Women at War: WAAS

THE WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILLIARY SERVICES (W.A.A.S.)

ELAINE FORSTER'S MEMORIES OF THE W.A.A.S IN SIMON'S TOWN. (Her letter has been edited).

I was one of the 6 W.A.A.S who were sent down to Simon's Town early in 1941 to do transport duty. This involved taking servicemen plus rations in 3 ton trucks up to Scala, Middle and Lower North Batteries and to Queen's Battery. We also drove the Orderly Officer on his rounds which entailed inspecting road blocks at Froggy Pond, over Red Hill to Klaasjagersberg etc, I think the soldiers were very courageous to have placed their lives in our hands, but as far as I am aware, there were no mishaps!

The first W.A.A.S were transport drivers and 27 of us were enlisted into the South African Defence Force on 7 June 1940. We designed our own uniforms and had them made of barathea by the best tailor in Cape Town, Mr Booth. We had volunteered for transport duty in 1938 when Ouma Smuts and Mrs Newton Thompson, a City Councillor, invited women to attend a meeting at the "Alhambra" in Cape Town. They warned us that although Neville Chamberlain had returned from Germany waving the White Paper, they were sure there would be war. They wanted us to volunteer for transport; clerical or nursing duties.

 When South Africa entered the war in September 1939, troops were sent to East Africa and the Cape Command were desperately short of transport drivers. We W.A.A.S were drilled for month by Sergeant Major Windrum of the Cape Town Highlanders. We then assumed transport duties, firstly driving builders’ lorries and other ancient vehicles which had been commandeered. The South African Defence Force had sent all their own vehicles to East Africa. After 3 months new 3 and 5 ton trucks came on stream.

In September General Smuts had officially authorised the establishment of the W.A.A.S. We 27 transport drivers always prided ourselves that we had started the W.A.A.S! In August 1941, the British Army called for 100 W.A.A.S. for duty in the Middle East. Of the original 27 W.A.A.S, 15 of us volunteered and sailed to Egypt, so my service in Simon's Town only lasted a short while. Hopefully other W.A.A.S will provide more history.

ELAINE FORSTER.

MEMORIES OF THE W.A.A.S IN SIMON’S TOWN BY BUNTY DUNCAN, nee Martin (letter edited).

In 1943 when I had returned from East Africa and taken a sergeant major's course at Voortrekkerhoogte, I was posted to Simon's Town to be in charge of the Artillery girls at Scala Battery. At first there were no sleeping quarters and we slept at Ibeka and just spent the day at Scala. I was only responsible for the girls and had nothing to do with the artillery part. When the girls fired the gun, I had to first open all the windows and take the bottles of medicine in the Sick Bay off the shelves.

I took the girls to dances at the local drill hall and Klaasjagersberg. I counted them on arrival at the dance and then sat with the male sergeants major swapping yarns until it was over. Then I counted my girls and took them home.

A sergeant major's lot is a very lonely one. You could not fraternise with the girls especially the officers. You sit alone for meals etc.

We all knew Just Nuisance very well and travelled many times with him, on the train from Cape Town to Simon's Town after a day off. He used to lie on a seat for 3, but fortunately allowed me to lift his front end, sit down and put his head and front paws on my lap. We travelled to Simon's Town both sleeping soundly.

I was promoted to Lieutenant and was transferred to Green Point.

BUNTY DUNCAN WA 109550