Forum Topic

NAFFE - could you help?

I'm going through some of my Mother's items and noticed she was in the NAFFE. Not sure of spelling it's unclear. It was through the war years. She could have been 17? Is someone able to tell me what it stood for or the correct spelling so I can do a search.Thanking you once again.Joan

Joan Perry ● 6521d15 Comments

Bromide in the tea, Jim?That’s a grave infringement of your human rights and must’ve scarred you for life! Surely some weighty compensation’s in order? Think of all that lovely legal aid cash too…

Fraser Pearce ● 6520d

Jean it sounds like the NAFFI was a great place to work. Mum always spoke fondly about her life in the NAFFI. I wish I knew where my mum was based. You never know one day mum's 'box' of bits might reveal something else.

Joan Perry ● 6520d

Joan My mother was in NAAFI also She worked at Millbank.  Jean

Jean Gilmore ● 6520d

Fraser it sounds like you have wonderful memories too. I am thoroughly enjoying reading all this great information coming forward. I am also compiling the NAFFI articles into my memories folder. Jim, I will have to ask June if she ever heard Mum mention Claygate. The newspaper article was excellent. Oh yes, I do remember my dad talking about bromide in the tea. Okay here's another question - what does 'servitor servientium mean. I'm not surprised what they sell on ebay. Keep the memories coming. My dad's Defence papers say he was a driver - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He served overseas in North Africa 1944-46 and Middle East Force 1946-47. Dad's medals have gone to my brother. Medals issued: Italy Star, Star, Defence Medal and War Medal. Sadly we cannot find his war photo album. As a mother of a son and 3 daughters, I can only imagine what pain parents went through saying goodbye to their sons/daughters going to war. My son Darren has been collecting memorabila from the war years and has a dvd collection. He says in recognition of those who went to war. A lot more young people are attending our ANZAC Day marches too. Oops, I'm rambling on again. Have a good day to you all.Joan.

Joan Perry ● 6520d

Thanks for that nostalgic piece Fraser...being brought up on an occasional mug of Naffi tea would have done you no harm!Problem was that the tea that was served to us on army campsin the 50's  contained bromide..and that curtailed our libido!  Perhaps that was a good thing in the circumstances!!Currently for sale on e-bay!----------------------------------------------------------And this looks like an old Naafi sign..and must be worth a bob or two.It's for sale on e-bay too!-----------------------------------------

Jim Lawes ● 6521d

This must be a first for local forums..to be discussing and learning about Naffi tea!The Naafi badge again..and an advert for staff!

Jim Lawes ● 6521d

My grandfather (God bless him) used to make me a nice cup of 'NAFFI tea' and regale me with stories of our finest hour - and how he single-handedly kicked the Desert Fox out of North Africa. His tattoos told stories all by themselves ("this one's from Egypt, this one Libya, this from Beirut and this one's from the Holy Land"). A strong man, simple, straightforward, good and kind (though he wasn't averse to nicking rabbits from the officers' mess to send home to the wife and kids back in Brixton!). He was my hero from a heroic generation. He also told me the serious stories about the Depression in the 30s, convinced the charity of the Salvation Army helped get them through. It was a privilege to have known and loved him. Now I'm telling these stories to my kids - even bought a quadruple CD collection of Churchill's speeches (and got all tearful listening to the buggers on the tube). I even took my eldest to El Alamein last year. Lest we forget.God bless the RAF, the army, navy and NAFFI, the Sally Ann, Rommel, Monty and Mr Churchill![To this day I still like my tea strong and stewed]

Fraser Pearce ● 6521d

It's another interesting story from you Joan..and talking about the Naafi has perhaps sparked another adventure!Claygate near Esher,Surrey..(and not far from Twickenham) was  another Naafi stronghold locally.  For some time during and after the War, the naafi headquarters was temporarily moved to a place called Ruxley Towers in Claygate..and there was a treaining placethere..and at a local large residence called Wingham..which I remember going to regarding my Naafi work.Ruxley Towers was later taken over by one of the big Unions..the General and Municipal Workers.Did your parents mention Claygate?

