THE VILLAGERS OF COLLINGHAM AND LINTON WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR TWO

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This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham and Linton who served during World War 2.
Gaunt, Eileen Ruth
(1913-1999)
 
World War 2 medal rolls are not available. The medal ribbons shown above are those we believe would have been awarded.

Rank and Unit at End of World War Two

Rank

Service Number 881370

Service RAF

Unit

Regiment Women's Auxiliary Air Force

Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Lived in Collingham or Linton immediately prewar or during the war
    (Usually taken from 1938 electoral roll or 1939 National Registration roll)
  • Named as a Voter on the 1945 or 1946 Service List Electoral Roll for Collingham or Linton
  • Address in 1939 or 1945/46: Orchard Gate, Linton
    (taken from either the 1939 National Registration or the 1945 and/or 1946 service electoral rolls)

Biography

Family background

Eileen Ruth Gaunt was born on the 17th November 1913, the daughter of Frederick William Gaunt and his wife, Evelyn May Gaunt (nee Dickinson). Frederick had served in the Royal Army Service Corps in World War 1, and had then moved into the business of running a successful mill (Cape Mills) at Farsley, Leeds. From 1918 until 1922, the family lived at 156 Old Road, Farsley, but then moved to Ashville, Farsley from 1923 until 1933. The mill was very successful and the Gaunt family moved to the affluent area of Headingley to 'Arncliffe' on Shire Oak Road.

By 1938 the family had moved again, this time to the village of Linton, living at Orchard Gate, Linton and it was at that address that we find Eileen Ruth Gaunt on the 1939 electoral roll with her mother Evelyn May Gaunt. However, in 1939 we also find Eileen Ruth Gaunt in the 1939 National Register living near Yeadon aerodrome and registered as number 881370 in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.

Service record

Apart from finding Eileen registered as a WAAF in 1939, we do not know anything else about her wartime service.

After the war

After the war, Eileen married a Battle of Britain veteran, Peter Geoffrey Rich, in 1947, and they set up home in Linton. However by 1949 they appear on the electoral roll at Cattal Lodge, and not long after they emigrated to run a farm in South Africa.

Biography last updated 07 February 2025 15:30:25.

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info