The 20th Century

Interview With Jean Giles (nee Hewitson) former ATS trainee

Jean Giles (see pic below) was one of the thousands of women who came to Newbattle Abbey for ATS training during World War 2.  She was only 17½ when she arrived in 1944.  Travelling from Morecambe to Newbattle Abbey in Dalkeith was the biggest journey she had ever made. 

All ATS recruits slept in the Female Block and ate in the Dining Hall.  The food was something which Jean enjoyed.  She commented that it was better at Newbattle than on civvy street.  Breakfast was usually porridge with salt and lunch a potato mash served with cottage pie or meatballs.  Daily routine at Newbattle was quite tough.  ATS recruits were up and dressed by 7 am every morning.  Recruits were taught how to march, were issued
with uniforms, got inoculations and vaccinations.  In the evening, there was not a lot to do  Some people would walk into Dalkeith and go to the YWCA.

After 5½ weeks, Jean’s training was complete.  She said her memory of leaving Newbattle Abbey was very clear.  Each woman was given a copy of the New Testament.  However, there was no bus to take them into the railway station at Dalkeith so they marched to the town singing ‘Lili Marlene’ to shorten the journey.  Even in 2007, Jean remembered the army number issued to her at Newbattle Abbey: 305237!

Interview With Elva Wilmot Allan (nee Smith) former ATS trainee

Elva Wilmot Allan (nee Smith) was billeted at Newbattle Abbey College during World War II. It was used as a training base for the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), a branch of the army open to women during the war. While stationed at Newbattle Abbey, Elva spent her days doing drills, going to lectures, mending clothes, and learning about the army and the King’s regulations. Following her training at Newbattle, Elva was posted to various locations throughout the UK including an artillery camp in Wales and an RAF station in Yorkshire. Elva, who is originally from Biggar, moved to Edinburgh after she married.

Recalling her time at Newbattle Abbey, Elva said: “We stayed in huts in the grounds, the water was tepid, and we were given porridge to eat. We were all volunteers so we were prepared to put up with things and we were always so busy, so we never really had a moment to ourselves.

“I was a bit of a loose cannon during my time there – I remember I didn’t like the look of the shoes that came with the uniform so I went to Jenners and bought a lovely new pair. The Sergeant Major was not happy at all! I also remember I left an iron on which burnt through the ironing board, landed on the floor and burnt the floorboards. As a result, all weekend leave was cancelled. I was furious. I told the Commanding Officer that I was responsible for the iron episode and I should be the one who is punished. It turned out that leave was restored for all including me!

“The best thing about my time at Newbattle was that I met so many different girls from so many areas of life. I still keep in touch with one girl who went out to India after the war with her husband, as well as a shepherdess who worked there at the time.”

DALKEITH ADVERTISER
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This advertisement (below) was placed after the War Department left in 1949.