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{{redirect|WRAC|the radio station in Ohio|WRAC (FM)}}
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The '''Women's Royal Army Corps''' ('''WRAC'''; sometimes [[IPA chart for English|pronounced acronymically as]] {{IPA|/ˈræk/}}, a term unpopular with its members) was the [[corps]] to which all women in the [[British Army]] except medical, dental and veterinary officers and chaplains (who belonged to the same corps as the men) and nurses (who belonged to [[Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps]]) formerly belonged.
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Women's Royal Army Corps
|image=<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Womens Royal Army Corps Badge.jpg|150px]] -->
|caption=Badge of the Women's Royal Army Corps
|dates=1949–1992
|country=
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|branch={{army|United Kingdom}}
|type=
|role=Support services
|size=
|garrison=[[Guildford]], [[Surrey]]
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|motto=''Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re'' (''Gentle in manner, resolute in deed'')
|colours=None
|march=''Quick'': [[Lass of Richmond Hill]], Early One Morning<br>''Slow'': Greensleeves
|mascot=
|battles=
|notable_commanders=
|anniversaries=Corps Day (1 February)
}}


⚫
The '''Women's Royal Army Corps''' ('''WRAC'''; sometimes pronounced acronymically as {{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|æ|k}}, a term unpopular with its members) was the [[corps]] to which all women in the [[British Army]] belonged from 1949 to 1992 except medical, dental and veterinary officers and chaplains, who belonged to the same corps as the men; the [[Ulster Defence Regiment]], which recruited women from 1973, and nurses, who belonged to [[Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps]].
The WRAC was formed on [[1 February]] [[1949]] by Army Order 6 as the successor to the [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]] (ATS) that had been founded in [[1938]]. For much of its existence, its members performed administrative and other support tasks, but later they began to be attached to other corps, including the [[Royal Artillery]] and [[Royal Engineers]]. On [[6 April]] [[1992]], the WRAC was disbanded and its members transferred to the appropriate corps of the army, signalling full integration of women into non-combat roles. Ironically perhaps, this was not greeted with enthusiasm by all members of the WRAC, particularly the more senior officers and NCOs, who felt that advancement would be more difficult if they had to compete on an equal basis with men. This was in some ways partly justified, since the post of Director WRAC, which carried the rank of [[Brigadier]], was abolished and it was some years before a woman again reached that rank. Officially, since a majority of its members had been administrative personnel, the WRAC amalgamated into the new [[Adjutant General's Corps]].


==History==
The WRAC wore a distinctive green uniform. Their [[cap badge]] was a lioness rampant within a laurel wreath surmounted by a crown. Their [[motto]] was ''Suaviter in Modo, Fortiter in Re'' (Gentle in manner, resolute in deed). Their [[depot]] was at [[Guildford]] in [[Surrey]].
The WRAC was formed on 1 February 1949, by Army Order 6, as the successor to the [[Auxiliary Territorial Service]] (ATS) that had been founded in 1938.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=http://wracassociation.org.uk/history|title=A Brief History of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, Auxiliary Territorial Service and Women's Royal Army Corps|publisher=Women's Royal Army Corps Association|access-date=18 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519004905/http://wracassociation.org.uk/history|archive-date=19 May 2014}}</ref> For much of its existence, its members performed administrative and other support tasks.<ref name=history/> In March 1952 the ranks of the WRAC, which had previously been Subaltern, Junior Commander, Senior Commander and Controller were harmonised with the rest of the British Army.<ref>"Army Titles in the WRAC", ''[[The Times]]'', 20 March 1950</ref>


In 1974, two soldiers of the corps were killed by the [[Provisional IRA]] in the [[Guildford pub bombings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.co.uk/archive/Womens%20Royal%20Army%20Corps.htm|title=Women's Royal Army Corps|publisher=Palace Barracks Memorial Garden|access-date=18 May 2014}}</ref>
At the time of the WRAC's disappearance, the Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps was the only all-female band in the British Armed Forces, although the [[Royal Air Force]] (which had once had its own all-female band) had already started to integrate female musicians into all of its bands. From 1992, women have served in all British Army bands.

In October 1990 WRAC officers employed with other corps were transferred to those corps and in April 1992 the WRAC was disbanded and its remaining members transferred to the Corps they served with. Those who served with the [[Royal Army Pay Corps]], the [[Corps of Royal Military Police]], the [[Military Provost Staff Corps]], the [[Royal Army Educational Corps]], the [[Army Legal Corps]] and the Staff Clerks from the [[Royal Army Ordnance Corps]] were transferred to the newly formed [[Adjutant General's Corps]]. The post of Director WRAC, which carried the rank of [[Brigadier]], was also abolished and it was seven years before a woman, Brigadier Patricia Purves, again reached that rank.<ref>Graduate Careers: How I got here: Brig Patricia Purves 'I just happened to be good at my job,' [[The Independent]], April 26, 2001</ref>

==Senior posts==
The highest rank available to a serving officer was [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]], held by the Director WRAC, although the Controller-Commandant, a member of the [[British Royal Family|Royal Family]], held a higher honorary rank. [[Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood|Princess Mary]] held the post from 1949 to her death in 1965 (beginning as a [[Major general (United Kingdom)|major general]] and being promoted [[General (United Kingdom)|general]] on 23 November 1956) and the [[Katharine, Duchess of Kent|Duchess of Kent]] held it from 1967 to 1992 (with the rank of Major-General).<ref name=history/>

