Mary Christina RATCLIFFE
- Extended Description
- Mary Christina RATCLIFFE.
Born in 1914 in Dukinfield Greater Manchester to Henry Marshland and Jeanie King Ratcliffe nee Downs. Died in Malta December 1988.
Supplement to the London Gazette dated 4 June 1943
The KING has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty's Birthday, to approve the award of the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) to the undermentioned :
Miss Christina Ratcliffe, Plotter, Operations Room, R.A.F. Headquarters, Malta.
At rest in Addolorata Cemetery, Malta.
Christina Ratcliffe was dancer in the film Charing Cross Road (1935), starring John Mills and June Clyde, and created her own cabaret troupe the Whizz Bangs. She travelled to Malta in 1937 with her troupe. Italy declared war on Britain 1940 and she was stuck on the island. She decided to become a civilian aircraft plotter in the Royal Air Force Operational Headquarters in the Lascaris War Rooms, Valletta.
She allegedly fell in love with a RAF Pilot Adrian Warburton who was killed in action over Germany on April 12, 1944. She had been plotting his movements at the time of his death.
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/a-love-story-in-midst-of-raging-war.643232
https://mediadrumworld.com/2018/09/17/32300/
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...7lAhULRBUIHY2wA-gQsAR6BAgIEAE&biw=938&bih=920
