We were very unpopular
Because we were so privileged.
We lived off, off the main camp.
We didn't come on to
We didn't have to do parades,
because we were working shifts.
We worked eight hours on
So in a way we live protected lives.
We had fatigues, we had
and all the rest of it.
But we also had to clean
because no,
only the clerks special duties,
and officers were allowed in there.
So, we also had to clean
We were very unpopular with the rest of the WAAF.
Refusing her mother’s wishes to study Domestic Science at a local college, Katherine Du Plat-Taylor instead joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). She served as an Operations Clerk, stationed deep underground in the tunnels below Dover. One of her main responsibilities was to work with Air Sea Rescue, plotting the location of aircrafts on a table map in an operations room, saving the lives of hundreds of pilots.
England , United Kingdom
| Role Clerk Special Duties |
Mother lost her husband, her brothers and all her male cousins.
Katherine Du Plat-TaylorHe had bullets but no rifles.
Katherine Du Plat-TaylorI'm a rebel woman.
Katherine Du Plat-TaylorJust get out of Dover
Katherine Du Plat-TaylorWe had more pilots than planes.
Katherine Du Plat-TaylorThe RAF? What's that?
Katherine Du Plat-Taylor
The Ops Room
Katherine Du Plat-TaylorMother was a bit miffed.
Katherine Du Plat-TaylorThey were heroic women.
Katherine Du Plat-Taylor
You'd wait to hear about the boy you'd been dancing with.
Katherine Du Plat-TaylorGet up and put your trousers on.
Katherine Du Plat-Taylor