==List of directors WRAC==
Directors of the WRAC were:
*Brigadier Dame [[Mary Tyrwhitt]], 1949–1950
*Brigadier Dame [[Mary Coulshed]], 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– 25 August 1967<ref>{{London Gazette |date=29 August 1967 |supp=y |issue=44395 |pages=9486}}</ref>
*Brigadier Dame [[Mary Anderson (British Army officer)|Mary Anderson]], 1967–1970
*Brigadier [[Sheila Heaney]], 1970–1973
*Brigadier [[Eileen Nolan]], 1973–1977
*Brigadier [[Anne Field]], 1977–1982
*Brigadier [[Helen Meechie]], 1982–1986
*Brigadier Shirley Nield, 1986–1989
*Brigadier Gael Ramsey, 1989–1992
*Brigadier Joan Roulstone, 1992–1994 (as Director Women (Army) during transitional period)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=53001 |supp=y|page=12670|date=27 July 1992}}</ref>

==Band of the WRAC==
The Staff Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps was an all female military band.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-staff-band-of-the-womens-royal-army-corps-6243|title=The Staff Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps|publisher=[[Art UK]]|access-date=18 May 2014}}</ref> It was formed in 1949, and was the only all-female band in the British Armed Forces by the time it was disestablished. The Central Band of the [[Women's Royal Air Force]], which was one of only two all-female bands to exist, transferred some of its musicians to the Band of the WRAC after it was disbanded in 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/3189/wraf-central-band |title = WRAF Central Band - Regiment History, War & Military Records & Archives}}</ref> Since the mid-1990s, women have served in all [[British Army bands]]. The instruments, assets and personnel of the former WRAC Band became the new Band of the [[Adjutant General's Corps]].

==Reunion meetings==
The WRAC organizes Reunion Meetings to promote solidarity among its former members.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 11: Line 63:
*[[Women's Royal Naval Service]]
*[[Women's Royal Naval Service]]


== References ==
⚫
[[Category:1949 establishments]]
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* 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
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051114182833/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/corps/WRAC.htm WRAC archive of regiments.org]

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1949]]
[[Category:British administrative corps]]
[[Category:British administrative corps]]
[[Category:Women in war]]
[[Category:All-female military units and formations]]
[[Category:Women's organisations based in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1992]]
⚫
[[Category:1949 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1992 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 11:34, 18 November 2023

"WRAC" redirects here. For the radio station in Ohio, see WRAC (FM).
Women's Royal Army Corps
Active1949–1992
Allegiance Vereinigtes Königreich
Branch British Army
RoleSupport services
Garrison/HQGuildford, Surrey
Motto(s)Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re (Gentle in manner, resolute in deed)
ColoursNone
MarchQuick: Lass of Richmond Hill, Early One Morning
Slow: Greensleeves
AnniversariesCorps Day (1 February)

The Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC; sometimes pronounced acronymically as /ˈræk/, a term unpopular with its members) was the corps to which all women in the British Army belonged from 1949 to 1992 except medical, dental and veterinary officers and chaplains, who belonged to the same corps as the men; the Ulster Defence Regiment, which recruited women from 1973, and nurses, who belonged to Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

History

[edit]

The WRAC was formed on 1 February 1949, by Army Order 6, as the successor to the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) that had been founded in 1938.[1] For much of its existence, its members performed administrative and other support tasks.[1] In March 1952 the ranks of the WRAC, which had previously been Subaltern, Junior Commander, Senior Commander and Controller were harmonised with the rest of the British Army.[2]

In 1974, two soldiers of the corps were killed by the Provisional IRA in the Guildford pub bombings.[3]

In October 1990 WRAC officers employed with other corps were transferred to those corps and in April 1992 the WRAC was disbanded and its remaining members transferred to the Corps they served with. Those who served with the Royal Army Pay Corps, the Corps of Royal Military Police, the Military Provost Staff Corps, the Royal Army Educational Corps, the Army Legal Corps and the Staff Clerks from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps were transferred to the newly formed Adjutant General's Corps. The post of Director WRAC, which carried the rank of Brigadier, was also abolished and it was seven years before a woman, Brigadier Patricia Purves, again reached that rank.[4]

Senior posts

[edit]

The highest rank available to a serving officer was brigadier, held by the Director WRAC, although the Controller-Commandant, a member of the Royal Family, held a higher honorary rank. Princess Mary held the post from 1949 to her death in 1965 (beginning as a major general and being promoted general on 23 November 1956) and the Duchess of Kent held it from 1967 to 1992 (with the rank of Major-General).[1]

List of directors WRAC

[edit]

Directors of the WRAC were:

Band of the WRAC

[edit]

The Staff Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps was an all female military band.[7] It was formed in 1949, and was the only all-female band in the British Armed Forces by the time it was disestablished. The Central Band of the Women's Royal Air Force, which was one of only two all-female bands to exist, transferred some of its musicians to the Band of the WRAC after it was disbanded in 1972.[8] Since the mid-1990s, women have served in all British Army bands. The instruments, assets and personnel of the former WRAC Band became the new Band of the Adjutant General's Corps.

Reunion meetings

[edit]

The WRAC organizes Reunion Meetings to promote solidarity among its former members.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "A Brief History of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, Auxiliary Territorial Service and Women's Royal Army Corps". Women's Royal Army Corps Association. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Army Titles in the WRAC", The Times, 20 March 1950
  3. ^ "Women's Royal Army Corps". Palace Barracks Memorial Garden. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  4. ^ Graduate Careers: How I got here: Brig Patricia Purves 'I just happened to be good at my job,' The Independent, April 26, 2001
  5. ^ "No. 44395". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 August 1967. p. 9486.
  6. ^ "No. 53001". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 July 1992. p. 12670.
  7. ^ "The Staff Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps". Art UK. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  8. ^ "WRAF Central Band - Regiment History, War & Military Records & Archives".

Further reading

[edit]
  • 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
  • WRAC archive of regiments.org
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