Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
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What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing

Posted by Allan C. on 21/9/2025, 9:58 am

Photo taken on 7 th November 1942 her age 18 years.

Charlotte was Ann’s sister, the middle one of 5 girls.

She was the mother of Alan Walker who was at Clegwell 1955-1959 approx.

Alan was the Guitar player in a group. He died a few years ago..

The family lived on the Scotch Estate.

Allan C

Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing Photo turned

Posted by peter cook on 21/9/2025, 10:19 am, in reply to "What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing"

Allan, hope you don't but i turned the photo, it's easier for us folks with dodgy necks. I wonder if the uniform could be Women's Auxiliary Air Force.

Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing Photo turned

Posted by Allan C. on 21/9/2025, 2:34 pm, in reply to "Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing Photo turned"

You’re welcome to adapt modify any of my photos. I’m not very good at using my iPad. Lack or practice etc.

A question for everyone.

Charlottes two elder sisters worked in the Bomb factory WW2. My Aunt in the Land Army and her friend away fabricating Spitfire wing ribs.

Charlotte 18 in 1942 and also my Aunt and her school friend.

Charlottes elder sisters were 20 and 23 ish in 42.

(
By the way the photos came from another of Ann’s sisters after she died some years ago and I just happened to be moving their box and decided to have a look inside.)

So if you left school at 15 and when a bit older say 18 you were doing War Work what were the let’s say The Rules for those between 15 and 18 years.

It could be that if under 18 you were not sent away from home like some girls.

Of course a lot of lads would be made apprentices until they could go into the Forces.

Allan C.

Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing Photo turned

Posted by Carol in hampshire on 21/9/2025, 5:15 pm, in reply to "Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing Photo turned"

Looks like a normal ladies coat. The cross looks like thread that the button was sewn on to coat

Carol

Posted by Allan C. on 21/9/2025, 7:22 pm, in reply to "Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing Photo turned"

I think your right a normal coat as no badges etc at all.

Note the shirt and maybe a tie plus the cap.

She must have been in something or why the cap?

A puzzle. Allan C.

Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing

Posted by Margaret McD on 21/9/2025, 12:06 pm, in reply to "What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing"

Lovely photo. Well worth trying to find out about the uniform. Thanks Peter from a dodgy necker.

Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing

Posted by Malcolm on 21/9/2025, 2:32 pm, in reply to "Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing"

I doubt it being Air Force, the badge on the forage cap appears to be oblong in shape, doesn't look military, as to the ONE button that is clear, seems to have a cross on it...

Maybe St Johns ambulance??

Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing The Button

Posted by peter cook on 21/9/2025, 2:54 pm, in reply to "Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing"

I've blown the photo up and what appears to be a cross on the button is just the thread of the stitching.

Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing The Button

Posted by Malcolm on 21/9/2025, 10:15 pm, in reply to "Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing The Button"

So the coat doesn't appear to be military, but the forage cap, or "chip bag" as we used to call it..

As I have mentioned, the square badge on it doesn't appear to be military..

A thought occurs here, wasn't that style of cap a "fashion item"? maybe in the 1950's?

So maybe nothing military going on, just a fashionable Lady?

Malcolm date of photo 7 th November 1942

Posted by Allan C. on 22/9/2025, 9:18 am, in reply to "Re: What is the uniform that Charlotte in wearing The Button"

The date is written on the photo cover which is glued to the photo back.

So with the date I thought was it “ War time service” type uniform but thought that doesn’t fit!

Allan C.

The photo is a puzzle why was it taken

Posted by Allan C. on 22/9/2025, 10:40 am, in reply to "Malcolm date of photo 7 th November 1942"

First Charlotte is wearing a white shirt and is it a tie?

The coat also has a belt.

I thought it could be a 18th. birthday photo but no, she was born in the July of 42.

So it’s a studio formal photo and important enough to spend the money for it in 1942 during WW2.

Say like people had photos taken before going to war etc.

Am I reading too much into it, maybe! But what she is wearing is significant I think.

Allan C.

Re: Allan - Todays' Header!!

Posted by Malcolm on 22/9/2025, 2:27 pm, in reply to "The photo is a puzzle why was it taken"

Todays' header shows girls of the (Air) Training Corps....

The caps are similar, and look at the officers coat, looks like the same pattern/layout: a vertical line of buttons, and one on each side, on a broad lapel....

Re: Allan - Todays' Header!!

Posted by Sheila on 22/9/2025, 2:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Allan - Todays' Header!!"

Exactly what I thought Malcolm. The cap badge seems the same diamond shape.

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