A 100-year-old Women’s Auxiliary Air Force veteran who served as a Morse slip reader at Bletchley Park during World War 2 is set to release her war memoirs this Saturday 15 April. Titled A WAAF at War, it’s the story of an ordinary young woman who volunteered to join the war against Nazi Germany.
It covers Margaret Wilson’s roles during the war of handling barrage balloons to defend from enemy aircraft during the Blitz to her time at Bletchley Park intercepting enemy messages through Morse code.
Blind veteran Margaret from Mansfield was supported to write the book by fellow blind veteran, 76-year-old Simon Mahoney from Ashbourne.
The pair struck up a friendship together when Simon signed up as a telephone befriender for Blind Veterans UK and was assigned to Margaret.
He says:
“Having listened to and been in awe of Margaret’s amazing stories for over four years I jokingly suggested that she should write a book. She said ‘I leave that sort of thing to you.’ And in that moment a mad idea was born.”
Over the course of the next eight months, Simon, who lost all of his sight in 2018 and has written three books of his own, interviewed Margaret and typed up the book using a specially adapted PC and word-processing software supplied by the military charity that supports blind and partially-sighted veterans, Blind Veterans UK.
Simon says:
“If it wasn’t for the adaptive kit that Blind Veterans UK gave me and trained me up on, there’s no way that Margaret’s amazing life story would have been able to have been told in this book.”
Margaret says:
“I’m very excited to see the book when it’s finished. I feel honoured. I can’t believe that I’ve had a book written about me and it makes me happy to know that my stories can be shared with my family and friends.
“During the Covid lockdowns I was lucky enough to be connected with Simon via telephone to support me through that challenging time. I’ve loved our regular calls and the conversations have always been fun and interesting. We’ve spent many an hour putting the world to right and sharing our life stories.
“He once said that he wanted to write a book about me and I never thought it would actually happen, but Simon is truly amazing at making things like this come to life! I cannot thank him enough for his kind words and support, he’s become such a dear friend and I still look forward to our calls.”
The book will be launched at an event at Shirebrook Ex-Servicemens Club on 15 April between 1pm and 3pm. Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, will be opening the book launch and giving a speech. Following a recital of the book by Simon, Margaret will be interviewed and then signing copies of A WAAF at War. The event will conclude with an afternoon tea.
The book is available to for purchase on Amazon. Profits from the sale will go to Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Blind Veterans UK, Barrow-in-Furness Women’s Co-operative, Royal British Legion Derbyshire and Association of Royal Naval Officers all gave substantial financial assistance that allowed this book to be produced and published.
Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, says:
“A WAAF at War is a feast of glorious detail into the world of war through a woman’s eyes, brought to life through Margaret’s tremendous memories and Simon’s creative skills.
“One of the great pleasures of being His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the county of Derbyshire is the opportunity to meet and celebrate some truly exceptional people. Simon and Margaret are certainly up there with the best.”
Margaret joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1941, after some resistance from her mother and remembers:
“My mother didn’t think it was a suitable career path for me but my father disagreed, he was a military man and signed my papers to get in.”
Margaret initially served in Balloon Command before going on to train as a wireless operator and recalls:
“It was hard, we got bombed left right and centre. I don’t know how I’m still here. I watched a plane come down at RAF Syerston. I had to send a message in Morse code to another airfield down south, to say ‘It is with regret we have to inform you that your son was killed’. It stays with you, you can’t forget things like that.”
Later in the war Margaret trained in vital communications and went on to work as a Morse slip reader at Bletchley Park. After signing the official secrets act she was sworn in by a Justice of the Peace. She says:
“He told me to never ever talk to anyone about the work we were doing there and that I must take it to my end of days.”
Like many veterans, Margret has kept her vow and never spoken about the secrets.
Margaret lost her sight much later in life due to age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss in older people. Fortunately, she found out about Blind Veterans UK and started receiving support from the charity in 2016.
She says:
“You try and get by as long as you can when you’re told you’re losing your sight but when it started to get very bad I did feel really miserable. I can’t see to read or write now.
“The biggest impact the charity has had on me was meeting and being around all those other people, many who had much worse sight than me, who were getting on with life. Before I visited the charity’s wellbeing centre I felt really low, but being there really picked me up. Everyone helps one another, it’s brilliant.
“Honestly the charity is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. They’ve shown me how to do all sorts of things in new ways since I lost my sight. Things like gardening which I never thought I would be able to do again. And reading the post which has helped keep me independent.”
Simon served in the Royal Marines as a young officer in the 1960s. It was later in life, at the age of 66, that Glaucoma stole his sight which was in steady decline until it was lost completely five years ago. Luckily Simon found out about Blind Veterans UK, who have been supporting him ever since. He says:
“Blind Veterans UK have always been there alongside me to navigate the challenges that arise when adapting to life with sight loss.
“From practical support like white-cane training which has meant I’m able to get out and about in my local area to their general warmth and understanding nature, they have been absolutely fantastic. Every day I thank God that I’m part of this wonderful charity.”
Simon has written three books of his own with each one designed to lay down basic knowledge for someone with a vision impairment. The topics they cover include cooking, coming to terms with sight loss, and returning to a normal life.
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but the charity knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/support
