Called to Colours

On 8th January 1943 Chotie was ‘embodied’ into the

Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS)

at No1 Training Camp, Northampton  

(Talavera Camp on the former Northampton Race Course)

 

The Auxiliary Territorial Service was brought into existence on 9^th September1938 as the women’s section of the army, complimenting the FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), which was by then a motor driving service.  The ATS was initially part of the Territorial Army but on 10^th April 1941 was given full military status as the women’s service of the regular army, incorporating the FANY drivers. 

When Chotie joined Jean Knox was the Senior Commander.  Her work had improved the professional image of the ATS and smartened up the khaki uniform, which was to be worn at all times (including khaki underwear - the notorious ‘passion killer’ big knickers).  

  (From ‘Girls in Khaki – a history of the ATS in the Second World War’ by Barbara Green, published by the History Press 2012)

 

“George warned me about joining up but I was determined to fight for King and country, fancying myself in the Wrens* driving Naval officers around.  Not to be, I finished up in the A.T.S. and suffered a month at Northampton training camp – food uneatable and cried myself to sleep for a week.  So homesick. George came to see me and said I looked like a film star A.T.S. girl.  Not true, as I heard him guffawing with some of his friends how terrible I looked.”  (From ‘Chotie’s Story’.)

I remember my Mum saying she was dissuaded from joining the WRNS (which she wanted because of the more flattering uniform) by the Army recruiting officer who promised her special work on something “new, exciting and secret” if she asked to be on the Ack-Ack (anti-aircraft) spotting: radar.  Chotie’s Daughter.

*WRNS – Women’s Royal Naval Service

 

 

 

 

 

9^th January 1943 – Chotie had a dental examination at Northampton.

Copy of Record Dental Treatment Card –  9/1/43          Northampton

 

10th January 1943 – the Soviet offensive, Operation Ring, begins to crush the remains of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad.  Hitler had forbidden them to surrender. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)