Craig, Kathleen: my Air Force recollections (March 16, 2005)
Interviewee: Craig, Kathleen
ABSTRACT: Kathleen Craig Royal Air Force (Cassette 1, Side 1) 000: Mrs. Kathleen Craig was born on September 12 1922 in Otly, Yorkshire, England. Joined the RAF in 1940 on her eighteenth birthday. Where she met her husband who was with 5-group bomber command at Leeming he was station navigator in 1943. Engaged in 1944 and married soon after. Once married he was sent for second tour to Tholthorpe. Mrs. Craig was stationed in Harrogate with the Air Ministry of Production. Stayed there for the whole of the war. In 1945 she found out she was pregnant and applied for a discharge. They rented a house as her husband started his second tour. 069: She would watch the thousand bomber raids beginning. She did not know what was happening because there was no communication between the base and the outside. Only English wife, all of the other wives were in Canada. Crew always at the house, she didn't know how to cook and was taught by the crew. Hard to get a lot of food because of rationing. Participated in VE day celebrations. 132: Husband was to go Far East. She insisted to wait for him to go to the Far East but he never actually went. Their first child was born. In 1946 she had a passage to Canada on the Queen Mary, her husband left before her about a year before. Speaks about her trip across the Atlantic. Husband waiting for her in Halifax. Talks about housing after the war. 176: Leave for a trip across Canada to see her husband's parents. On the trip back the brakes failed in the vehicle and were in a horrible car accident. Were taken to a nun hospital where they received some treatment but were asked to leave when another big accident happened. Went to see her husband's aunt in Boston to recover for a couple of days. Returned to Halifax. 266: Posted to Greenwood. Had to find furnished accommodation wherever they went. Then were posted to Summerside, PEI. In the fall he went to Staff College in Toronto. She is not pregnant with third child. Had to fly to Halifax to have her baby. Moved to Toronto to be with husband while he was in Staff College. 353: In 1950 they were posted to Rockcliffe, Ottawa where they rented a house. They then moved to PMQ in Radcliff that was a great financial relief. Then posted to Winnipeg in 1951. Husband ran the number two navigational school for NATO. Had PMQs in Winnipeg. Had many visiting VIP's when the class would graduate and they would hold teas in honour of them. Re-met an old acquaintance from the Air Ministry. 443: They then returned to Ottawa for four years and they bought a house. In 1958 they moved to Trenton where they experienced their best posting in Canada. Re-met Barbara Lane and their families spent time together. Started a riding school for everyone to join. Husband was Chief Administrative Officer. Lots of people coming and going so they had much entertaining to do. Met Johnny Johnson, a World War I hero. Also met one of the Queens ladies in waiting, Lady Egerton. Did lots of charity work there with other military families. 656: Next posted to Paris, SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters of Allied Powers in Europe). Time of the Iron Curtain and the French problem with Algiers. (Cassette 1, Side 2) 000: Received PMQs in SHAPE village. Four children were enrolled in the French school program. Would attend a ball in the Versailles Palace that was not open to the public. The last year they attended they brought their older children with them. Enrolled eldest son in Pangbourne Nautical College in England. 095: Applied for their last posting in BC and were sent to Mount Lolo where they didn't know anyone there. Mrs. Craig's husband soon retired and moved to Vancouver then to Victoria in 1969. Talks about their family life and the travelling that they took advantage of while they were in Europe. While in Paris they had to entertain a lot.
Interviewer: Sinclair, Kate
An interview/narrative of Kathleen Craig's experiences during World War II. Craig served with the Royal Air Force. Interview took place on March 16, 2005.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- One original audio cassette in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- CK_431
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- September 4, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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