I recently obtained an autograph book that had belonged to a Member of the WRAF, stationed at Lympne in Kent in World War One.There is a link to information about the site below. It was established in 1916 and was in use up to and after, WW1. The WRAF records of the womenwho wrote in the book detail many different roles that women undertook at the base - I hope to begin some research on this soon! However my main interest is in the lives of the women who added their names to Dolly's autograph book.
Firstly, I wanted to find out more about Dolly herself. What was her life like before she joined the WRAF and what become of her?
Doris who was illegitimate was born in Kidderminister in 1898. Her mother was Elizabeth Freeman born in 1872. Dolly's mother, aunts and grandmother Jane all worked in the carpet industry over many years.
In the early 18th century, carpet
weaving had been introduced to Kidderminster, and this rapidly became the
staple trade of the town.
There is an entry at the front of the book which shows that it had been a Christmas present from "Beatie". Beatrice was her aunt.
According to her record, Dolly joined the air base on March 1918 aged 20. She was demobilised in September 1919, almost a year after the war ended. How exciting it must have been to move away from the town she was born in, and from where her mother and other family remained all their lives. And she was not working in the carpet trade as a "spinner" or "Twister". Her role at Lympne was a Store Woman.
The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) was the women's branch of the Royal Air Force, existing from 1 April 1918 until 1 April 1920, when it was disbanded. Its original intent was to provide female mechanics in order to free up men for front line service in World War I.
However, the organisation saw high enrolment, with women also serving
in a number of other non-combatant roles, including drivers, caterers,
clerks and tailors, as well as filling other wartime needs.
Behaviour was strictly monitored with the WRAF constitution and rules
laid-out in an official booklet. The published Standing Orders included a
ban on smoking on duty and in the street, as well as uniform
requirements and the procedure for complaints. The high standards
achieved by the WRAF led them to being viewed as the most professional
and disciplined of all the women’s services. Dolly was living a responsible and one assumes, very fulfilling life.
There are several entries in her book that mention Dolly, including one very mysterious one. This romantic poem ends with the line "I love you" . Sadly, no full name or date attached! But I think the word "Charlie" is squeezed in at the bottom of the page. I know that much later in life Dolly married- sadly not to Charlie!
There are other entries that mention Dolly, one says what a great pal she is. Another is actually written by Dolly herself. I have seen and researched several autograph books from the period and I have particularly noticed that unusually, there is very little art work or sketching in the book. The entries are mostly serious poems, religious tomes or very straightforward rhymes. This entry is from her mother and is a very short, earnest plea:
Be you to others kind and true
And always unto others do
As you would have others do to you
There is also a tantalising pen portrait in the book of a member of the WRAF. Could this be Dolly!? Sadly I don't know the artist's name but it is a really lovely sketch! I hope it is "our girl"!
I have found an entry from Dolly herself. Written just a few weeks after she arrived at RAF Lympne it is a transcription of a poem. "Edith Hickman Divall" appears to have been religous author and poet. The entry shows a young woman who came from a very humble background and yet the.writing, punctuation and choice of poem show an extremely serious, thoughtful and well educated young woman.
What became of Dolly? She was a member of the WRAF for 18 months until she was demobbed in 1919; thereby extending her service well into peace time. I was very sad to see that by 1921 this exceptional young lady, who made many friends from different backgrounds, enjoyed independence and a fulfilling job was unemployed - her occupation was noted as a "twister". She had returned to Kidderminster and was doing the same job that her grandmother and mother had done before her. She was living with them and out of work.
Dolly married Alfred Gwilliam in 1936. I have not found their entry for 1939 but Alfred had been in various jobs in factories in Kidderminister before he married. Nor can I find any children of the marriage. Dolly was nearly 40 when she married. She died in 1970 and Alfred 4 years later. I wonder if Dolly ever re-read the entries in her autograph book . I hope she did and that she could look back with fondness for her comrades and pride in the work that she did for her country.
She never lived outside of Kidderminster again.
Perhaps this is therefore a fitting entry to end to her story.
Thank you for your service Dolly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Lympne
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidderminster
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