07-07-2025
'Debt of gratitude' to Nottinghamshire Wren on 101st birthday
A World War Two Navy veteran with more than a few nautical miles on the clock said it was "very nice" to be surprised with a celebration on her 101th Redman, from Nottinghamshire, had been expecting a low key event on Sunday to mark her she was surprised by family, friends and her village Farnsfield's branch of the Royal British Legion, to honour her for all her service on and she said: "It's nice of all my neighbours to come and celebrate with me."
Mrs Redman, née Tylor, served as a Wren - (Women's Royal Naval Service) - as an electrician, where she worked with depth charges and tour of duty from 1943 to 1945 saw her stationed in Liverpool and on board the HMS Pembroke and HMS Eaglet.
She said: "I think it's very nice of everyone to make such a fuss for my birthday."My time in the Wrens was a long time ago now. I can remember working on the docks, and being taken out on the motorboats."All the women serving did quite a lot for the war, helped a lot in Liverpool and the seaside towns."And when it came to marching, my commander said the Wrens could do it without practising so we didn't have to - we just marched."
Visiting her on Sunday, naval commander Jonathan Richards presented Mrs Redman with a letter from the First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins and a record of her said: "It's a real privilege. It's really nice to come together and support Mrs Redman."I think we owe a debt of gratitude to that generation, and we are still inspired by what they did for us in that difficult time."
Mrs Redman was also gifted a Wren silhouette, and a bouquet of daughter Amanda Farr said it was important that women's efforts in the war were recognised."I think it's fantastic, lovely everybody's made such a fuss, she said."I'm very proud of her and what people like her did in the war. She and her colleagues looked after the torpedoes and depth charges, serviced them and looked after them."The role of the Wrens was very important."
