Dates: 1949 - 1992
The Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) was the corps in the British Army that female members of the British Army belonged to between 1949 and 1992. This did not include women who were performing medical service for the Army.
It was formed in February 1949, as a successor to the Auxiliary Territorial Service. For several years, the role of the women was to perform administrative support tasks. Later on, they became attached to other corps including the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers.
In April 1992, the WRAC was disbanded and the members were transferred into appropriate units in the army. Many women were reluctant to do this because they felt it would be harder to compete on an equal basis with men. This might have been justified because it took seven years before a woman was awarded the title of Brigadier. The organisation amalgamated into the official Adjutant General’s Corps.
Memories of WRAC
WRAC Basic Training, Lingfield 1963 in 1963Written by Vee Taylor
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"One morning we were waiting for the sergeant to do kit and locker inspection and having a last cigarette. We heard the shout 'Stand by your beds' rather earlier than we expected. I threw my cigarette out of the open window behind my bed and my friend Pat Ripley in the bed opposite, didn't have her window open so she looked around for somewhere to put her stub. She was about to put it into her ashtray but changed her mind, she didn't want to dirty it.
She looked frantically around but couldn't see anywhere to put it so she quickly opened the top drawer of her dressing table and dropped it in.
The sergeant advanced down the billet checking peoples' kit and furniture for signs of dust and dirt. She got to Pat's bedspace and gave a cursory glance at her kit laid out on the bed. She went behind Pat to look in the locker and I saw Pat close her eyes, praying the sergeant wouldn't open the drawer.
Too bad! She did just that and was met with a cloud of smoke from Pat's underwear which had caught fire. When I saw this I couldn't contain myself and burst out laughing. This did not go down well with the sergeant, nor the Troop OC when we were up before her on a charge. We got 5 days jankers cleaning out the orderly room every evening after tea."
looking for old wrac pal in 1979Written by Dianne Jenkins
Contact this person >> "I went onto forces missing persons on 15th June 2004 to look for an old army mate, the next day I recieved an e-mail from her brother who passed on info to see if she was right person. Three days later we are now in contact again after 25 years. It can work so give it a go. "
29 Company WRAC Rheindahlen in 1983Written by Lin Langdon nee Bartholomew
Contact this person >> "29 Company WRAC was my first posting after completing basic training at Guildford in 1981. I met a lot of good friends here but one special one in particular, Kathy Bennett who was a CPL at the time i believe her army number started 458. We had such a good laugh here with Block parties with the guys we knew Paddy and Charlie Watts. Kathy and I hit it off straight away. Kathy got me into fitness training and devised a programme for me. One of our favourite places was the Blue Pool where we drank many a cocktail, rounding off the night at Pops & Eddies!!! Do you also remember the nights in the "Marly" This was where i met my husband Mick Langdon whom I have been married to for 21 years. We also have a daughter Kirsty who is 16. Kathy was a bridesmaid when we got married in 1983 in Portsmouth. We kept in touch for a few years after this but sadly we lost touch. I would really love to meet up with her again. The last i knew she was living in scotland. It would also be nice to know how Paddy and Charlie are doing as well."
251 WRAC Signal Squadren (Southern Command) in 1961Written by marcia stringer
Contact this person >> "Who can remember the tramps dance in November 1963 at Robinswood barracks I will never forget that record come o side and effy who I have contacted after many years but would like to contact Judy Corkill my old bridesmaid we lost contact with each other in 1964 I would love to be reunited with her any one out there now where she is now.
Does anyone remember a wrac switchboard op called Lynn Macdonald last I heard she had been posted to Cyprus that was in 1962/3 I would really like to reunite with her as she was very kind to me when I needed it most and although its long overdue I would love the opportunity to thank her"
WRAC Centre, guildford in 1958Written by evelyn james
Contact this person >> "learning to march in the sleet and snow,freezing feet and hands, then to cookhouse for hard biscuit and very black sweet cocoa(heaven??) would do it all over again to meet friends and comradeship we had then.still in contact with some of the girls.then on to yeovil driver training which i loved."
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving WRAC
"Can anyone remember me, especilly when I was a PTI in Bovington, Aldershot, Mill Hill, Wilton, Middle Wallop, WRAC Centre Guildford, Leconfield and 29 Coy BAOR"
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" Looking for the following WRAC lasses, Jan McDonald Singapore 65-67, Rose Evans Singapore 66-67 Sandy Taylor Rhinedahlen 63-65, and Joan Connelly Salisbury 64.regards Edgar"
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" Hi to all and past serving members of the forces..... Are there any past and present members of the armied forces who worked along side of the pioneers there must be a few funny stories knocking about.Whilst I served as a pioneer I worked along side the signals the reme,rct,raoc,paras,gurkers,lots ..."
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" I would like to know if anyone remember’s Eileen Connor or Eric Stratford as i dont seem to be able to find any ladie’s from the WRAC Iwas in HQnorthan ireland in 1957 to 1959 please get in touch "
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" Hi Pete. Nice to hear from you again. Firstly Moascar. There really was very little to do in Canal Zone other than work and duties, about which nuff said. Otherwise there was these long periods of awful boredom. This was in addition to the generally vile and unpleasant conditions which have ..."
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