Heybrook Kingston Branch. Died 25 February WYATT Evelyn M (née Robertson) Bay, Sheerness, Berwick, Liverpool 2015 aged 89. 1952-58. Wren Wtr (G). and Machrihanish. Died 12 December Died 3 January 2015. 2012 aged 90.
41 Non Members RNA Biennial Parade ACKRIL Marian Christine (née Band) MADDON Helen (née Lynn) 1943-46. 1943-48. Died 19 December 2014 Wren Steward (G). Died 29 October 6th September 2015 aged 88. 2014 aged 89. The Association of Wrens is invited ADELMAN Hilda E ‘Helen’ H 1942- MARTIN Gwendolyn (née Artley) to parade both the National Standard 45. Served Bletchley Park and HMS 1950’s. Wren. Served Portsmouth. and Branch Standards. Hannibal (Algiers). Died 24 October The Parade will form up in Whitehall 2014 in Virginia USA aged 92. McLAUGHLIN Marjorie. WWII Wren. Place at 1025 after a wreath laying Died November 2014. ceremony at the Cenotaph and BENNETT Patricia Mary (née Coward) complete at 1145. 1940-44. Wren Ops. Served New York. Dorothy (née Hullah) 1945- NICHOLLS For further details please contact HQ Died 24 November 2014 aged 91. 51. PO Wren Steward (O). Served HMS Britannia/BRNC Dartmouth, on 023 9272 5141 or email office@ BILES (née Murray, formerly Drake, President and Vulture/RNAS St wrens.org.uk McMurtry) Margaret Mary 1942-46. Merryn. Died 25 December 2014 PO Wren. Served Fishguard, Torpoint, aged 87. Where were you on Abbotsfield and Scotland. Died 21 VJ Day 1945? November 2014 aged 92. PEACOCK Dorothy. WWII Wren. Died January 2015 aged 92. Please help your PRO Celia, to gather BLOWERS (née Boiteux-Buchanan) VJ Day stories before we get a request Died 20 January 2015. PIGEON Brenda (née Woodland) 1966-68. QARNNS Naval Nurse. to do so from the RBL & the BBC COWLING Jane (née Pilkington). Trained RNH Haslar and served usually at very short notice. Small and WRNS Officer. Died 30 December Yeovilton. Died 8 March 2015. longer recollections, with photos if 2014. possible, would be most appreciated. PROCTER Floss (née Bibby). WWII Also please let me know if you would CRILLY Rebecca. 1944-46. Wren Wren. Died 10 February 2015. be willing to be interviewed, and/or Steward (O) Served HMS Pembroke, attend ceremonial events. Victory, Attack and Osprey. Died 11 RALPH Edna May (née Thomas) 1947- All material received will be copied for January 2015 aged 93. 51. Died November 2014 aged 86. the AOW archives. CUNNINGTON Jean Eileen (née RICHMOND Freda Eddys. Died 2014. Thank you. Springall) 1943-46. Died November Contact Celia on 01792 641747 2014 aged 89. RILEY Elizabeth Alice (née Coman) [email protected] WWII. Wren Cook (O). Died 6 February or c/o HQ 02392 725141 FREEMAN Elaine (née Cliff) 1978- 2015 aged 87. [email protected] address on 90. L/Wren Dental Surgery Assistant. inside page of magazine. Served HMS Nelson, Collingwood, RITSON Susan Catherine E (née Vernon, Sultan and Daedalus. Died 11 Ricardo) 1943-44. Wren Bombe January 2015 aged 54. Operator. Served Bletchley Park. Died 14 February 2015 in Ontario aged 89. HARDIE Sheila Mary (née Sturmer) 1944-45. Wren Cook. Died 19 January SAWBRIDGE Jean (née Atkinson) 2015 aged 88. 1948-50. Wren Steward (O). Served HMS Dauntless, Gamecock and HEENAN Peggy Joyce (née Pembroke. Died March 2015 aged 85. Amendments Rann)1943-44.Wren Steward. Served – please forgive me for these HMS Tormentor. Died 2015 aged 90. SHEPHARD Brenda Margaret (née inaccuracies. Hughes) 1944-46. Died February 2014 HUGHES Margaret Edith (née East) aged 87. Megan Moir has asked me to point 1943-48. L/Wren. Served HMS Victory, out that it was Tommy Sopwith who Turtle and Scotton Banks Sanatorium SIMON Sheila 1939-45. Died 28 (Yorks). Died 11 February 2015 January 2015 aged 93. owned a large yacht that became HMS aged 90. PHILANTE. She also mentioned that VENEFF Iris. Died 4 February 2015 staying on board the Escort Training JACKSON Harriet (née Brecon) 1942- aged 88. ship overnight was only an occasional 46. Marine Wren. Served Bletchley occurrence for her and Lynne Mitchell. Park. Died 24 December 2014 aged WATERS Virginia Jean 2/O WRNS 91. in 70s and 80s. Served MOD, HMS Both Elsie Edwards & Margaret King Mercury, Falklands and Hong Kong. have been in touch re the names of Jane. Died 22 July 2014. Died 20 October 2014 aged 63. KELLY those Wrens who served at HMS SEA KENNET Lady Elizabeth Ann (née WOOD Dawn LCIS. Served HMS EAGLE and were in Mountbatten Adams). WWII Wren. Died 30 Raleigh, Mercury, Gibraltar, Portugal, cabin. They were Elsie, Margaret King November 2014. Falkland Islands, Italy, Faslane, PJHQ (Canada), Rita Thornes (Canada) and Northwood, Collingwood, Dolphin, SCU Ivy Tweddell (New Zealand). LOMAX Betty (née Sweet). Wren RP. Leydene and CinC Fleet Portsmouth. Celia Saywell Died 17 December 2014. Died February 2015 aged 45.
