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The ATS, Auxiliary Territorial Service, was the Women's branch of the British Army.
This is a photo of my beautiful mother, who we sadly lost to cancer recently at the age of 77.
Her name was Catherine Ferguson Woodford (nee Hickie) and she came from Cambuslang, Scotland. she was in the ATS, stationed in Edinburgh, also in Leeds for a while I believe, then in London
We miss her sorely.
I am researching an aircrash which happened in Richmond Yorkshire in December 1942. Oral history tells of an ATS driver who was probably first on the scene. She tried to rescue the crew from the burning wreckage and was badly burned herself. For her valliant efforts she apparantly received an award. The only other detail I have is that she was in Bristol at the time of the blitz there, probably as an ambulance driver. She was posted to this quiet area of North Yorkshire to enable her to recover from the trauma only to be involved in this rescue attempt. Any information regarding this gallant ATS lass or the event itself would be most welcome.
Richmond and Dist Civic Society.
Does anyone remember Vera? On the back of the Photograph it says to Jimmy from Vera.
Royal Artillery 137 Regiment, Heavy Artillery,
481 BatteryMy mother, Eva Everitt, (nee Scoles), joined the Royal Artillery ( 137 Regiment, Heavy Artillery,481 Battery ) in August 1941.
She was at various training camps including those at Northampton, Anglesey, Bude and Oswestry. Her first posting was to London, where her Battery was located in Hyde Park. The Battery operated 3.7" Anti-Aircraft Guns. Her job was on the Sperry Predictors.
After the Blitz the battery was moved to Hastings to help counter the V1's.
Some time after D-Day she went first to Belgium and then to Germany. Returning home after VE day she was de-mobbed in Jan 1946.
Some of the people she remembers are Kath Parker, Phyllis Spalding, Violet Eastwood and Eileen Broady. Three others were Joan,Vera and Mary but she cannot remember their surnames
My mother is back left
Phillip Everitt.
Violette Szabo, George Cross, Croix de Guerre with Star served in the Women's Land Army, ATS, FANY. She also worked in the Moreden/Acton aircraft factory, and was in the 481 (Heavy) Ack-Ack Battery under Colonel 'Jim' Naylor. She worked for SOE in France. Violette was executed in late January - early February 1945 after having been thrown into Ravensbruck concentration camp and others. If you knew her, or anyone who knew her, it would be wonderful if you would contact me. She was my mother.
One day Private Barham was sent alone to Portsmouth (from the London Area) to escort a high ranking Officer who was in charge of the Anti-aircraft defences in the South East. Apparently when they met up she took off her dispatch rider's helmet, causing the Officer to exclaim "...Blimey -a woman !!!!"
Another memorable incident was when she experienced liquid mustard gas.
On another occassion she guided the O.I.C. of the Anti-aircraft Batteries defending London from Southampton to London in dense fog. The reason for his visit was to present the A.A. Battery to which she was attached with the tail rudder from a Heinkel Bomber. Apparently the Battery shot it down from the highest altitude ever achieved up till that time.
She was also taught to drive a jeep.... and told to back the jeep into a garage. The Sergeant who was instructing told her he was off to make the char and despite a request for help to guide her in, he went off.... The jeep was almost in the garage when there was a loud crash ....she had backed into a large searchlight mirror smashing it into little pieces. The result was being hauled up in front of the CIO, a fine and confined to barracks for some time. I believe she still thought it unfair to the day she died.
Tony Barham
ATS Guildford and Camerley
My memories are of the Gloustershire Regiment and others. I was 12 years old when the War was declared. At 17 1/2 years I volunteered for the ATS. My parents turned over accomodation to the army at the onset. The RSM's and CSM's were billeted with us at the Union Hotel at Newton Abbot. I would be interested to hear from those who have memories of these locations and times. Also, anyone involved with the Newton Abbott Youth Council and or the St. John Ambulance Nursing Cadets. I left England in 1956 and now live in Canada.
Photographs
Betty Lewis, this photo was sent to her brother Ron, a driver in the Royal Signals, who was a Prisoner of War in Oflag 79. He mounted it in his "Wartime Log For British Prisoners" which supplied as a gift from the YMCA Switzerland. Read his story
If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.
List of those who served.
- Ivy Iris Elieen "Bunty" Baxter. dispatch ride. 8th AA MT Company ATS of 160 (M) HAA Royal Artillery. Read her story
- Eva Everitt (nee Scoles) 137 Regiment Heavy Artillery.Read her story
- Catherine Ferguson Hickie. Read her Story
- Betty Lewis. Read her story
- Sylvia Gladys Peach Read her story
- Violette Szabo, George Cross, Croix de Guerre with Star. Read her story
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.
If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to an airfield or aircrew, please get in touch.
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