Emma Heseltine Armstrong

Title: A new recruit and a little older
Event: RAF
Who: Robert Humphrey Heseltine
 
This is special to me because: My Grandad who was in the RAF. He was in Iceland as ground crew on Sunderland flying boats and later on Cocas (Keeling) islands in the Indian ocean. At some point he was also in Gambia which is when the little older picture was taken.
 



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Title: WJAC's
Event: Winning the Knowles-Fitton Cup
Who: Joan Elizabeth Heseltine, front row, far left.
This is special because: My Granny was in the 83 Unit Sowerby Bridge of the Women’s Junior Air Corps, here is what she wrote about it...
 
‘The best thing I did at this time was join the WJAC!! It was here I made many friends and had such fun times! We all got uniforms. Grey skirt, Air Force blue shirt and black tie, and grey battle dress jacket. We met each Sunday morning for parade, sometimes Church Parade. We all had to learn the drilling just like the forces. We also had classes in air craft recognition, first aid etc.
The cup presented by Wing Commander Knowles-Fitton was awarded to the smartest unit in Yorkshire. We had some training for marching etc by a sergeant from the Army barracks. It was quite difficult to learn the drill and remember the sequence.’
 
‘Our commander was Mrs Sutcliffe and she was a real leader, She did her best to lick the girls into shape. When we went to the competition, she provided everyone with thick grey stockings, so we all looked the same when marching! No tights in those days. We went in a double decker bus to a college in Bingley, where we met the other WJAC units. To our great delight we won the cup! We defended our title the following year when I was the Warrant Officer who led the unit to victory once again!'
 


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Title: Civil Defence and Home Guard
Event:
Who: John Nicholl
This is special because: My Great Grandad who was in the Home Guard and Civil Defence, also a picture of his Bus driver badge, Halifax corporation. It says on it 'Public Service Vehicle' and 'Driver'
 
My Granny says...
'My dad was in a driving job and later became a bus driver. He was always helping out on a local farm and yearning for a farm of his own. He was also a member of the Home Guard! Everyone had to help in the war effort'