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{{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]]).
==History==
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>
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 that 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, 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]] and being promoted [[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 (Women's Royal Army Corps director)|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 dissestablished. 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>https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/3189/wraf-central-band</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==
WRAC organizes Reunion Meetings to promote the solidarity among its past and current members.
==See also==
*[[Women's Royal Air Force]]
*[[Women's Royal Naval Service]]
== References ==
{{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: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]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext) | '{{redirect|WRAC|the radio station in Ohio|WRAC (FM)}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Women's Royal Army Corps
|image=Woman in bra and panties - black and white.jpg
|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]]).
==History==
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>
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 that 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, 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]] and being promoted [[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 (Women's Royal Army Corps director)|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 dissestablished. 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>https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/3189/wraf-central-band</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==
WRAC organizes Reunion Meetings to promote the solidarity among its past and current members.
==See also==
*[[Women's Royal Air Force]]
*[[Women's Royal Naval Service]]
== References ==
{{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: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]]' |
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Parsed HTML source of the new revision (new_html) | '<div class="mw-parser-output"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1033184688">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic;padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"WRAC" redirects here. For the radio station in Ohio, see <a href="/wiki/WRAC_(FM)" title="WRAC (FM)">WRAC (FM)</a>.</div>
<table class="infobox" style="width:25.5em;border-spacing:2px;"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;">Women's Royal Army Corps</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image" style="text-align:center;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;line-height:1.5em;"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Upload?wpDestFile=Woman_in_bra_and_panties_-_black_and_white.jpg" class="new" title="File:Woman in bra and panties - black and white.jpg">File:Woman in bra and panties - black and white.jpg</a><div class="infobox-caption">Badge of the Women's Royal Army Corps</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Active</th><td class="infobox-data">1949–1992</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Allegiance</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/46px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /> </span><a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Branch</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Flag_of_the_British_Army.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_British_Army.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="13" class="thumbborder" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Flag_of_the_British_Army.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_British_Army.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Flag_of_the_British_Army.svg/46px-Flag_of_the_British_Army.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="710" data-file-height="406" /> </span><a href="/wiki/British_Army" title="British Army">British Army</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Role</th><td class="infobox-data">Support services</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Garrison/HQ</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Guildford" title="Guildford">Guildford</a>, <a href="/wiki/Surrey" title="Surrey">Surrey</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Motto(s)</th><td class="infobox-data"><i>Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re</i> (<i>Gentle in manner, resolute in deed</i>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Colours</th><td class="infobox-data">None</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">March</th><td class="infobox-data"><i>Quick</i>: <a href="/wiki/Lass_of_Richmond_Hill" class="mw-redirect" title="Lass of Richmond Hill">Lass of Richmond Hill</a>, Early One Morning<br /><i>Slow</i>: Greensleeves</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em;">Anniversaries</th><td class="infobox-data">Corps Day (1 February)</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>The <b>Women's Royal Army Corps</b> (<b>WRAC</b>; sometimes pronounced acronymically as <span class="rt-commentedText nowrap"><span class="IPA nopopups noexcerpt"><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA/English" title="Help:IPA/English">/<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ˈ/: primary stress follows">ˈ</span><span title="'r' in 'rye'">r</span><span title="/æ/: 'a' in 'bad'">æ</span><span title="'k' in 'kind'">k</span></span>/</a></span></span>, a term unpopular with its members) was the <a href="/wiki/Corps" title="Corps">corps</a> to which all women in the <a href="/wiki/British_Army" title="British Army">British Army</a> belonged from 1949 to 1992, except medical, dental and veterinary officers and chaplains (who belonged to the same corps as the men), the <a href="/wiki/Ulster_Defence_Regiment" title="Ulster Defence Regiment">Ulster Defence Regiment</a> which recruited women from 1973, and nurses (who belonged to <a href="/wiki/Queen_Alexandra%27s_Royal_Army_Nursing_Corps" title="Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps">Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps</a>).
