Memories of Airmen | Betty’s Café Tea Rooms York

Bettys Café Tea Rooms located at 6-8 St. Helen’s Square, York UK was a base for many RAF and Commonwealth airmen and not just for its tea and cakes. In 1937 Betty’s had obtained a liquor license which resulted in a cocktail bar and basement bar being constructed and little did the proprietors know that a few short years later it would prove a masterstroke. As the population of the RAF bases grew Betty’s was adopted as a sort of off base Operations Room for the crews where they could relax and kick up their heels to relieve the unbelievable stress of their missions over Europe. There were celebrations, parties and some more somber moments remembering those who did not return.

During WWII approximately 20,000 Australians travelled to the UK to be included in the RAF Bomber Command, despite retaining their RAAF identity and rank they participated in many RAF squadrons. Whilst several squadrons of the RAF were identified as Australian Squadrons the vast majority were absorbed into the RAF. Australian casualties in Bomber Command were 3,486 dead and 265 injured. After the war, 750 Australian aircrew were released from German prisoner of war camps, most of whom would have flown with Bomber Command.

The vast bulk of RAF Bomber Command Squadrons operated from around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from literally hundreds of new airfields created at short notice.  This sudden increase in population of thousands of young men resulted in them spending their precious leave in many of the larger cities of the area including York and Lincoln. There are many formal memorials in and around this region of the UK commemorating the service of the men of Bomber Command however on our tour of the UK in 2018 Warbirds Online discovered some less formal but in some ways even more touching memory of these men and women of Bomber Command with some poignant reminders of the young Australians who served there and in some cases died on operations out of there.

In typical high spirited Air Force tradition the young flyers wanted to be remembered in a way that would survive. A popular outlet for the crews was make their mark on the Café / Bar in a very personal way. Contained in Betty’s basement were walls lined with mirrors and it was quickly discovered that with a diamond ring of the type many of the aviators wore, it was possible to record your presence for posterity on the walls of the building and in the course of the war over 600 aircrew did so. Fortunately Bettys survived the war largely undamaged, although it was hit, in 1942 by an incendiary bomb which caused little damage. Its worst situation occurred as a result of the British Army attempting (unsuccessfully) to try to requisition Betty’s. The attempt failed when it was pointed out that it served 20,000 servicemen each week and there would be a riot if it was forced to close!

Post War the Café has continued to grow and prosper and is now a small chain of Cafes in the UK. The management has however not forgotten their wartime heritage and has recorded the signatures of the 600 identifiable airmen in a booklet which can be perused by all customers of the Café. Many airmen and their descendants have visited the café to soak in the atmosphere and remember their comrades and ancestors many of whom would never see their homeland again. Many of the 600 names are those of RAAF crew members. Almost unbelievably given the robust behavior of the servicemen the mirrors survived the conflict and are still on display in the basement. It is a sobering and touching moment to see the names and details of the men recorded on the mirrors like a moment locked in time as recorded by the airmen themselves of all the Commonwealth and British forces.

We can highly recommend that any Australian travelling to York UK make the trip to Betty’s and take in the atmosphere. The Cafe still remains in much the state it did in WWII and the food is excellent too!

From the Betty’s website is the following comment

“Bettys Cafe, York

The Ghosts of WW2 Airmen

On the oak paneled walls of Betty’s is the following engraving:

“The Bettys Mirror 1939 – 1945.

This mirror bears almost six hundred signatures, most of them airmen – British, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, who were stationed in this area during World War II.

We were proud to offer them hospitality during those dark days when, for the Canadian bomber crews in particular, Bettys Bar was York’s unofficial ‘Op’s Room’, where amidst the rumors and speculation about impending bomber sorties, friendships were made and absent friends mourned.

Each year many veterans return to Bettys and we invite them to make themselves known and to sign the visitor’s book.”

https://www.bettys.co.uk/cafe-tea-rooms/our-locations/bettys-york

© John Parker 2020