Kathleen Clement: 100-year-old woman receives medal for work on Spitfires in World War Two

The original medal was presented to Ms Clement on behalf of King George VI, but she lost the medal years later.

Tomos Evans

Wales reporter

Thursday 30 May 2024 19:50, UK

A 100-year-old woman has received a medal for her work during World War Two after she lost the original.

Kathleen "Kay" Clement was a mechanic in the Woman's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and maintained Spitfires in the war.

Ms Clement, who now lives in a care home in Tonna, in the county of Neath Port Talbot, was based at RAF Loughborough during the conflict.

She was presented with a King's loyal service medal after the war ended.

It was given to her on behalf of King George VI, but years later she lost the gong.

Ms Clement had been nominated for a mayor of Neath Port Talbot award and, during those discussions, regional armed forces liaison officer Finola Pickwell began arranging a replacement.

Earlier this month, Councillor Chris Williams gave Ms Clement the mayor's award and there was an extra special surprise.

Wing commander Stephen Fry, deputy lord lieutenant of West Glamorgan, and air commodore Robert Woods, air officer Wales, presented her with a replacement for her long-lost medal.

"Her eyes welled up and she said the medal meant more to her than if she'd been given a solid gold watch... it was an emotional moment," Ms Pickwell said.

She said it was "amazing to think" Ms Clement had received a replacement after the reign of the longest-serving British monarch in history for her work before that reign had started.

The WAAF was a vital part of the RAF's war effort and demonstrated the contribution women could make to Britain's armed forces.

After the war, the WAAF was renamed the Women's Royal Air Force, in February 1949.

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