Page 15 - QARANC Vol 14 No 6 2013
P. 15
Ginger Thomas served in the WRNS and was part of Operation Overload
THE GAZETTE QARANC 13
Testimonials
wanted
From women who served in the
ANS, QAIMNS, ATS, FANY, SOE
History can take weird turns sometimes. It is only when I moved from France to England in 1998 that I learned more about the role that Women played in supporting the World War II Efforts. I had never really questioned my history lessons wondering who helped the country moving forward while the men where at war? At the time I just had my first child and being stuck at home with a small baby, I felt quite isolated. I decided to improve my English by studying for a BA of English via distance learning with the University of Nancy in France, 4 years and 3 babies later I choose to write my research essay on the Women’s contribution to the Second World War Effort.
Having gone back to full time work after a family break, I somehow let the subject lay dormant until I decided to leave work again and study for an MA in Photography 7 years later. It become quite obvious that my photography project would be on Women who volunteered in the services, far did I imagine the challenges I would be confronted with. I started my research, trying to trace women involved in the voluntary services at the end of 2010, via different associations, putting ads in magazines, getting in touch with the Imperial War Museum, I knocked on many doors, sometimes lucky sometimes not but persistence paid off. The first women I met where, Jane, Diana, Ruth and Dorothy, with their portraits being exhibited at the MA Show. Discussing the project with one of my tutors she suggested that this should be a 2 years project really, it made me realise that this project could be something far more ambition and therefore decided to continue my quest.
Two years on, trawling the country from South to North and East to West, I have met the most amazing people, everybody willing to give a hand to help me out with the project. I have met amazing women all in the late 80’s, early 90’s out and about, some of them having difficulties to move but still young at heart, I remember being welcomed by Elizabeth and her red Fiat 500 at Morpeth station.
While this project started as a final year exam to complete my MA, I have now the project to publish it as a book, I currently have about 20 portraits and testimonials but would like to get in touch with more Women who were volunteers in the Nursing Army services to take part in this project, please do get in touch if you are interested or know someone who could take part, I am also still looking for testimonials from Women in the ATS, FANY, SOE. Please contact Rachel by phone at 07770697171 or via email info@rachelvogeleisen.com
Eshter Polton served in the WAAF between 1941 and 1946
Nancy Cooper served in the Land Army from 1943 to 1950
Jane Eldridge served as a Cipher Officer in the WRNS
Joy Lofthouse served as a pilot in the ATA