Visit provides opportunity for 104-year-old WAAF veteran to pay respects to fallen WW2 comrades

On 9 August 2024, the RAF Benevolent Fund’s Community Engagement team facilitated a visit to London Biggin Hill Airport for 104-year-old WAAF veteran to pay tribute to lost friends.

Kathleen Carey, 104, and her daughter Ann Butterworth, 80, both served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). Kathleen joined at the age of 20 during the Second World War and was based at RAF Halton as a medic. She also worked at East Grinstead Hospital and tended to patients that were part of the Guinea Pig Club. She met her husband, Clarence Douglas Carey, known as Doug, whilst he was serving in the RAF as a clerk, working in the stores with uniform and equipment orders. They married on 26 July 1940, but sadly Doug passed away three weeks before his 65th birthday.

Their daughter Ann followed in her parents’ footsteps and served at RAF High Wycombe Bomber Command, from 1961 to 1963.

Ann reached out to the Fund after her daughter-in-law picked up a leaflet about our local monthly Reminiscence Group.

In 2023, the Fund was awarded a grant of £82,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to go towards funding up to eight Reminiscence Groups for members of the RAF Family experiencing memory loss. 

After learning more about the wider support available from the Fund, Ann told her Community Engagement Worker, Nikki, that her mum had spoken on many occasions about making a visit to the Chapel and Strongest Link Garden at London Biggin Hill Airport, to pay tribute to the friends she lost in the Second World War.

The Strongest Link Garden first launched as the RAF Benevolent Fund Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2022. The garden was relocated to a permanent site at London Biggin Hill Airport and renamed the Strongest Link Garden – honouring Biggin Hill’s role as Sir Winston Churchill’s ‘Strongest Link’ during the Battle of Britain.

Nikki contacted the Chapel Verger Margaret Wilmot to make Kathleen’s wish come true. The service, led by Reverend Alison, included Kathleen’s favourite hymn ‘Lord of all Hopefulness’, a hymn that she sang to her late husband when he was ill in hospital.

The service was attended by Flight Lieutenant Wesley Pollard, Honorary Group Captain Helen Gripton (601 Squadron RAuxAF), Air Training Corps (ATC) Cadet Amelia Nevard, Flight Officer Rachel Coyle and the Mayor of Bromley, Councillor David Jefferys and the Mayoress.

The mother and daughter duo were presented with a Commemorative Certificate by the Mayor, and a Royal Air Force Station, Biggin Hill lapel badge. Honorary Group Captain Helen Gripton said a few words and ATC Cadet Amelia Nevard spoke about why she joined the Cadets. The service was concluded with prayers and the group were welcomed to the café for tea and cake, generously supported by the Friends of St George’s Chapel.

Ann said: “My mum had the chance to pay her respects to friends she had lost. We had an amazing day thanks to the RAF Benevolent Fund and everyone else who supported. It was a day we will remember and look back on. It was lovely to have family members there too; I cannot thank Nikki enough.”