VICTORY IN JAPAN – 97-YEAR-OLD FELICITY EDWARDS RECALLS HER LIFE IN THE BRITISH ARMY

Later this month, on VJ Day 75, the nation will pay respect to those who served in the British Army including 97-year-old Isle of Wight resident Felicity Joan Edwards.Women’s Royal Army Corps

VJ Day 75 which will mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Japan on Saturday 15th August 2020.

The Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) Association has shared the story of WWII Veteran Lance Corporal Felicity Joan Edwards, who served with the British Army B Company A.T.S. Originally from Balham in South London, Felicity now lives on the Isle of Wight.

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Aged 18, Felicity joined the A.T.S. (Auxiliary Territorial Service) in 1941, and spent the greater part of her years in the Army at Arborfield as a cinema projectionist. Her role was to educate the troops on the maintenance of army vehicles including the Churchill, Cromwell and Sherman tanks.

One of her best memories was being involved in the construction of a long water tank with vehicle ramps at both ends, just before the invasion of Normandy. Felicity recalls:

“I received an American film ‘The waterproofing of vehicles’ which I showed constantly during the weeks leading up to the Normandy invasion as it was important that on that day they would drive onto the beaches of France, without the fear of breaking down with waterlogged engines”.

Felicity also vividly remembers being at Aborfield when the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (R.E.M.E.) was formed, and it wasn’t long before Aborfield became the number one Training Establishment of the R.E.M.E.

“I remember feeling a real sense of pride and confidence, to be part of this new regiment. A large parade was held to mark the formation of R.E.M.E., and I had to march across the parade ground to the new theme song whilst a flag was hoisted to the top of the mast to mark this new elite military establishment. A day to remember!”

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Felicity remained at Arborfield until the end of the war after a short posting to Derbyshire. Her memories from this time we’re incredibly traumatic; she endured relentless bombing throughout the London Blitz, which hit the street where her family was living at the time. She recalls being stationed in the Midlands.

“Hearing the sound of war at its deadliest… We used to just stand in silence and watch while squadron after squadron of Lancaster bombers filled the skies’ to take part in the carpet bombing of Germany. My heart will always go out and embrace the men who served in Bomber Command. Ethics are the luxury for those who have come after us.”]

Colonel (Retd) Ali Brown, Vice-President of the WRAC Association, says:

“Saturday 15th August marks 75 years since Victory over Japan, which finally brought the war to an end. We must not forget all of the pioneering women out there who served for their country, particularly those women who played instrumental roles in bringing back British soldiers held captive by the Japanese Army.

“On behalf of the WRAC Association, which is the only charity supporting women who served in the British Army, now it is time to thank them for their great courage, loyalty and comradeship”.