42 OBITUARIES Evadne Ratcliffe (née Potter) Stella Taylor (née Angles) President, Kingston upon Thames Branch Evadne served during WWII as a Range Assessor which resulted in partial loss of hearing in one ear from being Stella Taylor was a founder member, along with Lesly Trodd, exposed to artillery firing. Her friendships made during of Kingston-upon-Thames Branch; becoming the first Chair- those years lasted the rest of her life. Always full of life she man and President. was known for her originality and vivaciousness. Stella had to go to court twice to be released from her con- Her great friend Stella Smith (nee Richard) would love to tract at Hawker Aircraft Company where she had been em- hear from anyone who knew her. ployed since 1941 before she could join the WRNS but was Mrs Stella Smith, 2 Forstall Cottages, Chequers Hill, determined to join the forces. She was so keen that she Doddington, Sittingbourne, ME9 0BN Tel 01633 936394 joined as a Steward initially, and later transferred to Writer L/Wren Audrey Martin, MBE (114398) when vacancies became available. She was selected from 10 December 1932 - 17 February 2015 12 Wrens to be sent to Egypt where she had a wonderful time and enjoyed camel rides! During this period she set My friend Audrey joined the WRNS in October 1956 and up a Cub Scout company for the British families in Egypt after her initial training at HMS Dauntless she joined the which cast the dye for her lifetime service with youth organi- Signals branch and trained at HMS Mercury. sations. A keen sportswoman Stella excelled at Badminton, During her service career she served in HMS President Tennis, Hockey and Swimming. She was notoriously acci- (Whitehall W/T), HMS Dauntless (as Ship’s Company) and dent prone and on first meeting Ray (her future husband) in HMS Phoenicia (Lascaris Communication Centre) from fell down the stairs on their first date, which must have March 1958 to October 1959 during which time she was made a lasting impression! promoted to Leading Wren. She left the WRNS when her father became terminally ill, She was drafted back to HMS Seahawk in January 1960 but joined London Division WRNR at HMS PRESIDENT. but unfortunately was admitted to RNH Haslar and was The involvement with youth continued and she met Ray subsequently invalided out in August 1960. when working with TS LEANDER Sea Cadets in Kingston. Audrey worked for me in Lascaris filing all fully transmitted Working with youth became a pattern throughout her life as signals (not an awe-inspiring job but one she did impeccably) a Third Officer with TS STEADFAST. Through working with and later she worked in the Main Signal Office, a position Albany Park Canoe and Sailing Centre it opened the door she enjoyed immensely. for a venue from which to start the Kingston Branch and I Memories of Audrey – Having been promoted to L/Wren remember her telling me that when she and Lesley went to she was told by the PO Wren to get someone to make a see it, the gate was locked and, undeterred, she climbed brew which she did. Unfortunately the Wren given the task over it to get in! considered that Audrey was ‘throwing her new hook around’ Stella was very passionate about the Association, thorough- and promptly doused her with a cup of cold cocoa. Sods ly enjoying the Branch meetings with the last meeting she law was that on arriving back at Whitehall Mansions on attended being our fabulous Christmas Party with TS PUMA completion of her watch, Audrey was met by 1/0 WRNS Sea Cadets band entertaining us and a fabulous Christmas who was undertaking a walkabout of the complex. Give the cake which she loved because it had been decorated with Kye-thrower her due she took full responsibility for the state uniformed Wrens! Her health was