THERE is no lack of spit and polish on display in these wonderful photographs, brought in by reader Anne Blincoe.

They show members of York's women’s Territorial Army unit in the 1950s and 1960s. Anne, now 76, was a member of the unit – known simply as 89 Company of York, as she remembers it – from 1954 to 1961, when she worked at Rowntrees.

She rose to become a drill sergeant, hence the spit and polish, no doubt, but admits she never had much of a liking for guns.

The unit did rifle practice every week at The Haymarket in Hungate. “I hated it!” she admits. “I don't like guns. I used to say ‘if we do go to war, I'm making the soup!’”

Nevertheless, they were a fully operational unit, which was equipped and trained just like the men, Anne said. “We were all taught to go to war. I never saw action, but they taught us everything. We were kitted out properly, we were trained properly, and we assumed we were on standby to go overseas if we were needed.”

Regular drill was at the Territorial Army Drill Hall in St Andrewgate (now part of Barnitts hardware store). Anne remembers how on Remembrance Day every year her unit would take part in a parade through the city, before returning to the drill hall for refreshments.

Many of the women in her unit worked at Rowntrees, she said. They signed up for the chance to do something a bit different. “We were young and adventurous, that was all.”

There was training twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and regular weekend camps. But the highlight of the year was the annual two-week camp, often in Scotland or the North East. And there were no concessions to the fact that these part-time soldiers were women.

They trained in all weathers, including the pouring rain. “Oh, yes, we were drowned and all sorts. We had to do it all, but it was great fun.”

Anne’s fellow soldiers included Jacqui Harrison, whose mum had a shop on Leeman Road, Sgt Nessie Lawson, who had a fish and chip shop in The Groves and Pauline Dunning, who had a beautiful voice, Anne recalls.

Once, while at camp in Northumberland, Anne remembers Pauline singing in a local pub. “We were all given a free drink.”

Anne herself may not have been the best shot, but she did excel at sports. One photograph, from a sports day, shows her breaking the tape at what may have been a 220 yard race. She picked up a number of medals, including a shield she won when she went to Aldershot to run for the army.

“I always won.” she said proudly. “I ran for Yorkshire when I was at school.”

She was taught to drive by the army, and loved driving the big three-tonners. They drove a whole range of army vehicles – three-tonners, one-tonners, Land Rovers and Champs (open-topped four wheel drive vehicles like jeeps) – but it was the three-tonners she particularly liked. “They were gorgeous to drive. You were really safe on the road because nobody came near you.”

After seven years Anne, who now lives in the Stockton Lane area, left the TA to become a partner in a York guest house. But she has great memories of those days. “It was great fun.”

York Press: Anne Blincoe crossing the line first at a TA sports day, in the 1950s
Anne Blincoe crossing the line first at a TA sports day, in the 1950s

York Press: The women pull together at a TA sports day
The women pull together at a TA sports day

• We welcome contributions from readers to Yesterday Once More. However, we would ask you not to send in original old photographs, as we cannot guarantee that these will be returned. If you have old photographs or documents you would like to share with us, either send copies, phone Stephen Lewis on 01904 567263 or email stephen.lewis@nqyne.co.uk