Aged 14 when WWII broke out, Gladys spent the early war years in Gillingham, Kent. Gladys frequently sought refuge at home or in shelters when bombs and landmines were dropped on her street. She explains how the war shattered everybody’s lives and deprived young people of their carefree teenage years. At 17, Gladys decided to join the WRNS to contribute to the war effort, following in the footsteps of her Navy and Marine relatives. She trained in Rochester to wait on tables for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner, before serving at Chatham Barracks as an Officer Steward. She describes her daily routine, getting to know the naval officers, and her friendships and moments of mischief with fellow Wrens. As the war drew to a close, Gladys felt optimistic about the future and was excited for life to return to normal. After peace was declared, local people flocked to see the barracks lights fully illuminated again – a captivating sight that symbolically marked the end of the war’s disruption. Though Gladys sheds light on the difficulties faced by WWII’s teenage generation, she fondly cherishes her memories of her time as a Wren.

Betty “Bet” Dobson grew up in Scotland and was just a teenager when war broke out. With her father called up in 1939, she was determined to do her part. Though he forbade her from joining the Army, she applied elsewhere and was accepted into the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS).

In her interview, Betty recalls her training in Dunfermline, the pride of putting on her uniform for the first time, and the strict rules about hair and dress. Posted first to Rosyth and then to Donibristle Fleet Air Arm Station, she worked as a teleprinter operator, sending coded signals, weather reports, and urgent supply requests. She describes the relentless noise of the machines, the discipline of secrecy, and the constant rhythm of wartime communications.

Her service later took her to Largs and finally to the Admiralty in London, where she worked underground alongside the WAAF on vast teleprinter switchboards. She shares memories of Christmas pantomimes, strict food rationing, the loss of cousins in the RAF and Army, and the euphoria of VE Day celebrations.

Betty’s story offers a vivid glimpse into the essential but often unseen contribution of the Wrens during the Second World War.