poor; asthma, a dodgy of Audrey’s uniform in subsequent proceedings. lung and one of her hips was shot but her good humour, From 1961 through to the 1990’s Audrey worked as a civilian zest for life and determination in her later years still saw employee in RN Dockyard Portsmouth and subsequently, in her regularly at the Branch meetings where she relished her own words, became P.A. to numerous Surgeon Rear nothing more than a good catch-up and of course, loved to Admirals and Surgeon Commanders at the Institute of chat to the young men around her. In particular John, the Naval Medicine for which she was awarded the MBE. Centre Manager at Albany Park, and his colleagues would During her time in Malta Audrey wrote a book based on her cheerfully get her up and down the stairs at Wrens meetings naval experiences called ‘Bird among the Buntings’ but it and later, when the Branch moved to London RMR, she was never published except in the Quarterly Newsletter thoroughly enjoyed talking to the young Royal Marines who of the Lascaris (Malta) Association of which Audrey was a reciprocated her interest with their help and kindness. proud and valued member. (If you wish to read this book During the final phase of her life, despite her poor health, there is a link via www.godfreydykes.info). she was determined to make the round trip to Switzerland, It was via the Lascaris Malta Association that I again met up where her daughter, Christina and Dionne (her son-in-law) with Audrey and she assisted me when I took on the role of live, for the wedding of her Granddaughter, Sophie, which Newsletter Editor until the dreaded Cancer singled her out. she spoke of with great delight and relish. Stella is survived Audrey had a final gift to the Country she loved by donating by her husband Ray, daughter Christina, son-in-law Dionne her body to medical science. and another granddaughter, Hannah. I will miss her but am pleased that she is no longer in pain. The Kingston-upon-Thames Branch would not have existed RIP my friend but for the tireless input of Stella who leaves us with an Jim Goode inspiring legacy - and we are positive she will be watching Ex Radio Supervisor over us! 1952-65 Anne Marks
43 Florence Phyllis Puttick (née Holmes) On return to the UK, Phyllis was commissioned at The Royal Naval College Greenwich and sent to Vectis Barracks Florence died on 8th January in Cowes where she worked as a Censor before the D-Day 2015, aged 95 years. Known to operations. Then, under the guise of ‘Censoring’, three all as Phyll, she led a long, active, WRNS Officers were selected to go to India to collect adventurous, inspirational life and information about the atrocities committed by the Japanese I count myself honoured to be on our POW’s. In the end just two of them went because one amongst those who have been could not face the task. In Bangalore, they visited all of the touched by it. hospitals interviewing returned prisoners. It was harrowing work, as with tears streaming down their faces, they had Phyllis Holmes joined the to write down details of the gruesome things that had been WRNS at the outset of the War done to these young men. Phyllis said that the cruelties she in September 1939; her official was told of were always committed on ‘someone else’, not number 67.She says that when the person she was interviewing. She and the other WRNS she went to the recruiting office in officer then spent all their spare time on welfare work, trying Charing Cross, they told her there was only one vacancy to find out about the men’s families and pay. However, she and that was for a switchboard operator. Did she know must have found time for a few other things, because in how to use one? “Of course” she says. Good, you’re in – Bombay on 26th January 1946, she was given away by the report to Portland on Thursday. She walked out of the office Admiral and married the Army officer, George Puttick, who wondering how on earth she was going to learn to operate a had been looking after them in Bangalore. Apparently it switchboard in three days!!!! Across the road in the Strand really could be described as a ‘shot-gun’ wedding because she saw a Lyons Hotel with a switchboard behind reception. she had to be taken to the church in a land