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Elspeth used the hastily repaired
phone lines and signals equipment
to maintain contact with Fighter
Command headquarters and
the Observer Corps posts until
7th September when the raids
stopped as the Luftwaffe turned
its attention to London.
On the 2nd November 1940 it Elspeth and two other WAAFs - Sergeants
Helen Turner and Elizabeth Mortimer - were given the news that they had
been awarded the Military Medal for their “courage and example of a high
order”. with their commanding ofcer stating: “ These three girls have shown
amazing pluck.” Elspeth and her friends were one of only six women of the
WAAF awarded a military medal during the war.
In March 1941 she went with the other two WAAFs to Buckingham Palace
to receive her medal. Unfortunately, there was public criticism for the award
of what was perceived as a man’s medal, to women. Yet there also much
pride at RAF Biggin Hill, as they were the rst three women in Britain to
receive this honour.
Elspeth continued with her work following these events, training in cipher
duties commissioning as a section ofcer. For the remainder of the war,
she worked in the role across a number of bomber bases, before nally
being posted to Egypt in August 1945 as a welfare ofcer and a year later
left the service with the rank of squadron ofcer.