OLD COMRADES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 75, 20 January 1947, Page 4

OLD COMRADES

HUSBANDS LEFT AT HOME Seventy ex-A.T.S. and W.A.A.C. s met at their first Old Comrades' Association dinner in Manchester and talked not about battles, bombs and blitzes but about husbands, boy friends, and babies. And the general opinion was that “the good old days” in the Service were not so good and that civilian life is much better. Strange feature of this reunion dinner for all ex-A.T.S., W.A.A.C.’s, and Queen Mary’s Auxiliary Corps who live in Manchester was that there was no reminiscing, no talk about exploits in the Service, no “do you remember . . .?” and no hearty sing-song, which is a feature of all male Seiwice reunions.

Instead, wearing frilly frocks, sheer silk stockings and fur coats, they sipped sherry, port and coffee. This was a night when husbands were left at home to put the children to bed.

Youngest Old Comrades was 22-year-old ex-A.T.S. Mrs Mary Wiggins, of Gorse Hill, Stretford, while the oldest was 68-year-old Miss Amelia Stephenson, of Burnley, who was one of the first members of the Queen Mary’s Auxiliary Service. Ex-Service grandmother was 46-year-old Mrs Norah Saxon, of Chester, and Mrs Gillian Adiss came from London to be present. Dame Ellen G Wynne-Vaughan, first Controller of the A.T.S., who is now chairman of the Old Comrades’ Association, told the girls that they ought to use their Service training to the good of the community. “I want to see you using your courage and wisdom that you learned in the services for your home town, the country, and the world.”