Tank veteran, 102, 'proud' of her war effort

A 102-year-old woman who worked in a tank factory during World War Two says she is "proud" she contributed to the war effort.

Christina Hartnell, from Ponteland, Northumberland, enlisted in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1940 when she was 18 and was sent to Catterick Camp in North Yorkshire.

She was one of millions of women who did essential wartime work in hundreds of different roles, both military and civilian.

Her grandson Chris Hartnell said: "All our family is really proud of her and we think it's important to remember the service of women in wartime too".

Mrs Hartnell says her factory work involved "cleaning the parts and doing the screws".

"Any jobs that were needed really," she added.

"I just got on with it and I think I settled in okay."

She also remembers being smuggled into one tank so she could have a ride.

"I was told to keep my head down," she said.

During her time at Catterick she also met her husband, Roy Hartnell, who was serving in a military band.

By 1943, almost 90% of single women and 80% of married women were employed in essential war work in munitions factories, aircraft and tank factories, or in shipbuilding.

They also worked on farms and in forestry, replacing the men who were fighting.

Mrs Hartnell still lives independently in her own home, with the help of carers.

Before she became too infirm to travel, she would regularly attend the Remembrance Day parade in Rothbury, Northumberland, with her son Keith.

"It is important for her to remember the service of her generation," Mr Hartnell said.

"I feel very proud of my gran for her resilience. She is a real tough old cookie."

Mrs Hartnell said she puts her long life down to "plenty of broccoli and drinking cabbage water".

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