In 1939, the Second World War started and I joined a group of young girls learning morse code and flags under the direction of a Mrs McKenzie. We all wore a green uniform and I felt very important.
My brother joined in the Army in 1942 and I decided to join up in the services too. I was 18 (you had to be to enlist). My mother gave me permission and I put my name down with the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF).
Having a last name of ‘Brown’, and the recruitment office going alphabetically, when I was called up I was one of the first women in NSW to be enlisted.
Mum was upset when I was sent to Melbourne to do ‘rookie’ [recruit school] training. It was the first time I’d ever left home, and the furthest I’d ever been too.
After training I was posted to the WAAAF training camp at Robertson near Moss Vale as a receptionist with Aircraftwomen (ACW). Enid Carmichael and myself monitored the switchboard, an around the clock 24-hour job. Leave was one weekend a month and I returned to my home in Neutral Bay each time.
In 1943 the Robertson training school closed down and I was posted to RAAF Base Williamtown. This was when I felt I was being an active part of the war effort.
It was in Williamtown I met a dazzling pilot named Raymond Frank Pullin and we were married by Christmas 1943.
I left Williamtown when Ray was transferred to Ballarat. It was there I fell pregnant and was discharged. Ray became a Liberator pilot and was posted to Darwin so I returned to Neutral Bay to stay with my parents.
The war ended in August 1945 and Ray was transferred to RAAF Base Amberley flying prisoners-of-war home.
I enjoyed my time in the service and I’ve never regretted it.
This is the story of Irene (Joy) Harvey as told to Carla Edwards.
