Last week, Remembrance commemoration services paid tribute across Sussex to the fallen in conflicts throughout the decades, and this year’s events particularly thanked those involved in the First World War, during the centenary year of the beginning of the battle. FLORA THOMPSON delves into The Argus archive to learn about some of the work carried about by people in Brighton who stopped at nothing to help in the war effort.

IN 1914, Laurie Hall lied about her age.

The Brighton teenager was so keen to join the Women’s Royal Flying Corps (RFC) she pretended to be 18, becoming one of the first, and youngest, to join aged only 15.

She became a driver for a senior officer and, by all accounts, loved her work with the air arm of the British Army.

Laurie, who became Mrs Thompson when she married, was at times posted around the UK, with her family moving with her, and she was one of the last to leave the movement in 1920.

She has been an icon for her daughter Patricia Ann Bassett, née Thompson.

The family lived in a number of places in Brighton, including Paston Place, Sussex Square, Walpole Terrace and Marine Parade up until the 1950s, and were heavily involved in army organisations in the area.

Known as ‘Ann’, the 83-year-old who now lives in Telscombe Cliffs, has spent this Remembrance period recalling the hard work of her mother.

She said: “While we have been remembering everyone’s dedication to the wars, I found some photos of my mother during her days in the Royal Flying Corps and an article about both of us printed in The Argus. I wanted people to know about the work they did in the area. It’s not mentioned much but there was an organisation here and many people worked there and I think they should be mentioned too.”

Mrs Thompson was one of the first to join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in 1939. She worked as a nursing orderly at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and later joined the Army Reserve (TA), as did Ann.

At that time she was interviewed alongside her mother about their time in the TA in 1949. A series of photos show a portrait of Mrs Thompson as she joined the RFC as a youngster, with the WAAF in 1940 and with Ann in uniform in 1950.

A cutting from The Argus in 1949 makes it clear Laurie was quite pleased that her deception meant she could serve in the organisation. The article said the pair – Laurie and her “auburn-haired 18-year-old daughter” – were “army minded.”

It stated: “Highlight of the week for these two is the evening, when they don their khaki uniforms and go off to Preston Barracks for their weekly WRAC (TA) meeting.

“Mrs Thompson and Ann have been in the TA only a few months, but both love the work and wish more women would join.”

The article claimed at the time of printing that Brighton women were not “interested” in joining.

Mrs Thompson even told the reporter that the First World War, and her involvement in it, was “more exciting than the recent one”.

Mrs Bassett, who met her late husband Bill while working as a telephonist in the North Road telephone exchange, said her family had a long tradition of being involved with the army.

She said: “Growing up it was just a part of life for me. I did find it interesting and wanted to join too but it was also a normal thing to do.

“We often moved where my mother was posted and my father served in Dunkirk. My great-great-grandfather was an admiral and my brother served in the New Zealand army after he was posted.”