Military Chat

I am trying to find out military records for my grandmother, Bessie Phillips, who served at RAF Cattewater in WW1. I have a photo of her with a group of women in uniform dated March 1919 but cannot find any records for her in War Records. I know she was born in Devon in 1890 or 1891. Any tips?

You could try looking here


http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/airwomen-ww1.htm

Is 'Bessie' her birth name or an abbreviation ?

Hello Linda and welcome to the Community boards.





I'll let Linda know that she has replies to her query. :-)

Another couple of sources

The Imperial War Museum
and
The Womens Library

A Women's Royal Air Force had existed from 1918 to 1920.
The WAAF was created on 28 June 1939, absorbing the forty-eight RAF companies of the Auxiliary Territorial Service which had been formed since 1938.
WAAFs did not serve as aircrew. The use of women pilots was limited to the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), which was civilian. Although they didn't participate in active combat, they were exposed to the same dangers as any on the "home front" working at military installations. They were active in parachute packing and the crewing of barrage balloons in addition to performing catering, meteorology, radar, aircraft maintenance, transport, communications duties including wireless telephonic and telegraphic operation. They worked with codes and ciphers, analysed reconnaissance photographs, and performed intelligence operations. WAAFs were a vital presence in the control of aircraft, both in radar stations and as plotters in operation rooms, most notably during the Battle of Britain. These operation rooms directed fighter aircraft against the Luftwaffe, mapping both home and enemy aircraft...Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_Auxiliary_Air_Force

The first WRAF was an auxiliary organization of the Royal Air Force which was founded in 1918. The original intent of the WRAF was to provide female mechanics in order to free up men for service in World War I. However, the organization saw huge enrolment, with women volunteering for positions as drivers and mechanics and filling other wartime needs. This first WRAF was disbanded in 1920.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Royal_Air_Force

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Some info on RAF Catterwater...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Mount_Batten

http://www.plymouthdata.info/RAF%20Cattewater.htm

http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/unit-info/643/

Thanks. I think I have found a record for Bessie Phillips. Yes, registered in that name. :-)