Women in the Army

Women took on many vital roles throughout the years of the Second World War. This varied from many different roles, including the armed forces. All in all, there was roughly around 640,000 women within the armed forces doing a variety of jobs, within various sectors. 

The Auxiliary Territorial Service was the women's branch of the Army and was formed in 1938. It remained in place until 1949. From here, it was incorporated into the Women's Royal Army Corps. With conscription coming into place for women from 1941, they were given the choice of which sector they would prefer to join (either the forces or within industry). Whether this be the ATS, the Navy or the Air Force. The ATS became one of the largest services occupied by women, totaling at more than 250,000 members during the war.

Much like other sectors of women's roles within the Second World War, the ATS found its routes located within the First World War. Founded in 1917, women joined what was then called the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. The ATS was then later established in 1938, only 21 years after its First World War counterpart.

Jobs within the ATS varied greatly. At the start of the war and women's entrance into this service, their roles would have been the likes of cooks, storekeepers, clerks, telephonists and translators. These roles would develop as the war went on and would come to involve further duties, a few examples being: drivers, ammunition inspectors, engineers, repairing vehicles, and being involved with the anti-aircraft crew where they would look out for enemy aircraft, track them and aim the searchlights at the aircraft. There was no shortage of roles within this sector. Women would also see themselves being involved with operating a radio and a Morse Code machine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Whilst being able to join the military, women were still not able to receive the same wage as a man who was working at the same rank within the same job sector; they were instead receiving two thirds. Not only did they receive a lower wage, they also did not receive a uniform at the start of the formation of the ATS. The training was also very little. This changed after more women volunteered. More training was established and uniforms began to be issued to those who joined.

Members of the ATS also saw a famous face. The most famous being Queen Elizabeth II (then the Princess Elizabeth). She joined up to the ATS in 1944 when she turned 18 and was trained as a mechanic as well as a driver. Her father, King George, also ensured that she did not receive any special rank upon joining, and instead she rose through the ranks herself and reached the rank of junior commander. She continued her work within the ATS throughout the rest of the war. Another well known woman who joined the ATS was Prime Minister Winston Churchill's Daughter, Mary Churchill. 

 It was not just British recruits who joined the ATS. There were also members who joined from India, the West Indies and the Dominion. Further to this, they also stayed in various places. Some stayed and served in the Caribbean. Others went to work in back in Britain, and some even went to carry out their service in America.

Numbers of the ATS reached almost 250,000 during the years of the war. More women were allowed to join as the demand for men to join the war effort increased. This was not a job role without it dangers though, and throughout the period of the war, it is said that around 335 women were killed.

After the end of the war, women were able to continue to serve their roles within the Auxiliary Territorial Service. Unlike the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, which was founded in 1917 and ultimately came to an end in 1921. The ATS would then go on to become the Women's Royal Army Corps on 1 February 1949.