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In 1917 during the First World War women were recruited for service with
the Army in a non-nursing capacity for the first time. The Women's Army
Auxiliary Corps was formed, later becoming the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary
Corps when Queen Mary became its Patron. Members of the Corps served with the
British Expeditionary Force in France winning three Military Medals for
gallantry. It was disbanded in 1921.
The Auxiliary Territorial Service was formed on 9 September 1938 by order
of George VI. More than a quarter of a million members, one of the most famous
being the then Princess Elizabeth who was commissioned in March 1945, served
during the Second World War. They served in most of the overseas theatres of
operation as well as the defence of the United Kingdom, particularly in Anti
Aircraft Command. They also served as drivers, orderlies, store women and
cooks. 72 were killed in action and 313 were wounded.
By the end of World War 2, it was acknowledged that women would be a
valuable asset to a peacetime army. Women continued to serve on emergency
engagements in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) whilst plans were
formulated for a regular Women's Corps.
The Post War Years
In 1948 the Secretary of State, Mr Emmanuel Shinwell, made a formal
submission to the Crown for permission to raise a Corps of Women for the
Regular Army and Territorial Army. This received the Royal Assent on 1
February 1949 the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) came into being. For the
first time women in the army became subject to all sections of the Army Act.
Dame Mary Tyrwhitt DBE TD was the first Director of the WRAC.
The Corps was organised into battalions and companies; later into
independent companies and platoons and gradually they became integrated with
their employing military units. The Corps Charter stated that it was 'to
provide replacements for officers and men in such employment as may be
specified by the Army Council from time to time'. Women served in over 40
different trades in 20 different Arms and Corps.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who had been Commandant in
Chief ATS since 1940, became Commandant in Chief WRAC in 1949.
Her Royal Highness Princess Mary, The Princess Royal, who had been
Controller Commandant ATS, became Controller Commandant WRAC in the honorary
rank of Major General. Following the death of The Princess Royal in 1965, Her
Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent became Controller Commandant in the rank of
Honorary Major General in 1967.
In March 1950 Field Marshall Sir William Slim GBE KCB DSO MC announced
that female officers would use the same tiles as male officers. Previously,
they had been known as Subaltern, Junior Commander, Senior Commander,
Controller etc.
Trouble Spots World Wide
Since World War 2, emergencies, security threats and incidents involving
the British Army have occurred worldwide. Members of the WRAC have played a
full part in many of these operations such as: Malaya 1948 - 1960, Kenya in
1954, the EOKA campaign in Cyprus from 1955 to 1959, the Singapore riots in
1957, Aden from 1961 to 1968, the Coup d'Etat in Ghana in 1966 and the Turkish
invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
Northern Ireland: Troops were deployed to Northern Ireland during
the troubles in 1969 to assist the civilian police to maintain order.
The Falklands Islands: After the victory in the Falkland Islands in
1982, a permanent garrison was re-established. On 1 August 1983, the first
draft of 20 WRAC servicewomen arrived in Port Stanley. They traveled by air to
Ascension Island and then by sea to the Falkland Islands.
The Gulf 1990-1991: Operation GRANBY was the British Army's part of
Operation DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, the multi-national response to the
Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait. Members of the WRAC were employed on
Operation GRANBY, as members of the Staff of Commanders, or as individuals
with their units. They worked as Staff Officers, Assistant Adjutants, clerks,
chefs, communications operators, drivers, intelligence analysts, medical
assistants, military police women, and postal and courier operators. Over 200
members of the Corps served in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Operation
GRANBY.
Iraq 1991: Operation HAVEN was the mission to provide security and
humanitarian support in the move of Kurdish people from refugee camps directly
back to their homes. One officer and three servicewomen of the WRAC attached
to the Commando Regiment Royal Artillery took part in Operation HAVEN in
Northern Iraq.
Disbandment of the Corps
The Army Board decided that on 1 October 1990 the WRAC Regular Officers
Permanently Employed with other Corps should be transferred to these Corps.
The servicewomen also employed by these Corps followed one year later.
In December 1990 the Army Board announced the formation of the Adjutant
General's Corps. This Corps formed up on 6 Aoril 1992 through the amalgamation
of the RAPC, RAEC, RMP, All Arms Staff Clerks and the remainder of the WRAC.
The WRAC spirit lives on in the WRAC Association which has branches
world-wide. The successes and achievements, together with the history and
traditions of women in the Army, over 90 years are carried forward to the Army
of today.
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