Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

I enlisted in 1942 into the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) as a clerk and was later trained as a radar operator. I was at Richmond for the training and was later sent to a radar unit at Bankstown in NSW. I was stationed there when Japanese submarines entered Sydney harbour.

Later, I was stationed at Cronulla Radar station and when off duty it was lovely to go for a swim at Cronulla beach.

I was also stationed at the Presbyterian Ladies College in Croyden. The RAAF had taken over the Presbyterian Ladies College to establish the No. 1 RIMU (Radio Installation and Maintenance Unit), a top secret Radar Unit. From there I was taken daily by a motorbike sidecar daily taken to Mascot for clerical duties.

When it seemed that the war would be ending, I was offered a discharge or a re-muster in another area. I chose a transfer and was posted to Mallala in South Australia, where they were still working with the Tigermoths. Our duties included taking a fire engine and two men out to the strips in case of any trouble. We also drove the ambulance or cars for seniors to Adelaide.

Very soon after the war was over and I discharged from the WAAF.

Daughter of Richard Norman WADMORE and Lillian Thelma nee JURY, 302 Oxide Street, Broken Hill, NSW

Miss Norma Wadmore, popular receptionist at the Grand Hotel, has received her call up for the W.A.A.A.F.'s, and will leave to report for duty on Friday night.

Married Leonard Raymond CHESTER