The Women's Royal Army Corps ( born Women's Royal Army Corps , also abbreviated as WRAC ) was the army corps of the British Army, where women served exclusively (except for doctors, nurses and chaplains) from 1949 to 1992.
| Women's Royal Army Corps | |
|---|---|
| Years of existence | February 1, 1949 - April 1992 |
| A country |  Great Britain |
| Enters into | British army |
| Type of | auxiliary troops |
| Dislocation | Guilford , Surrey |
| Motto | Gentle in behavior, decisive in deed ( lat. Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re ) |
| March | Lass of Richmond Hill, Early One Morning Greensleeves |
| Participation in | Conflict in Northern Ireland |
| Commanders | |
| Famous Commanders | Mary, Princess of Great Britain and Countess Harewood Catherine, Duchess of Kent |
Content
History
The Women's Royal Army Corps was formed on February 1, 1949 by Order No. 6 as the successor of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Corps , formed in 1938 [1] .
For most of the time of its existence, its employees performed primarily administrative tasks [1] . In March 1952, the military ranks of the British Army were officially adopted in the corps [2] . The corps also included a purely fully female military orchestra [3] .
In 1974, two women from the corps became victims of the terrorist act in Guilford [4] , at the same time two more soldiers of the Scottish Guard were killed.
In October 1990, within the framework of military reforms, women were transferred from the corps to other units. In April 1992, the corps was officially disbanded, and the General Adjutant Corps became its successor [1] .
Famous Commanders
The highest rank of the corps was the rank of brigadier worn by the director of the corps. However, the de jure corps command was among the powers of some members of the British royal family, who were also patrons of the corps. Thus, the “royal” commander of the women's corps was Princess Maria from 1949 to 1965 (rose to the rank of general on November 23, 1956 ) and the Duchess Catherine from 1967 to 1992 (major general) [1] .
Corps Director List
- Brigadier-dame Mary Tiruitt (1949-1950)
- Brigadier-dame Mary Coaled (1950-1954)
- Brigadier-dame Mary Railton (1954-1957)
- Brigadier-dame Mary Colvin (1957–1961)
- Brigadier Dame Jean Rivett-Drake (1961–1964)
- Brigadier Dame Joan Henderson (1964-1967)
- Brigadier-dame Mary Anderson (1967–1970)
- Brigadier Sheila Heaney (1970-1973)
- Brigadier Eileen Nolan (1973-1977)
- Brigadier Ann Field (1977–1982)
- Brigadier Helen Michie (1982-1986)
- Brigadier Shirley Nild (1986–1989)
- Brigadier Gael Ramsey (1989–1992)
- Brigadier Joan Roulstone (1992-1994) [5]
See also
- Female Royal Air Force UK
- Female Royal Navy of Great Britain
Notes
- 2 4 4 Royal Royal Royal Royal Royal Royal Royal Royal Royal Royal Royal Royal ) Women's Royal Army Corps Association. The appeal date is May 18, 2014. Archived May 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Army Titles in the WRAC", The Times , 20 March 1950
- Staff The Royal Army Corps ’Staff Band (not available link) . BBC. The appeal date is May 18, 2014. Archived April 1, 2015.
- ↑ Women's Royal Army Corps . Palace Barracks Memorial Garden. The appeal date is May 18, 2014.
- ↑ Appendix №53001, p. 12670 (Eng.) // London Gazette : Newspaper. - L .. - Iss. 53001 . - No. 53001 . - P. 12670 . - ISSN 0374-3721 .
Literature
- Bidwell Shelford. Women's Royal Army Corps (1997) 141pp
- Noakes, Lucy. Women in the British Army: War and the Gentle Sex, 1907–48 (2006), the standard scholarly history; focus on ATS