</p>
<div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#History"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">History</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#Senior_posts"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Senior posts</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="#List_of_directors_WRAC"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">List of directors WRAC</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="#Band_of_the_WRAC"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Band of the WRAC</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="#Reunion_meetings"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Reunion meetings</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="#Further_reading"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Further reading</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Women%27s_Royal_Army_Corps&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History">edit source</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<p>The WRAC was formed on 1 February 1949 by Army Order 6 as the successor to the <a href="/wiki/Auxiliary_Territorial_Service" title="Auxiliary Territorial Service">Auxiliary Territorial Service</a> (ATS) that had been founded in 1938.<sup id="cite_ref-history_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-history-1">[1]</a></sup> For much of its existence, its members performed administrative and other support tasks.<sup id="cite_ref-history_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-history-1">[1]</a></sup> 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.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup>
</p><p>In 1974, two soldiers of the corps were killed by the <a href="/wiki/Provisional_IRA" class="mw-redirect" title="Provisional IRA">Provisional IRA</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Guildford_pub_bombings" title="Guildford pub bombings">Guildford pub bombings</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup>
</p><p>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 that served with the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Army_Pay_Corps" title="Royal Army Pay Corps">Royal Army Pay Corps</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Corps_of_Royal_Military_Police" class="mw-redirect" title="Corps of Royal Military Police">Corps of Royal Military Police</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Military_Provost_Staff_Corps" class="mw-redirect" title="Military Provost Staff Corps">Military Provost Staff Corps</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Army_Educational_Corps" title="Royal Army Educational Corps">Royal Army Educational Corps</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Army_Legal_Corps" class="mw-redirect" title="Army Legal Corps">Army Legal Corps</a> and the Staff Clerks from the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Army_Ordnance_Corps" title="Royal Army Ordnance Corps">Royal Army Ordnance Corps</a> were transferred to the newly formed <a href="/wiki/Adjutant_General%27s_Corps" title="Adjutant General's Corps">Adjutant General's Corps</a>. The post of Director WRAC, which carried the rank of <a href="/wiki/Brigadier" title="Brigadier">Brigadier</a>, was also abolished and it was seven years before a woman, Brigadier Patricia Purves, again reached that rank.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Senior_posts">Senior posts</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Women%27s_Royal_Army_Corps&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Senior posts">edit source</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<p>The highest rank available to a serving officer was Brigadier, held by the Director WRAC, although the Controller-Commandant, a member of the <a href="/wiki/British_Royal_Family" class="mw-redirect" title="British Royal Family">Royal Family</a>, held a higher honorary rank. <a href="/wiki/Mary,_Princess_Royal_and_Countess_of_Harewood" title="Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood">Princess Mary</a> held the post from 1949 to her death in 1965 (beginning as a <a href="/wiki/Major-General" class="mw-redirect" title="Major-General">Major-General</a> and being promoted <a href="/wiki/General" class="mw-redirect" title="General">General</a> on 23 November 1956) and the <a href="/wiki/Katharine,_Duchess_of_Kent" title="Katharine, Duchess of Kent">Duchess of Kent</a> held it from 1967 to 1992 (with the rank of Major-General).<sup id="cite_ref-history_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-history-1">[1]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="List_of_directors_WRAC">List of directors WRAC</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Women%27s_Royal_Army_Corps&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: List of directors WRAC">edit source</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<p>Directors of the WRAC were:
</p>
<ul><li>Brigadier Dame <a href="/wiki/Mary_Tyrwhitt" title="Mary Tyrwhitt">Mary Tyrwhitt</a>, 1949–1950</li>
<li>Brigadier Dame <a href="/wiki/Mary_Coulshed" title="Mary Coulshed">Mary Coulshed</a>, 1950–1954</li>
<li>Brigadier Dame <a href="/wiki/Mary_Railton" title="Mary Railton">Mary Railton</a>, 1954–1957</li>
<li>Brigadier Dame <a href="/wiki/Mary_Colvin" title="Mary Colvin">Mary Colvin</a>, 1957–1961</li>
<li>Brigadier Dame <a href="/w/index.php?title=Jean_Rivett-Drake&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Jean Rivett-Drake (page does not exist)">Jean Rivett-Drake</a>, 1961–1964</li>
<li>Brigadier Dame <a href="/wiki/Joan_Henderson" title="Joan Henderson">Joan Henderson</a>, 1964– 25 August 1967<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup></li>
<li>Brigadier Dame <a href="/w/index.php?title=Mary_Anderson_(Women%27s_Royal_Army_Corps_director)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mary Anderson (Women's Royal Army Corps director) (page does not exist)">Mary Anderson</a>, 1967–1970</li>
<li>Brigadier <a href="/wiki/Sheila_Heaney" title="Sheila Heaney">Sheila Heaney</a>, 1970–1973</li>
<li>Brigadier <a href="/wiki/Eileen_Nolan" title="Eileen Nolan">Eileen Nolan</a>, 1973–1977</li>
<li>Brigadier <a href="/wiki/Anne_Field" title="Anne Field">Anne Field</a>, 1977–1982</li>
<li>Brigadier <a href="/wiki/Helen_Meechie" title="Helen Meechie">Helen Meechie</a>, 1982–1986</li>
<li>Brigadier Shirley Nield, 1986–1989</li>
<li>Brigadier Gael Ramsey, 1989–1992</li>
<li>Brigadier Joan Roulstone, 1992–1994 (as Director Women (Army) during transitional period)<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup></li></ul>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Band_of_the_WRAC">Band of the WRAC</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Women%27s_Royal_Army_Corps&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Band of the WRAC">edit source</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<p>The Staff Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps was an all female military band.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup> It was formed in 1949, and was the only all-female band in the British Armed Forces by the time it was dissestablished. The Central Band of the <a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Royal_Air_Force" title="Women's Royal Air Force">Women's Royal Air Force</a>, 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.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a></sup> Since the mid-1990s, women have served in all <a href="/wiki/British_Army_bands" class="mw-redirect" title="British Army bands">British Army bands</a>. The instruments, assets and personnel of the former WRAC Band became the new Band of the <a href="/wiki/Adjutant_General%27s_Corps" title="Adjutant General's Corps">Adjutant General's Corps</a>.
