The Ient Family: Family History

Joining the RAF

Wilfred Battey – by his son, Adrian Batty

Wilf's work experience enabled him to take an RAF apprenticeship on 'Airframes and Engines', leading to him becoming an aircraftman. His RAF career started at the No. 2 Recruitment Centre, RAF Cardington, near Bedford. Wilf said this was for the basic 'square bashing'. He then moved to RAF Locking, Weston-Super-Mare, where the 'Training and Technical Services' were based.

Wilf's next destination was 504 Squadron, RAF Castletown, Caithness, Scotland. However, in error, he was sent to Castletown, Isle of Man, first! After much travelling, Wilf arrived at 504 Squadron working on Hawker Hurricane planes, before volunteering for further training at the No. 7 School of Technical Training for Engine and Airframe Fitters, at RAF Innsworth, Gloucester. Following training, Wilf was sent to RAF Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, where he worked in the 'Maintenance Unit' salvaging spares, especially guns, from planes that had been shot down or had crashed. Wilf classed this as a 'lousy' job, being reimbursed an allowance of 2/6d for bed and breakfast and 6d for tea. He was expected to scrounge his lunch! His next move was to No. 1 Echelon, RAF Tern Hill, Shropshire, near Market Drayton (March to May 1941), although no one knew what it was! He serviced all the planes that landed for a few weeks and missed a posting to Bermuda as he was ill in hospital with a hernia problem. After running out of money, he went to the County of Warwick 605 Squadron RAF Tern Hill, who were short of fitters.

The 605 Squadron flew Hawker Hurricanes and then moved to RAF Baginton, near Coventry (May to September), and RAF Honily, Warwickshire (September to October 1941). Wilf said he worked at RAF Baginton where he learned more about 'soldiering' (army manoeuvres in case of enemy invasion) but slept at RAF Honily. At this time, Hull was suffering badly from bombing raids by the Luftwaffe, and in March 1941 Wilf received a telegram informing him that his family home, 3 Grange Street, along with houses in Lorne Street and Fountain Road, had been hit by a stick of bombs. Luckily his parents had survived by hiding under the staircase where they were buried. The neighbours were not as lucky, as the occupants of 5 and 7 Grange Street were killed. Wilf was given compassionate leave and returned home to salvage what he could from the wreckage. Wilf rescued a pack of 6 unscathed eggs and the family nest egg! Charlie and Nellie temporarily moved in with Nellie’s brother Harold North (North Timber Merchants) at 5th Avenue, North Hull Estate, before moving back to another house, 52 Grange Street, very similar to 3 Grange Street. Wilf and his fellow Aircraftmen spent much of their leisure time in Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa and during a superb day’s weather during Easter 1941 Wilf met and followed Doris Gertrude Griffin at the bus terminus in Leamington Spa. Doris lived at 51 Bury Road, Leamington Spa, with her parents.

Wilf was promoted to Leading Aircraftman - 944068 L/A/C Batty RAF, this being the second rank. He then learned he was to be posted abroad. It appears Wilf and Doris may have become engaged before Wilf left as Doris states she still had the ring in later letters. Wilf also left a letter for Doris with his parents – sadly, this letter is lost, but Doris stated she was ignoring the contents.

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