Remembering Vera King

Aldwick resident Vera King, who celebrated her 100^th birthday in January, sadly passed away on 28 June 2021.

Vera enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, “the WAAF’s”, in 1940 and served throughout the rest of World War Two, leaving the Service in 1945.

Having exceptionally fast shorthand skills, her services were much in demand and her repeated applications for overseas service were always declined. In September 1944, following the D-Day landings in June, Vera made another application which was immediately accepted.

At RAF West Kirby, she joined a draft being prepared to go by sea to the South East Asia sector. Following interviews, Vera and a girl from the Women’s Royal Navy Service, “the Wrens”, were selected to fly out to Ceylon, in advance of the main party.

There the girls joined Lord Mountbatten’s staff, taking dictation from him and the senior officers at the SEA Allied Forces Headquarters. Their duties included typing signals, reports and even some of his personal letters to “My dear Cousin Bertie”, King George VI, and others.

The girls were well outnumbered by servicemen, so were very popular. Vera was able to enjoy a good social life.

With the capitulation of the Japanese forces, Vera King typed the draft Japanese Instrument of Surrender. Lord Mountbatten then moved his Headquarters to Singapore and Vera was responsible for packing up the furniture and equipment and sending them on before she returned to the UK.

After she left the WAAF’s, Vera got a job with an airline based at Speke Airport that was eventually absorbed into British European Airways, and later relocating to Croydon Airport prior to it becoming today’s Heathrow.

When Vera moved to Bognor Regis, she met fellow ex-WAAF Dorothy Smith.

In 1987, they organized a three-day WAAF reunion at Pontins in Selsey. It was attended by over 800 ex-WAAF’s from all over the world.

Following its success, they formed the West Sussex WAAF Group. Initially around 80 members met in the Bell Room at Chichester Cathedral, then subsequently they found their home at the Bognor Regis Royal Air Forces Association Branch.

They continued to be the driving force behind the Group until dwindling numbers caused it to be disbanded in 2017, the year in which Vera received the badge recognizing her 60 years of membership of the RAF Association.

Both Vera and Dorothy were made Honorary Life Vice-Presidents for their long service and contribution to the Bognor Regis Branch.

They were the last two surviving members of the WAAF Group. With Dorothy passing away in April and Vera in June, we have lost the connection with a group that was very special.

Covid-19 restrictions prevented the Branch from celebrating Vera’s 100th birthday in January as we would have wished.

At her funeral the Branch provided a Standard Bearer and Guard of Honour. The wake, held at the Royal Air Forces Association Club, attended by family and friends of both Vera King and Dorothy Smith, was very much a celebration of two lives well lived.