Browse Items (37 total)
- Collection: Reid, Kathryn. Songs and poems
Sort by:
Raw recruit
Three verse poem about the WAAF recruit process.
Take off
Poem about crews preparing for flight and taking off watched by station commander and off duty WAAFs.
Knights of the nocturnal moon
Two versions of four verse poem, one draft and the other final. First has handwritten corrections and other annotation. Second is final version.
The everlasting turkey
Version of twelve days of Christmas but all verses about turkey.
Sally Lancaster
Ode to a local village girl whose mother took in washing from aircrew. Refers to 100 Squadron. Two versions both annotated 'Kathryn Reid, (half pint)' and other notes.
WAAFs invited to American celebration
Multi-line poem describing a WAAF social visit, by invitation, to an American unit where they were entertained by the Glen Miller' orchestra.
Christmas - Waltham 1943
Three verse poem about Christmas. Relates to a children's party and mentions WAAF officer doing party planning, trying to bring cheer to Waltham station. On the reverse 'Keith Burrows, RAFA'.
Station dance. Bomber Command 1943
Multi-line poem describing a station dance.
RAF Waltham Xmas eve 1943
Multi-line poem mentions forty aircrew returning from Berlin trying to land on fogbound airfield, crashed and killed on Christmas eve.
Happy Christmas
Multi-line poem relates story of crews arriving back at fog bound airfield from operation to Berlin. Aircraft crashed and 18 aircrew were lying dead in medical centre. Laments hoping they did not die for nothing.
Ode to a WAAF
Four verse poem about another WAAF who was in a billet with the author. Describes her and tells of getting drunk and being tangled in a fir tree.
Bawtry bind and Envy
Two poems. The first about being Air Force GD (General Duties) and having job of cleaning floors and steps. The second about not envying WRENs.
Station dance
Eight verse poem describing a station dance.
Theme song from rhapsody in hut 13- Swannington
Multi-line poem echoing chat between friends. Asking for cigarettes, mentioning going out, going to the NAAFI, domestic chores, boys.
A song of hate
Five verse song about an Irishman and the trouble R/T girls have with him.
Radio roundelay
Sub-titled 'Mosquito's at Swannington impatient to land. Eight verse poem about aircraft orbiting waiting to land.
He is flying tonight
Short, one verse poem worrying over someone flying.
Two poems
Two poems. The first, 'A song of hate' concerns an Irish officer who troubles R/T operators. The second titled 'A ratty problem' is about rats in the tower and the signals section. References RAF Church Fenton.
The police
Poem about an encounter with a policemen accompanied by a WAAF officer.
The WRENS party
Nine verse poem about WAAFs attending a WRENs party who outshine the navy ladies with the sailors. Comments on their revenge.
Memorial at Hatcliffe top
Poem concerning a crew killed when crashing on return form operation to Berlin. Memorial at site.Additional information on the crash is available via theIBCC Losses Database.
Two poems
The first three verses, 'when I fell over the horseshoe' are about a lucky charm. The second three verses, 'F for Freddy are being grounded' concerns a crew who finished their tour without ever washing shirts or socks.
Take off
Poem about crews preparing for flight and taking off watched by station commander and off duty WAAFs. Typewritten version with annotated revision notes.
Take off
Untitled version of a poem about crews preparing for flight and taking off, watched by the station commander and off-duty WAAFs. Typewritten version with annotated handwritten revision notes.
Waltham church Christmas 1943
Poem describing loss of crew who crashed in fog on return from operation and WAAF who lost a diamond from a ring. Hope that crews did not die for nothing.