The remarkable history of the Seawomen of the Marinecraft Unit, and the first BOAC Stewardesses at Poole.

A Heritage Lottery funded community research project.

Poole Flying Boats Celebration (PFBC)

Parkstone Library Buildings

1 Britannia Road

Poole BH14 8AZ

Visit: www.pooleflyingboats.com

Email: info@pooleflyingboats.com

A PFBC Project

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Celebrating the Seawomen of the Marinecraft Unit, and the first BOAC Stewardesses at Poole.

Gamma (3) - part one

Tour de Force ~ Women with the Military when based at Poole!

EXCERPT:

Both the Marinecraft’s Women Seamen and first Flying Boat Stewardesses of British Overseas Airways Corporation at Poole, operating from BOAC’s Airways House by Poole Quay, along with its Marine Terminal at Salterns - Lilliput, did so alongside a strong and growing military presence of the RN and RAF in & around Poole Harbour during 1943: For the Royal Navy’s role was gradually shifting from one of patrol + defensive work variously protecting the harbour and approaches via the Swash Channel, to one which included the local build-up of men, materials and armaments.

Therefore, not only was there an expansion of its HQs & base in old Poole, with a range of vessels along the quays, but also a Combined Ops Training establishment set up as HMS Turtle at Lake, Hamworthy together with Round Island, commissioned on 7th October 1942 (with Assault Gunnery Training) and a School at the Shaftesbury Homes, Parkstone. So there would be another influx of Wrens in the area, with their hostels, following on from those serving with the Fleet Air Arm at the RNAS Sandbanks, as HMS Daedalus II … Also, towards the Autumn of 1942 there were more women signed-up by the RAF for its new base at Hamworthy & offices around Poole, as WAAFs serving at RAF Hamworthy.

Please download the pdf (right) for the full story…

Tour de Force ~ Women with the Military when based at Poole!

Download the pdf (5Mb)

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About the AYE MA'AM Project Community Focus Promoting the AYE MA'AM project & Recruiting volunteers, 2013

About the Research Volunteer Training, March 2014 Volunteer Training - Oral Recording, November 2014 Project Research Flow Diagram

Selected photos & our video Public Display at Parkstone Library, April 2014 Libbie Escolme-Schmidt & Bournemouth Air Festival, July-August 2014 Blue Plaque at Salterns Marina, October 2013

The AYE MA'AM Story - Archive Index Setting the Scene - New Horizons 1.1 Ahoy There - Women Seamen of BOAC's Marine School at Poole 1.2 Marine School of BOAC at Poole with a Syllabus for the Seawomen 2.1 Sky High - BOAC Shuttle Services between Poole and Foynes, Eire 2.2 US Stewardesses on the Flying Boats of PanAm, AEA and Avalon 3.1 Tour de Force - Women with the Military when based at Poole 3.2 Wrens with RN Poole, and also at HMS Turtle (Combined Ops) 5 BOAC's Marinecraft Unit Seawomen at Poole: Making Waves 6.2 The Remarkable Mrs Louie Dingwall (nee Louisa / Louie Foott) 7 The Focus of Other Women - Within the Local Workforce at Poole 10 Seawomen to the Fore: Boeings, RAF Transport Control and All 18 Customs by Taxi - BOAC Hurn and integral relationship with Poole Summation: Time for Reflections