World War 2 heroines celebrated as role models
While Marie transmitted messages to and from French beaches during the D-Day landings in June 1944, Mildred served with the Special Operations Executive in Italy.
Asked about how opportunities for women have changed, Marie said: Glass ceilings have been cracked.
Women can do anything if they wish if theyre trained. Were not competing with men, were partners.
Asked whether she felt like an inspiration, Mildred said: I dont think so, not with being this age youre just a couple of old dears.
But the womens incredible bravery shone through as they described some frightening situations they encountered during the war.
Recalling working on D-Day itself, Marie, of New Malden, south-west London, said: In my ears, I was in a war. My contacts [at] the other end of the [radio] set were the troops landing on the beaches.
The sounds were terrifying loud cannons, machine-gun fire, bombs dropping, men screaming orders, men screaming from pain. It was chaos.
Mildred, of Worcester Park, southwest London, was posted to a very scruffy fishing village in Italy where she lived in constant fear.
She explained: The Germans had announced all our backgrounds, so we knew if we got caught that was the end of you.
Marie and Mildred also shared their thoughts on gender equality in a Q&A session and were presented with a posy of flowers.
Among those joining them at the Royal Air Force Club in central London were serving personnel from HMS Diamond, The Kings Troop and The Household Cavalry.
Ahead of International Womens Day, Taxi Charity vice president Frances Luczyc Wyhowska called the two brilliant women living history.
The charity, which arranges free trips for veterans from all conflicts to the Netherlands and France, marks its 75th anniversary this year.
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Monday, March 6, 2023 at 9:32 pm