[SES1066]

Queen Elizabeth II has become a living history reminder of WW2 for all of us. While her father, King George VI, initially forbid her, probably as the Heir, from wartime uniform service, when she turned 18 in 1944, she persuaded him to allow her to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), a uniformed service assisting the overall war effort. Below is picture of her in uniform in her days as a 'mechanic' in that service.

[dfwgator]

That’s an awesome picture.

[wbill]

Unsurprising, everyone had a part to play. IIRC, the royal family stayed in London during the Blitz. Felt that was their place.

My grandfather's memoirs talk about how surprised he was to arrive in London in '44 and find it completely blacked out. He had a number of close calls with Buzz Bombs both in England, and on the Continent (he called them the "Antwerp Express" and "Leige Local", depending on how high they were). Worth remembering that England was a war zone, where anything could happen, from 39-45.

Friend of the family was a child during the Blitz, and along with many others, was sent to "safety" in the countryside in Wales. Came home years later with a thick Welsh brogue, much to his parents' consternation. :-)

[353FMG]

She was much taller then.