I recently obtained my mother's service record. I attach an extract, it is very difficult to decipher! She joined the WAAF in 1941 in Harrogate and was assigned to various stations before moving to RAF Finningley in 1944. There she met my father, Dennis Fortescue, who had just returned from service in India. She was discharged in 1946 and they married in August 1946. I wonder if any of her colleagues are still alive? She kept in touch for many years with Mary Marbaix, who was one of her best friends at Finningley. My mother passed away in 1999 and my father in 2013 but they are both very much on my mind at present, and I went to see the RAF 100 events in London on July 10th. Per ardua ad astra!
Hi, Welcome to the forum. I’m no RAF expert but this link to RAF OTU information sites may help you until a more informed member comes along - OTUs 1 - 23 OTUs 24 - 38 List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units - Wikipedia Good Luck Steve
Hi Susan, Mary Gertrude Marbaix, nee McCullagh, passed away in 2006. She married Gaston Marbaix at Tynemouth in the September 1944 Qtr. They had five children, four girls and a boy, the eldest born at Tynemouth in the June 1945 Quarter. The other four born in Surrey between 1947-1959. Regards, Dave
Thank you so very much Dave. You have reminded me that my mother used to call her Mary Mac. I hadn't realised it was because of her maiden name.
Hi, 105 P D C acronym is explained in this link - The story of RAF Wythall by the Transport Museum Wythall Steve
Many thanks Steve. I think my mother was in Blackpool. But one thing that puzzles me is that she always said that her first training course was at Weston super Mare but I can't see it in her records.
1939 England and Wales Register Name: Mary McCullagh Gender: Female Marital Status: Single Birth Date: 23 Feb 1923 Residence Year: 1939 Address: 28 Residence Place: Tynemouth, Northumberland, England Occupation: Shop Assistant Schedule Number: 201 Sub Schedule Number: 3 Enumeration District: GBAJ Registration district: 559/1 Household Members: Name Mary G Custard Michael McCullagh Mary McCullagh TD
A quick look. Harrogate was No1 WAAF Depot from September 1940 to May 1941 Looks as if Ann Angell indicates two periods at RAF Bircham Newton,a Coastal Command station in north east Norfolk....first entry not detailed. S of CA ....attendance shown as twice. I think this would be the School of Clerk Accounting.Ann Angell probably was a Clerk (Accounting) a Group 1V Trade and would involve duties relating to pay. No7 ACHU would be No 7 Aircrew Holding Unit which was at RAF Blyton (formerly a HCU for No 1 Group, Bomber Command) near Gainsborough....unit existed from June 1945 to January 1946. OTUs....... locations to follow.
Many thanks for your help. My mother was indeed an accounts clerk. Interestingly we returned to Bircham Newton in the early 1950s when my father was stationed there. We were there during the East Coast floods. I had no idea that my mother had been stationed there before.
