Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1917-1919 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 Albums
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Women's Royal Naval Service (1916-1993) (WRNS), members known as Wrens, was formed in 1916 during the First World War. The Royal Navy was the first of the armed forces to recruit women and the Wrens took over the role of cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, code experts and electricians. In Nov 1917, Katharine Furse, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), was appointed director. The women were so successful that other organizations such as the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and the Women's Royal Air Force were established. By the end of the war, in Nov 1918, the WRNS had 5,000 ratings and nearly 450 officers. The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) of the First World War was demobilized in 1919 and was not reformed until Apr 1939. The main objective was for women to replace certain personnel in order to release men for active service. At first the Wrens were recruited from navy families living near the ports. During the Second World War the Women's Royal Naval Service was expanded rapidly. Between Dec 1939 and Jun 1945 numbers increased from 3,400 to 72,000.
The duties were expanded and included flying transport planes. WRNS units were attached to most naval shore establishment in Britain. A large number of women served abroad in both the Middle East and the Far East. Some members of the service were employed in highly secret naval communications duties. The Wrens remained in existence until 1993, when women were fully integrated into the Royal Navy.
Katharine Furse [née Symonds] (1875-1952) was born in Bristol, on 23 Nov 1875. She married Charles Wellington Furse (1868-1904), the painter in 1900, but he died four years later. In 1909 she joined the first Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) attached to the Territorial Army. In the First World War (1914-1918) she was involved in setting up VAD stations in France and London. In 1916 she was appointed the First Commander in Chief Women's VAD and in 1917 Director Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS, also known as the Wrens). She was created a Dame in 1917. She was a keen skier and was involved with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Repository
Archival history
GB 106 10/49 1917-1919 fonds 2 Albums Unknown
The Women's Royal Naval Service (1916-1993) (WRNS), members known as Wrens, was formed in 1916 during the First World War. The Royal Navy was the first of the armed forces to recruit women and the Wrens took over the role of cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, code experts and electricians. In Nov 1917, Katharine Furse, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), was appointed director. The women were so successful that other organizations such as the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and the Women's Royal Air Force were established. By the end of the war, in Nov 1918, the WRNS had 5,000 ratings and nearly 450 officers. The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) of the First World War was demobilized in 1919 and was not reformed until Apr 1939. The main objective was for women to replace certain personnel in order to release men for active service. At first the Wrens were recruited from navy families living near the ports. During the Second World War the Women's Royal Naval Service was expanded rapidly. Between Dec 1939 and Jun 1945 numbers increased from 3,400 to 72,000.
The duties were expanded and included flying transport planes. WRNS units were attached to most naval shore establishment in Britain. A large number of women served abroad in both the Middle East and the Far East. Some members of the service were employed in highly secret naval communications duties. The Wrens remained in existence until 1993, when women were fully integrated into the Royal Navy.
Katharine Furse [née Symonds] (1875-1952) was born in Bristol, on 23 Nov 1875. She married Charles Wellington Furse (1868-1904), the painter in 1900, but he died four years later. In 1909 she joined the first Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) attached to the Territorial Army. In the First World War (1914-1918) she was involved in setting up VAD stations in France and London. In 1916 she was appointed the First Commander in Chief Women's VAD and in 1917 Director Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS, also known as the Wrens). She was created a Dame in 1917. She was a keen skier and was involved with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Transferred from TWL Printed Collections, Jul 2006.
This scrapbook consists of press cuttings, including photographs, from national and regional newspapers, documenting the formation of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) in 1917, and the appointment of Dame Katharine Furse as its first Director. Many cuttings describe parades, drill and inspections by various dignitaries. There is also coverage of the case of Violet Douglas-Pennant, Lady Rhondda's report on the state of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) which led to her dismissal as Commandant of the Women's Royal Air Force, and the subsequent Judicial Inquiry set up by the House of Lords. The collection ends with victory celebrations in 1919 and the demobilisation of the WRNS. It also includes a large number of cuttings and photographs relating to women's war work in general.
This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.
English
Collection level description available on-line on the Women's Library website
The Women's Library also holds further scrapbooks devoted to the subject of women's war work:
10/16 Scrapbook [Women during the First World War] (1907-1921)
10/17 Scrapbook: [Suffrage and Women's War Work] (1907-1919)
10/26 Scrapbook relating to women's work in the First World War (1914-1919 )
The Autograph Letter Collection contains letters written by Dame Katharine Furse, the first Director of the WRNS, and Dame Vera Laughton Matthews, Director during the Second World War:
9/1/1328 Letter Dame Vera Laughton Matthews to Mrs Horton
9/2/ Letters from Dame Katharine Furse to various recipients.
Finding aid created by export from CALM v7.2.14 Archives Hub EAD2002. Edited for AIM25 by Sarah Drewery.
In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
04/04/2008 Publications Communications media Books Albums (documents) Scrapbooks Sex distribution Sex International conflicts Women Employment World war War Womens employment Information sciences Armed forces Military organizations Organizations Navy Furse , Dame , Katharine , 1875-1952 , nee Symonds , nurse and nursing administrator Pennant , Violet Blanche , Douglas- , d 1945 , Commandant of WRAF Thomas , Lady , Margaret Haig , 1883-1958 , Vicountess , Lady Rhondda , feminist and magazine proprietor Women's Royal Naval Service , Great Britain Women's Royal Air Force
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Transferred from TWL Printed Collections, Jul 2006.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This scrapbook consists of press cuttings, including photographs, from national and regional newspapers, documenting the formation of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) in 1917, and the appointment of Dame Katharine Furse as its first Director. Many cuttings describe parades, drill and inspections by various dignitaries. There is also coverage of the case of Violet Douglas-Pennant, Lady Rhondda's report on the state of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) which led to her dismissal as Commandant of the Women's Royal Air Force, and the subsequent Judicial Inquiry set up by the House of Lords. The collection ends with victory celebrations in 1919 and the demobilisation of the WRNS. It also includes a large number of cuttings and photographs relating to women's war work in general.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The Women's Library also holds further scrapbooks devoted to the subject of women's war work:
10/16 Scrapbook [Women during the First World War] (1907-1921)
10/17 Scrapbook: [Suffrage and Women's War Work] (1907-1919)
10/26 Scrapbook relating to women's work in the First World War (1914-1919 )
The Autograph Letter Collection contains letters written by Dame Katharine Furse, the first Director of the WRNS, and Dame Vera Laughton Matthews, Director during the Second World War:
9/1/1328 Letter Dame Vera Laughton Matthews to Mrs Horton
9/2/ Letters from Dame Katharine Furse to various recipients.
Finding aids
Collection level description available on-line on the Women's Library website
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English