Jim Lawes ● 6521d

Jim, this was found deep in the dungeons (bottom of box) hours later. Yes this is my mum's badge. The Naffi is where she met my dad and later married. Mum used to talk about being in the Naffi, I just wished I'd asked more questions. Sadly we have no photos of her in a uniform. But I do know mum enjoyed her days in the Naffi. She loved to help people. This became quite obvious in her later years as she was involved in many voluntary organisations.

Joan Perry ● 6521d

Yes the Naafi was initially the workers'canteen as Gerry so amusingly described. Often it was quite a large building located on a military camp with the canteen service laid out with a "Joe Lyons" type queue, cheese rolls come to my mind..from a distant Naafi bakery...then beer in the evening..and then room for pastimes games and snooker etc.Some Naafi's were just mobile vans that toured around..either within camps..or out on exercises..and sometimes just behind the battlefield. It seems that the numbers employed were way above the 30,000 mark in the earkier days.With families being accommodated in "Married Quarters" the Naafi established shops and supermarkets and marketed their own brand of provisions.  There was a Naafi tea blending warehouse in Tooley Street,in London's old dockland, and a bacon curing department, many bakeries around the country too.Even on the Outer Hebrides, NW Scotland  Naafi had a supermarket at Benbecula.There would have been many Naafi places in the West London area...even in Feltham ..at the military barracks there, and at Hounslow (Barrack Road) and there is still currently one in Whitton at the Kneller Hall Music College.The organisation's HQ was run from Imperial Court in Kennington in my time with them..and the top man was elegantly called Sir Humphrey Prideaux..and I believe that he is still alive in his 90's..and he appears in Who's Who!I never thought I'd ever mention that gentleman on the Forum!The HQ moved out to Wiltshire (Amesbury)in the 70's /80's and all the old staff records would have been paper based were keep in  a huge library called the Registry..most important for keeping security checks on people being employed on military bases. Whether the records are still held..only an enquiry to them in Wiltshire would reveal.Organisations such as the Naafi, Ssafa and the salvation army were a tonic to many troops..when they were far away from their families and home comforts.  It seems surprising that after National Service at Devizes, Cyprus and Libya..I should find my way back to the Naafi some years later.Your mother would have enjoyed the fun and comaderie (?) of working amongst the troops. She would have had a uniform too.Was that her badge Joan, or a picture of one from cyberspace?

Jim Lawes ● 6521d

Gerry I didn't get too far in my search, however I did find a site with stories from the 'NAFFI girls'. I remember mum saying she was the 'tea lady' and proud of it. Glad to read you have fond memories of the NAFFI.  Then I went to the next one down and It was called 'Just Ordinary Men'. There is 'uTube' vision, it brought tears to my eyes just watching what men like my father, you and many others went through. Such sacrifices were made. I think it's the music with the vision.  My Aunty Alma said to me yesterday how she worked at the Tickles Jam Factory.  I can't believe I found information about it. She will be pleased.

Joan Perry ● 6521d

Joan, Jim L. is absolutely correct. The Navy,Army,Air Force Institute or "NAFFI" as we used to fondly call it, was a wonderful organisation, where National Servicemen like me could enjoy a cup of tea, coffee or a beer and a fag after duty hours - it was a kind of workers' canteen on our Royal Airforce bases. I remember spending many happy hours playing "housey-housey"(bingo to you) with a "cuppa 'n wad"(cup of tea and currant bun, for 4pence ha'penny)in NAFFIs at many RAF stations in the early 50s. The NAFFI was a much loved and essential part of service life during WW2 and National Service times. I wonder if it still exists?

Gerry Tan ● 6521d

Success. Came across this photo. Well done on the guessing Jim. Now to do more searching. I'm not sure in London where she was based. Jim was there only 1 base in London or several where she could have been? I'm off to Google again.Have a good day.Joan.

Joan Perry ● 6521d

Hi JoanIt sounds to me like the NAAFI the Navy,Army and Air Force Institute..the dispensers of the infamous tea in their army canteens! They were an independant organisation who followed our defence forces everywhere..and employed some 30,000 at their busiest.  I worked in their Headquarter offices in Kennington..near the Oval during the early 1960's in the Industrial Relations department! They feed the UK troops all over the world..and in later years they had shops and supermarkets, Warehouses and transport staff.During the war years, Naafi canteens would have sprung up rapidly..and young lady recruits would have been sought advidly!However, best to await to see if NAAFI is correct!

Jim Lawes ● 6521d