In January, Britain’s oldest female WW2 veteran died. Anne Robson had served as a physical training instructor in the Army, and had reached the grand age of 108 when she passed away in Scotland.
The Women’s Royal Army Corps Association has since decided to launch a campaign to ‘Help us find our Oldest A.T.S. Veteran’ – #FindOurOATS – www.FindOurOATS.org – to ensure that the contribution of female veterans during WW2 is duly and appropriately honoured. Afterall, their contribution helped to carve out new roles for women in society as a whole.
This year – 2020 – will mark 75 years since the end of WW2. As such, women (as well as men) who served must be remembered. In the words of retired Col Alison Brown, “The purpose of the ‘Find Our OATS’ campaign is to find the oldest surviving female WW2 veteran to record her experiences for the purpose of future generations: her legacy should not be forgotten!”
Betty Webb MBE, is also backing the campaign. She is the 97 year old a member of the WRAC Association (charity) who helped to crack enemy codes at Bletchley Park during WW2. She notes: “I am very proud of all the achievements of the thousands of other women who joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service to serve in WW2. We must remember the contribution of these ladies.”
Over 345,000 women served in the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) from 1938 –1949. Ahead of the VE Day (8th May) and VJ Day (15th Aug) celebrations that are being planned around the world, the charity wishes to ensure that the focus of these anniversaries includes female veterans. These women may have served for just 1 day, or up to 11 years in the ATS between 1938 and 1949. However, many such women emigrated to countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia, after the hostilities ended. This is why spreading the message about #FindOurOATS internationally is so important.
The oldest British female WW2 veteran may well not be a WRAC Association member. Furthermore, the charity in no way wishes to put ‘pressure’ on this lady, once she is found. Instead, it simply wishes to help identify her, so that in due time, it can appropriately honour and champion her pioneering service as the only charity that specifically supports women who serve, or have served, in the British Army.
Women only need to have service for one day or more in the British Army to be eligible to apply for benefits available via the WRAC Association. As a vibrant charity, it has two main objectives: providing comradeship, friendship and support – plus – distributing grants to former servicewomen (1917-1992) who are in need of financial assistance. In 2016 the charity awarded over £220K in benevolence grants for items such as white goods, and services such as care home top-up fees and stairlifts.
You can help to find the oldest surviving female WW2 veteran by spreading the word about the campaign: Go to the website www.FindOurOATS.org and/or share its social media content using the hashtag – #FindOurOATS.
The WRAC has also printed a broad spectrum of stories of women who have served in the British Army since 1917. The book is called “Wonderful Women 100 Book” and is available to buy on the WRAC website. https://wonderful-women.org/product/wonderful-women-100-book/