WAAF Records help

Hi everyone thanks for your time, I’m looking for advice on how I can research my Auntie, I have letters from the late 40s, with her Details and plus a journalist interviewed her in the 1980s about her experiences.

Cpl M Burns 432108 WAAF is how she describes her title in these letters from the later 1940s.


From the interview in the 1980s.


“From there she was transferred to the search and rescue unit of the R.A.F. To be in it you had to learn how to parachute, and in all she made 47 jumps. Her job was to fly into enemy territory and pick up the injured soldiers whom she would nurse on the way home. s' We mainly went to Holland, where the Dutch resistance would have injured Allied soldiers ready', she said. "A call would come over that we were to go in and get some injured solders and wed jump in and fly across the Channel. There were airfields everywhere; it was just the matter of finding the right one. The Dutch would send out signals where we were to land and down, we'd go"


'The rescue team would then have to pick up the injured men before the

German fighters spotted them as all of this activity was happening behind enemy lines. On one of these missions the plane was intercepted by German fighter planes. The tail gunner was killed, the pilot was badly injured and the Navigator was all but". she said.


With radio help from the mainland, Monica managed to crash land the plane in a paddock. "l was so terrified, I didn’t know what I was doing, I think it was a fair bit of luck", she said.


For her service in the war, Monica was awarded six medals, one being the GEORGE Medal for bravery.”



Would anyone know details of the units that would this type of thing, Aircraft types, anything would be appreciated.

 

Hello Watkin.

There is a very convoluted history within the webpage here (just click on the link below and use the "find in page" function using "Monica" as your search word).

Please note that as of yet I have been unable to corroborate anything written within said page! It may tie in with information your already have though.

Winifred Burns

The only thing that may be correct is that a military themed geneaology subscription service (Fold3) confirms the service number you have provided (note: Fold3 source will have been TNA Kew).



Good luck with your searching.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

EDIT 30/07/25 07:51hrs.

Forum member https://ww2talk.com/index.php?members/rafcommands.13728/ may be able to give you a few pointers.

 

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your quick reply, Yes that website was written by a distant cousin who has since passed, that index record is certainly her, I'm told she marched in Memorial parades in Australia, so I assume she had the medals with her, It's just such a vivid story would be nice to tie it all together,

 

It says
Monica served as a Corporal in the WAAF during World War 2, No. 432108, driving trucks for victory
Latterly Monica was stationed at H Q Maintenance Command, RAF Amport, Andover, Hants. After a stint in the Military Hospital in Tidworth with chronic bronchitis in 1948-49 she left the WAAF around 1949/50.

Where did you get the story from?
Do you have her service records

 

Watkin I am sorry to say but(I will have to buy a hat then eat it) this seems like a very tall story
She obviously served and did her bit but the rest is pure fiction.
As I said if our esteemed member Ross confirms the story is true I will allow you to choose the hat I eat.
Double check her service number.

 

I would step back from taking the service details from the website as fully correct.

Unless you have an electronic copy of proof of death more than 25 years ago applying for a copy of her service record will not be a route that is open.

The RAF over a long career would require proof for changes in personal details.

She entered the RAF as Monica Hindley and reverted some time later during service to her birth name of Monica Scholes Burns - AIR78 has both cards and both have notes on the previous surname.

She retained service number so either continuous service or only a short interruption.

Either way to have the change to Burns she would have had to provide proof of reason for name change from Hindley to Burns.

Pregnancy was a reason for discharge from wartime WAAF service so unlikely that narrative in web page is correct.

From AIR78 she joined up as Hindley and left as Burns.

Best start to tease out the details is to get a copy of Terence Hindley birth certificate 1944, Louth, Vol 7a Page 1043 and start to research round this.

Ross

 

Good morning Ross.

I've just finished looking through AIR 718 77 2 (yes, Fold3 a little wide of the mark, Monica is listed in 718 77 2, not "1", as you surmised!)

With how Monica's entry is recorded on her index "card" Ross, is there a possibility that she joined up under the surname/family name "Scholes" initially?

You know better (much better!) than me the format and MO of the personnel index entries, but do you think initial entry as "Monica Scholes" is a possibility? ("Hindley" being prior to joining up maybe?).



Close up:



Happy to be shot down in flames, always,

Jim.

