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A veteran interview with

Pauline Payne

Pauline Payne worked at a number of SOE radio stations in Britain. Her job was to keep in touch with agents working behind the lines in Europe

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About Pauline Payne

When the Second World War started, Pauline Payne was just 13 years old. Excited by the prospect, she initially wanted to join the Land Army, however quickly changed her mind after being tested by her father on her level of commitment. 

Instead, at age 17, she joined the FANY, which was assuredly much safer. As an only child it took Pauline a lot of getting used to, particularly the switch from having her own bedroom to sleeping in shared quarters with 32 other beds, however she recalls greatly enjoying the social side of life within the FANY. She was encouraged to go to dances, and remembers the excitement of the Americans arriving, bringing with them more food and cigarettes, which she would swap for soap.

Throughout the war, Pauline would work at a number of SOE stations in Britain. To get a signal, she remembers having to stand on duck boards holding a large electric coil, listening out for messages from agents working in Europe. 

It wasn’t until after the war that Pauline realised the importance of her work on transmitters. Being young and very inexperienced, it was her first experience of war, and for a long time she’d never had to consider the prospect of people being killed.

With a lot at stake, maintaining a good atmosphere within the FANY was very important. Pauline remembers her involvement with much enjoyment, and considers it to be a liberating time in her life.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martyn Cox
Reviewed by:
Toby Boddy

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | Pauline Payne

A veteran interview with

Pauline Payne

Pauline-Payne-Still-

Pauline Payne worked at a number of SOE radio stations in Britain. Her job was to keep in touch with agents working behind the lines in Europe

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Payne, Pauline. A Veteran Interview with Pauline Payne. Interview by Martyn Cox. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/pauline-payne/. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
APA Style:
Payne, P. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Pauline Payne [Interview by Martyn Cox]. Legasee. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/pauline-payne/
Chicago Style:
Payne, Pauline. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Pauline Payne. Interview by Martyn Cox. Legasee. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/pauline-payne/
Harvard Style:
Payne, P. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Pauline Payne. [Interviewed by Martyn Cox]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/pauline-payne/ (Accessed: 15 July 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Payne, P. A Veteran Interview with Pauline Payne [Internet]. Interview by M. Cox. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 Jul 15]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/pauline-payne/
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