ATS records

[ALCAVTAY]

My grandmother was in the ATS during WW2, I can remember her telling me about her time on the searchlights and in a radar station I also know that she was seriously ill after being buried in rubble after an air raid. I don't know what rank she was or her service number (assuming they had them) but I would love to find out more about what she did. Do the ATS records exist?

Amanda

[GrahamSimons]

This guide: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/womeninthebritisharmy.htm isn't all that helpful because the records of service have yet to reach the National Archives.
Records of service come from http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html - this takes a long time, up to a year, as they quite rightly prioritise welfare cases.

If you could discover her unit, you could probably find out quite a bit of its activities, but this might have to wait until you have her record.

[ALCAVTAY]

Many thanks

[katiespitfire]

Any idea which area she served in? I have quite a few documents regarding the ATS AA Batteries.

Kate

[ALCAVTAY]

Unfortunately not Kate although I will be seeing all the family over Christmas and will be asking questions. I'll get back to you if I find out anything.
Many thanks
Amanda

[katiespitfire]

No problem, women's services of WW1 and WW2 are my speciality so please say if I can help.

K

[macberry]

My mother served in Ak Ak on searchlights during the war.  She was based around the new forest area at D day. Been there for about two years. 

[katiespitfire]

Really interesting stuff, there's a fantastic wartime film 'The gentle sex' about ATS recruits. Some of the footage and women in it are real ATS and there's a great section about the AA Batteries. It's regularly on Film 4.

Those women were in very real danger and many died through enemy action or in accidents, always akes me smile when people talk about women not playing a 'front line' role in the Great War or WW2.

Kate

[ALCAVTAY]

I'm remembering stories I was told as a child here but I think my Grandma told me that she was working in a plotting room when the station was bombed, she was buried under rubble and some other people in the room with her were killed. She developed what I think was some sort of anaemia from the trauma and was given a disability pension which she never drew. The doctors said she wouldn't work again but she became a clippy on the buses and worked various jobs until she retired.

 I'll ask around the family for more reliable information and get that application in for her records

My grandma's name was Irene Etherington
Amanda