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Reunion_meetings">Reunion meetings</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Women%27s_Royal_Army_Corps&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Reunion meetings">edit source</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<p>WRAC organizes Reunion Meetings to promote the solidarity among its past and current members.
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Women%27s_Royal_Army_Corps&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: See also">edit source</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Royal_Air_Force" title="Women's Royal Air Force">Women's Royal Air Force</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Royal_Naval_Service" title="Women's Royal Naval Service">Women's Royal Naval Service</a></li></ul>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Women%27s_Royal_Army_Corps&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: References">edit source</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1011085734">.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%;margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist">
<div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-history-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-history_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-history_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-history_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r999302996">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:linear-gradient(transparent,transparent),url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140519004905/http://wracassociation.org.uk/history">"A Brief History of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, Auxiliary Territorial Service and Women's Royal Army Corps"</a>. Women's Royal Army Corps Association. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wracassociation.org.uk/history">the original</a> on 19 May 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 May</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=A+Brief+History+of+the+Queen+Mary%27s+Army+Auxiliary+Corps%2C+Auxiliary+Territorial+Service+and+Women%27s+Royal+Army+Corps&rft.pub=Women%27s+Royal+Army+Corps+Association&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwracassociation.org.uk%2Fhistory&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWomen%27s+Royal+Army+Corps" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"Army Titles in the WRAC", <i><a href="/wiki/The_Times" title="The Times">The Times</a></i>, 20 March 1950</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r999302996"/><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.co.uk/archive/Womens%20Royal%20Army%20Corps.htm">"Women's Royal Army Corps"</a>. Palace Barracks Memorial Garden<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 May</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Women%27s+Royal+Army+Corps&rft.pub=Palace+Barracks+Memorial+Garden&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.co.uk%2Farchive%2FWomens%2520Royal%2520Army%2520Corps.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWomen%27s+Royal+Army+Corps" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Graduate Careers: How I got here: Brig Patricia Purves 'I just happened to be good at my job,' <a href="/wiki/The_Independent" title="The Independent">The Independent</a>, April 26, 2001</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r999302996"/><cite id="CITEREFGazette44395" class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44395/supplement/9486">"No. 44395"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_London_Gazette" title="The London Gazette">The London Gazette</a></i> (Supplement). 29 August 1967. p. 9486.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+London+Gazette&rft.atitle=No.+44395&rft.pages=9486&rft.date=1967-08-29&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegazette.co.uk%2FLondon%2Fissue%2F44395%2Fsupplement%2F9486&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWomen%27s+Royal+Army+Corps" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r999302996"/><cite id="CITEREFGazette53001" class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/53001/supplement/12670">"No. 53001"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_London_Gazette" title="The London Gazette">The London Gazette</a></i> (Supplement). 27 July 1992. p. 12670.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+London+Gazette&rft.atitle=No.+53001&rft.pages=12670&rft.date=1992-07-27&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegazette.co.uk%2FLondon%2Fissue%2F53001%2Fsupplement%2F12670&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWomen%27s+Royal+Army+Corps" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r999302996"/><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-staff-band-of-the-womens-royal-army-corps-6243">"The Staff Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Art_UK" title="Art UK">Art UK</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 May</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+Staff+Band+of+the+Women%27s+Royal+Army+Corps&rft.pub=Art+UK&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fartuk.org%2Fdiscover%2Fartworks%2Fthe-staff-band-of-the-womens-royal-army-corps-6243&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AWomen%27s+Royal+Army+Corps" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/3189/wraf-central-band">https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/3189/wraf-central-band</a></span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Further_reading">Further reading</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Women%27s_Royal_Army_Corps&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Further reading">edit source</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<ul><li>Bidwell Shelford. <i>Women's Royal Army Corps</i> (1997) 141pp</li>
<li>Noakes, Lucy. <i>Women in the British Army: War and the Gentle Sex, 1907–48</i> (2006), the standard scholarly history; focus on ATS</li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20051114182833/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/corps/WRAC.htm">WRAC archive of regiments.org</a></li></ul>
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Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (tor_exit_node) | false |
Unix timestamp of change (timestamp) | 1626097966 |