rover with an In she goes, explains what she had just done and asks if armed guard!! She returned home and was demobbed later she can sit and watch the operators at work. They took pity in 1946. on her and that is where she spent the next few days. The Admiral’s switchboard at Portland could not be described Her husband became an executive with the Shell Oil as one of Phyllis’s greatest successes and having ‘cut the Company and with him she raised two sons, travelled Admiral off’ once too often, was sent to the signals office the world and set up home in various countries including in HMS BOSCAWEN. From there she was offered the Colombia and Indonesia. Her sons claim that she was opportunity to train as a Chief Wren Special Telegraphist at the driving force behind the establishment of an Anglican/ HMS FLOWERDOWN and Greenwich where they learned Episcopalian ‘house church’ in their home in Bogota in the to read the Japanese version of the morse code before 1950s and that from those humble beginnings, has grown a being sent to Singapore in the first draft of WRNS overseas. protestant cathedral with huge membership. Photographs of Phyllis appear in lots of the books written about the WRNS but she told me that she was not in the first In the UK, Phyll lived in London and became involved with of the two photos of that draft in Commandant Fletcher’s raising money for the RNLI, but also found time to pop in to book about the WRNS because she was stood behind the the AOW offices to help with packing, posting or anything photographer, chatting up a rather good looking young else required. She and her husband retired to Ross-on-Wye, sailor!! En-route to Singapore, she disposed of her hated where she had family connections and they had maintained topee hat by leaning over the rail of the ship with it on her a home for many years. Phyll remained active until her early head. Oh dear, it fell off and floated away!! Apparently, she 90s, taking a full part in social and fund-raising activities got into lots of trouble, but didn’t care because she didn’t with Monmouth Royal Naval Association. During visits to have to wear it. Monmouth by the crew of HMS MONMOUTH, Phyll could always be found surrounded by handsome young sailors Evacuated in January 1942 on the SS Devonshire, the very (once a Wren.....). She was also a great patron of Ross last ship to leave Singapore as the Japanese were cross- and Monmouth Sea Cadets, supporting them in every way ing the Causeway, they finally arrived in Colombo where possible, attending their functions and presenting them with they set up another listening station to intercept naval signal two perpetual trophies, one for best cadet and the other for traffic and send it back to Bletchley Park where cryptana- the cadet who ‘tries the hardest’. lysts were working to break the Japanese codes. This only lasted a few months until in April 1942, whilst dancing with At her funeral in Ross-on-Wye, both the Cheltenham Branch another ‘delightful’ young man she was told of the imminent AOW and Monmouth RNA Standards were paraded and Japanese attack on Colombo. I think Phyllis told me that flanked the coffin during the service. She was provided with her boyfriend of the time was killed on board HMS HER- a guard of honour by members of Monmouth RNA, including MES during that attack. This time they were evacuated on all the ex-WRNS proudly wearing their Wrens scarves and board an armed merchant cruiser to Mombasa where, once badges. It was an emotional send off for a ‘larger than again they set up a listening station for Bletchley. She spent life’ lady with a booming voice and wonderful sense of over a year there before boarding the SS Arundel Castle for humour. She lived life to the full and will be remembered by Durban. Unfortunately, this ship had typhus aboard, so on all who were fortunate enough to have met her, as a truly reaching Durban they were all taken to a huge warehouse, inspirational woman. stripped and scrubbed down in huge baths of Lysol. The Wrens then took themselves off to the best hotel in Durban Mary Shipton (formerly Mills, nee Dunk - LWRO(M)/2/0 and spent the next two weeks partying! WRNS/Lt Cdr)
44 45 Hermes Division 14 - the final division passing out at Dauntless