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OBITUARY: 2027787 Corporal Eileen Emily Hollidge

Eileen was born on 1st May 1921. She joined up in January 1942 and began training as a Barrage Balloon Operator at Sutton on Hull. She was then posted to Edgebaston, Birmingham on completion of her training. She was promoted to Corporal and moved to a training site at Erdington and later she was at a training site at Handsworth, then Woolwich, London with the onset of the V1 (Vengeance Weapons) or flying bombs more commonly known as doodlebugs.

She was then posted  to Fort Brockhurst, Gosport 1944 for D-Day landings.

In late 1944 Balloons were being rapidly closed down as the threat of aircraft attack reduced considerably, although many V1's were dropped on South-East England.

She then worked in the Grand & Metropole Hotels as a steward until she was remustered to Aircraft Finisher. After training posted to No. 10 Operational Training Unit R.A.F. and later 13 Maintenance Unit, R.A.F. Henlow. She was demobbed July 1946. Eileen passed away on 20th April 2018.

Eileen was a regular attendee to Reunions of the BBRC.

Below she is attending the BBRC Reunion in 2005.

Below she is attending the BBRC Reunion in 2007.

It is to people like Eileen that we as a Nation need to give thanks to for the untiring effort, hardships, heartbreak,

sacrifices and sheer determination that enabled her generation to win a war against Nazi tyranny so that future

generations can live in peace. We thank her and all other ex-service personnel for the service to the nation in the

dark hours of WWII. Thank you Eileen. RIP.

 

Her nephew John sent me a copy of her Funeral Service which is below.