Helen Le Duc

Helen Le Duc

Helen Le Duc on her wedding day in 1944

Helen Le Duc

A wireless operator

Helen Le Duc recalls joining the WAAF and becoming a wireless operator.

Guard of Honour

Helen Le Duc talks about her wedding in 1944.

Recollections of wartime life in the WAAF.

Leading Aircraft Woman Helen Le Duc (nee Anderson) was a wireless operator based ay RAF ‘Y’ Service in Cheadle, Staffordshire. This was an outstation of Bletchley Park and the Cheadle interception section passed on messages to Bletchley code breakers who worked alongside them. She met her husband there and recalls: ‘The other 60 or more W/Ops were intercepting in the ‘Big Room’ and the code breakers from Bletchley sat among us. I was on ‘C’ Watch in Big Room with Arthur who was a Royal Naval Telegraphist’. Helen slept in Hut 16 with other WAAFs.

On 28 October 1944, LACW Helen Anderson and L/T&L Arthur Le Duc were married at Cheadle Parish Church. They were given a Guard of Honour by over 20 of the other WAAFs. Helen has very clear memories of her time working as a wireless operator and has been to several reunions to meet former colleagues including other WAAFs.

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Interview with Helen Le Duc. (261k)
To read the full transcript of Helen's interview please press the above link.

A wireless operator (60k)
Transcript fo video clip with Helen Le Duc.

Guard of Honour (55k)
Transcript of video clip with Helen Le Duc.