Nada Florence Priest was twenty when she joined the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps on 6 January 1943. From her home in Waihou she travelled to Papakura Military Camp for initial training and was subsequently posted to Devonport and Mt Victoria serving with the 67th Anti-Aircraft Search Light Battery. Post-war Nada transferred to the Army Clerical Division at Hopuhopu Camp, Ngaruawhaia and at an army dance she met Laurence Verdun Stubbing, recently returned from five years overseas service, and the couple married in April 1946.
In 2007 Nada's daughters presented a collection of their mother's wartime memorabilia to Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira. This includes letters home, aircraft recognition training instructions, a photograph album, her WWII medals and badges, together with an elegant lacy jersey knitted in khaki by Nada's mother or aunt to wear with her uniform.
First night in camp
This extract from a letter written to Nada's mother tells about her first days in camp.
6th January 1943
"Pte. N. F. Priest
Hut 2, W.A.A.C. Quarters
B Block, Papakura M.C.
Dear Mum,
I am writing this in the half light so you'll have to excuse me if it is all up and down. The light in our hut has failed to function so we are running round with candles. I'll see if I can give you a rough outline of what we've done since we arrived. The train journey wasn't so bad, it was not hot and there was a nice quiet crowd in the carriage I was in.
There were, altogether, 9 of us on the train and we were met at the station and brought here in an Army truck. We dumped our cases in a hut and were marched to the stores where we were issued with 4 blankets (I only got 3 so will have to see bout it tomorrow), 2 sheets, 1 pillow & case & 2 towels, all of which we had to lug back here. Then followed waiting and more marching to get a palliase and go and fill it with straw. Fortunately Percy gave me detailed instructions on how to fill one to make a good job of it, and I think mine is going to be quite comfy - for a palliase. It is only a temporary measure though until some more mattresses arrive.
After all this - we are again marched over to some orderly room where each of us was more or less interviewed by a dame Major Hawkins who told us what hut to go in - I am in No. 2. by this time it was quite a bit after 8, and we came back here, made up our beds and started to get ready for bed. It is roll call at 9 p.m. and lights out at 10. After roll call, which has just done, we are allowed to write letters etc. till 10.
When we had made our beds another girl and I (buck private too) had a shower as swell.
Tomorrow we are starting our training - drill etc. - I think I will be drafted into clerical. I am not sure of the address yet but will find out before I post this. This is all for now, I may write again over the week-end. Love from Nada.
Thursday - Thought I may as well write a bit more & let you know what we've done today. We get up at 6 a.m. wash, dress & fold up our mattress and blankets etc. in a special way of course & they be just so. then at about 7.15 we go to breakfast, come back and sit around & then go out on to the parade ground at 8.15. All we had to do was to stand at ease and attention which as you now I am deadly sick of. Now we are just waiting to go for lunch, this arvo we are having inoculations. No leave for 2 weeks so if anyone writes to Eva's I won't get it for a while."
Fashion in the Army
9th March 1943
We have small wardrobes in all the huts now, one between 2 girls. They are very nice and have a fair sized mirror in each. It makes the huts much neater, as we have taken the big ungainly clothes horses away. It is also much more convenient of course we won't get so very much use out of ours just when we are leaving but it will be early next week at the latest I think. We really aren't doing much this week, although we did this afternoon as we had air co-operation again.
What do you suggest I take up for the Army Educational scheme. Practically everything is available. I thought of hairdressing but it is very common. I mean 1 in 2 girls seem to learn now.
17th March 1943
I was finished at the hairdresser at 20 to 5 (Spencers) and so tore into Queen St and just had a few moments for looking round the shops. It was simply gorgeous to see some shops open and walk up the street. I really had little time for shopping, but managed to buy a lovely wallet at Le Roy's. it was 29/- but really is a beauty and a perfect match for my gloves.
"My hair is very nice, and I think I can tell already that it is going to be good. I had a full head, and they styled it how they thought it would be best and it looks very nice. My glengarry goes on much nicer, & it really does improve my appearance. Now Peter isn't here to see me. He actually went out on Monday for good, and I have to ring him on Saturday so more than likely will be going places. I saw him on Sunday nite, I came back early as I said I would, to see him.
I received the parcel today, thanks and I was really thrilled with it, the cardigan is a good fit and very warm, it will be gorgeous now that it's starting to get so cold. I haven't had much chance yet to look at the books and the mag as we've been kept going all day and again tonite. I am writing this in the dark as you can probably see."
P.S. we are still allowed to mix with the men, it was a lot of hooey. Still marched though. Gladys is still mad about Pete.
References:
Priest, Nada Florence. Papers, 1922 - 1947. Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira MS-2007-3.
Priest, Nada Florence. Stubbing Album, 1940s. Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira PH-ALB-503
You can read more about Private Priest's war experience on his Online Cenotaph record.
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Cite this article
Passau, Victoria.
Nada Florence Priest. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 26 March 2020. Updated: 10 November 2022.
URL: www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/Nada-Florence-Priest