Alford, L B (Lydia Bessie) England, WAAF, Nursing Orderly, Corporal
The first British women to reach the battle zone of Western Europe were nursing orderlies of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. A week after D-Day, as the earliest landing strips were laid down on the Normandy hinterland, the first three nursing orderlies, led by Corporal Lydia Bessie Alford, of Eastleigh, Hants, England, arrived by air. The first WAAF nursing orderlies selected to fly on air-ambulance duties to France, standing in front of a Douglas Dakota Mark III of No. 233 Squadron RAF at B2/Bazenville, Normandy. From left to right: Leading Aircraftwoman Myra Roberts of Oswestry, Corporal Lydia Alford of Eastleigh and Leading Aircraftwoman Edna Birbeck of Wellingborough. IWM (CL 122)