 

If she was awarded the George Medal she should be listed in The London Gazette.
I had a look for her number & it comes up with somebody else postwar.
Notices | All Notices | The Gazette...

George Medal - Wikipedia

Maybe she is listed by name only & no number.

 

Sorry Jim - tracer round incoming.

The card typed text is how it was created Hindley, Monica and is collated along with other Hindley surname cards.

SOP was for when proof of change sent to RAF Records and authorised change sent for action the Clerk would type out a new card (Burns, Monica Scholes) with either hand or typed "formerly XXXXX" added. To complete the task annotation of "now XXXXX" was added to the original card.

Job done, sign the action off and proceed to next task on list.

A look at the next card down shows a correct card amended for a marriage with Nee.

Ross

 

Excellent Ross (as ever!).

Thanks for the heads-up, and the heads-down

Kind regards, very very much appreciated, always,

Jim.

 

I Will get back to you wonderful folks with everything I have,

These letters I have are from her correspondence with child adoption and herself 1948-1950, she tells her story, but Essentially she found her father (my Grandfather Fred Hindley) Wasn't her father .

"I came of age to be sent to a situation, I did not remain very long at the post, war has already started, I joined the forces, I was not asked to produce a birth certificate and as I had never seen mine Or ever held one I thought they were of little importance."

Mr Hindley was not my father, he wasn't even married to my mother, they first lived together, it was a long time before I got Over everything.

I had changed my name to Burns which then made things legal on my part."

 

Thank you for the update Watkin.

Don't give up, it's a long road to travel, keep plugging away.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Here is the complete article from the 1980s, regarding the story, I appreciate all the assistance thank you.

 

The AIR78 change on obtaining birth certificate sometime after wartime joining fits the documents in the archive and explains the absence of Nee

There is no named father on her birth certificate.


Need another peg in the ground to work from and hopefully Terence Hindley birth certificate will confirm father details and name Monica was using Feb 1944.

As an unmarried WAAF she would have been discharged from the service on pregnancy being known (usually shown as KR&ACI Clause 652 (11) Compassionate Grounds) .

Looking like a return to service after birth so service number retained but range of trades would be limited 1944/45.

Ross

 

Thanks for putting up the Greg Bearup/Monica (then "Hewitson") article Watkin.

To get to the start (the truth?) of what you have at the moment obtaining Monica's service records, as per Ross' advice, are a must. Really the one way forward.

Only then will you be able to add any veracity to Monica's story.

E.g. For me, Monica's story has a familiar ring to it. Monica would most definitely been aware of these ladies, there was much publicity in later war years, and immediately post war.

Exhibition: In Focus – The Flying Nightingales

Unfortunately, without her service records (dates, places, units etc) you are unlikely to be able to have anything that you know for is correct for certain.

Please don't be discouraged though. Keep at it.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

EDIT 30/0725 09:46hrs: Previously from the forum.

The Flying Nightingales

 

Initially I said the route to obtain a service record was closed. This was on the assumption that 2001 she was still alive.

That may not have been the case. If this is her then obtain an electronic copy of either death certificate (.gov.uk route) or published obituary (TNA route)

Monica Hewitson (1923-1997) - Find a Grave Memorial

apply via Obtain a service record for deceased service person on web .GOV.UK - RAF Disclosures will say where the record is. If at TNA then apply using FOI application to open closed record - resupply proof of death/obit and the ref no RAF disclosures gave.

Ross

 

I really appreciate all the help, I'll certainly focus on obtaining certificates in preparation to apply for the service records.

I have to wait till 2028 because here in Australia it's at least 30 years past death, considering I've been looking for her for 25 years, it's a short time.

 

Hello Watkin,

With any service record application for Monica, unless you know that she served (later served) in the Australian Armed forces (which would be a separate matter) you will need to apply through the UK for British Forces service records as Ross has specified in his post #16 above.

And any UK application could be started now (as soon as you are ready).

Kjnd regards, good luck with all, always,

Jim.

 

Certainly, I just don't have the Death certificate for Monica Hewitson she passed away here in Australia, as it's restricted for 30 years or more., only a photo of the headstone which won't be accepted based on an auto email I received, I might have to sort through microfilm of newspapers, maybe get lucky with an obituary.

 

Aaaah Watkin, my lack of understanding on the Australian rules and regs for obtaining a death certificate, apologies.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.