COLLECTING THE WAAF

With the WAAF having so many members over the war years, it is unsurprising that there is a lot of surviving memorabilia, uniforms and equipment out there for collectors to find, and equally there are many collectors interested in the service which ensures items achieve healthy prices. Blighty Militaria is offering an original WAAF servicebook, detailing a WAAFs service career, enlistment dates, inoculations and training, for £25, great for those who enjoy a research project. Mons Militaria has a WAAF’s autograph book, with accompanying photographs for £55.

If you are interested in living history and wish to portray a WAAF, you may discover that the uniforms worn during wartime are often too small for the modern figure and both fragile and expensive after 80 years. Happily, Soldier of Fortune offers a range of reproduction clothing, including a package deal for a WAAF officer comprising tunic, skirt, shoes, blouse, tie, cap, handbag and insignia for £380.

Left: An other ranks WAAF cap, with brass RAF cap badge on the front For many heavier duties, WAAFs were issued a version of blue RAF War Service Dress

A period doll dressed in a miniature WAAF uniform, perhaps made by a WAAF off duty as a gift for a young relative (Historic Flying Company)

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