GIRL FRIEND

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3139, 13 July 1942, Page 2

GIRL FRIEND

RADIO LINK WITH FORCES

WORK DONE BY THE 8.8. C. MESSAGES TO OVERSEAS MEN In the early days of the war, the British Broadcasting Corporation realised the need- for a medium which would, supply a radio link with the forces of the Empire and decided upon the idea of the Girl Friend as something which would have a universal appeal. This photograph shows the seven Girl Friends taking tea in the stalls bar of the underground theatre in the heart of London from 1 which they

keep in touch with the Empire’s forces overseas.

Left to right, their names are:— Jane Carr, who comperes “It’s All Yours,” a weekly programme to British forces in isolated parts of the world; Jane Welsh, “Over to You,” which is broadcast to the R.A.F. in Canada; Marjorie Skill, is heard hy New Zealanders in the Middle East; Margot iDavies who comperes the programme, Newfoundland”; Betty Warren who talks to

Australians in the Middle East; Una Marson, “Calling the West Indies”; and Joan Gilbert who talks to the boys on The Rock in the programme, “Calling Gibraltar.” ' These seven girls divide 25 programmes between them. Each girl has her own section of the globe and hour after hour, from midnight to midnight, the programmes go on, with (bands, singers and tales from home. Hundreds of- messages go out from this little underground theatre to the men fighting for us in the jungle, the desert and to those serving in our ships at sea. The basis of each of these programmes is the voice of the Girl Friend and the men get to know and love their voices (because of the messages they bring. Since the programme befan, these girls have had to deal with many

strange requests. They have introduced the fiancee of an Empire soldier to his people at home, have found lonf-lost sons and re-united brothers separated (by the war. Their fan-mail is one which a film star might envy. Every day brings its batch of letters and cables from grateful listeners. Men on leave from the outposts of the Empire have called to meet the girl whose voice has for so long been their closest link with home.