Below is part of a speech given by May Craig when she was the ANZAC Day guest speaker in Nhill, 2009.
Even today, at 104 years of age, 16 years later, May still stands straight with her sense of humour still firmly in place and her national pride still unquestioned.
Members of Horsham Legacy invited May to be their guest speaker at their meeting last week and May certainly did not disappoint them.
May was accompanied by her daughter Lesley Gordon as well as her Legacy ‘carer’ Mr Merv Schneider also from Nhill. One could be forgiven for smiling and shaking a head – Merv the carer turns 100 in July this year looking out for May at 104! That has to be some sort of record!
“Today I feel very proud and honoured.
I also feel very humble. Humble because I never served in a war zone. I was never in grave danger. No-one shot at me.
Someone might today if I get too boring.
The most dangerous situation I ever faced and escaped from, was the bush fire on Black Friday, 1939.
When war was declared in 1939, our population was just over 6 million. In the war years an estimated 716,000 women served in the Armed Forces and in war industries.
For the duration of the war, women who had never worked outside the home, took on jobs previously done by men. If they had any spare time, they did their bit for Organisations such as Red Cross, Comforts funds, etc.
I grew up on a small farm in an isolated area of the Otways in South Victoria.
When the Japanese bombed Darwin in February, 1942, I rushed to Melbourne to join the newly formed W.A.A.A.F. After medical and other tests, I was called up for service in July, 1942.
I was very keen, I wanted to be where the action was, do brave deeds, etc, although I had no idea how to go about them. I couldn’t shoot straight enough to hit a rabbit, although my Mother and Grandmother were both crack shots, having learnt their skills on the gold-fields of Western Australia in the early years.
The purpose of the W.A.A.A.F was to release men for duty in war zones.
The Government of the day ordered that we were not to be sent out of Australia. Many of us were very disappointed about that.
Because I had no training of any kind, having left school at just 13, the Air Force interviewer said, “You can be a stewardess”. It didn’t sound very exciting but I said, “Alright”.
I did 3 weeks rookie training and 3 weeks stewardess course at Somers by the sea and it was freezing. But I did learn how to march and how to carry 3 plates of boiling soup without mishap. Some of those Officers were so lucky.
I also learnt how to throw an enemy to the ground if attacked.
I was then posted to the School of Administration for Officers at Melbourne University.
The Air Force had taken over part of each College for its Officer Administration training.
I was sent to Newman College. When I arrived I was taken down to “Tin Pan Alley” which ran through University grounds and shown where the American soldier, Leonski, murdered his third woman victim. We were warned not to go about alone as he may not be the only “Killer” or even the right one. Apparently, one of our girls had been attacked but it hadn’t been reported. However, Leonski was found guilty and later hanged.
In March, 1943, we assembled on the parade ground at Melbourne University and swore the oath of allegiance and were enlisted in the R.A.A.F.
Previously we had been an auxiliary. We made history. The first women’s service to do so, other than the Nursing Services.
I was then sent to Ormond College. I remember Chips Rafferty was doing the course. He was the Australian movie star who starred in the film, “Forty Thousand Horsemen”. He was a great favourite with everyone, (a very nice bloke). I remember skiting to girlfriends later that I danced with Chips. (I didn’t tell them it was in the progressive Barn Dance).
Whilst at Ormond I was posted to Bairnsdale, a flying station, for one month relieving as they were very short staffed.
I will never forget my first morning if I live to be a hundred (and that’s looming up). It was like being flung into the lion’s den, only worse. The rush to serve breakfasts, to remember orders.
We were not allowed to write anything down, the Air Force scorned any method that made things easy for you. There were two sittings for every meal. Veterans thought the battle-field was hectic! Try serving hordes of Air Crew after night flying. Hundreds of them… and only six of us. It seemed like hundreds.
In the confusion I gave ‘em black tea when they ordered white coffee… I gave ‘em mince on toast when they wanted scrambled eggs.
Most of them were great. But there was one (isn’t there always?), who gave me a hard time. ‘A.C.W., I ordered black tea. A child of six could get it right”. I said, “I’m sorry, sir, we all make mistakes”.
And then I said. “And you’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life because from now on you’ll be lucky to ever get what you order”. Of course, I said the last bit under my breath.
Seriously, it is with great pride that I remember those young service-men that I came into contact with.
I never ever had reason to feel un-safe. One reason for my safety could have been because I was FAT.
I have long since realized that I was protected from the American Forces by a thick layer of fat. Not for me the best seats at the pictures, the big box of chocolates on the arm of some handsome ‘Yank’ or ‘Glamorous Air Ace’ I was FAT. THIN was IN. FAT was OUT. Some things never change.
I was posted to West Sale Air Gunnery School. One day we were told that the ‘great General McArthur, Supreme Commander of all Allied Forces’ in the Pacific and his entourage would be visiting West Sale the next day for lunch.
By lunch-time we were all spick and span in our stiff white coats, not a hair out of place… but the great man never showed. We heard later that he was detained elsewhere.
While at West Sale, I studied and passed the Fabric Workers test. Fabric Workers prepared parachutes and repaired the wings of planes. But I was not allowed to change my job as they were short of stewardesses.
Apparently, like the man from Snowy River, the word had passed around that being a stewardess was not all that glamorous and none of the new recruits wanted the job. The only way to escape being a stewardess was to become a cook.
I was stationed in Adelaide… yes… doing a cooking course, when the war ended. The 15th of August, 1945. I will never forget.
Those wonderful words that echoed around Australia… around the world.
“THE WAR IS OVER’. IT’S ALL OVER”.
The sheer jubilations, hugging and kissing total strangers. Dancing and singing in the streets… everything at a standstill for a day and a night.
I have heard people say, “We should forget about the war, it’s been over a long time”. We forgive our enemies and we hope they forgive us. But, we should never FORGET.”
I think it was Churchill who spoke these words… “Only by recalling and learning the lessons of the past, can we prevent the same mistakes in the future”.
Churchill also said, “The price of FREEDOM is eternal VIGILANCE”.
In February, 1946, 4 years almost to the day since I rushed to Melbourne to join up, I walked out of the Exhibition Building Melbourne… a civilian.
It’s a funny feeling… you’re FREE, but you feel a bit lost. I did the job I was allotted and I wore my uniform with pride and a clear conscience.
The friends I made have been friends for life. We had a bond. I am very proud to be an Aussie.
I am proud of our flag and our nation.”
There is no doubt that May endeared herself to all who attended the afternoon. May was thanked for sharing her story by the Horsham Legacy President Phillip Nicks and was presented with a lovely gift by Horsham Legacy Secretary Lorraine Bald.
Phillip thanked everyone for coming especially the Legacy Victorian Vice President Michael Annett who had traveled from Canberra to be there and his hard working Secretary Lorraine Bald who presented May with a lovely potted plant.
The day finished with a delicious afternoon tea shared together when many present took the opportunity to chat with May over a hot cuppa.
This article appeared in Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 2 April 2025.
