In 1941, Beryl Baxter, a dressmaker from Grimsby, signed up to do her bit in the Battle of Britain. She was to serve as a plotter as aircraftswoman in the WAAF and, upon discharge in 1949 she began life as a welfare worker for the Women's Voluntary Service. Her postings included the Korean War, Japan, Hong Kong and Iraq. Throughout these years of service she fulfilled the roles of mother, sister and girlfriend to thousands of servicemen, both conscripts and regulars. Presenting a dramatic narrative from several theatres of war, this book recalls Beryl's life, based on a large archive of letters and documents that she preserved, allowing the reader to go on these journeys to war alongside a brave and enterprising independent woman. AUTHOR: Stephen Wade is a social historian, specialising in the history of crime and the law in Britain and Ireland. Amongst his many published true crime and crime history books are those he has written for Pen & Sword's Family History series. These include Tracing Your Criminal Ancestors, Tracing Your Legal Ancestors and Tracing Your Police Ancestors. He has also contributed to Family Tree Magazine, Who Do You Think You Are? magazine and other periodicals. 16 b/w illustrations
