The Girls Behind the Guns by Dorothy Brewer Kerr

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godzilla73

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Just found the above rather fascinating book in the library. Written by a woman who was an ATS Kine-theodolite operator - which was machine that was used to calculate how accurate AA and HAA guns were. In it she gives an extremely (and I mean about 8 pages) detailed description of how both Bofors and Heavy AA guns were used and how they were laid out in emplacements. She also spends some time describing how an artillery team would prepare and fire these guns, and how she and other ATS would take readings and calculations of how accurate the firing was. Most interestingly from my point of view, she was posted at St.Margaret's Bay, and describes being billeted in what was presumably either Langdon or St Margarets Bay deep shelter, but only after a few months of being in a requisitioned bungalow first, because they were still digging the deep shelter. Anyway, fascinating book - probably out of print now, as it was published in the early 90's, but worth a read for anyone interested in Artillery.
PM if you want the ISBN or anything.
GDZ:)
 
There used to be an anti aircraft gun factory at Tubney Woods near Abingdon were a factory is now. Women used to work there and were swarn to secrecy . People only found out about it years after the place shut. Wonder if they tested them round there or the area.:)
 
That looks really interesting, GZ. I came across a reference the other day about the fact that munitions were built and tested by women, as well as many other important roles that women held during WW2. The interesting point that was being made, is that these roles were played down after the war due to government propoganda, in order to clear the workplace of women so that men returning from fighting would have jobs on their return. Pamphlets and other means of propoganda were issued to coerce women to become housewives...and it was even made illegal for married women to hold down a job outside of the home. A laudable service to the brave men who had fought, but also a very big, big disservice to the brave women who worked in hard and dangerous jobs to keep the country and the war effort going.
 
There used to be an anti aircraft gun factory at Tubney Woods near Abingdon were a factory is now. Women used to work there and were swarn to secrecy . People only found out about it years after the place shut. Wonder if they tested them round there or the area.:)

Yeah apparently there's an article on it in an edition of "After the Battle" from a few years back. Might have to get hold of that one, so thanks for the tip.:)
GDZ
 
That looks really interesting, GZ. I came across a reference the other day about the fact that munitions were built and tested by women, as well as many other important roles that women held during WW2. The interesting point that was being made, is that these roles were played down after the war due to government propoganda, in order to clear the workplace of women so that men returning from fighting would have jobs on their return. Pamphlets and other means of propoganda were issued to coerce women to become housewives...and it was even made illegal for married women to hold down a job outside of the home. A laudable service to the brave men who had fought, but also a very big, big disservice to the brave women who worked in hard and dangerous jobs to keep the country and the war effort going.

Indeed Foxy. One of the things she talks about towards the end of the book is that as she went on with her job, it became clear to her that it was a job that was particularly suited to women because it required a painstaking eye for detail and a thoroughness that men often didn't have. Needless to say though, as soon as the war was over, her unit was disbanded and the ATS became the WRAC, with the Women bit clearly emphasised as if to say "this isn't the real army anyway". Even the existence of the women of the SOE (the bravest individuals of WW2 in my opinion) was frequently denied. Its almost as if the War provided all those opportunities for women to find themselves and what they were good at, and then peace time just (totally needlessly) snatched them away again.
 

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