Women and War in Britain in the Twentieth Century
This series delves into the experiences of women taking on essential roles during First and Second World Wars in Britain, both within the military and as labourers in the fields. It brings together images and transcripts from original records held at The National Archives related to the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS or Wrens), the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF), and the Women’s Land Army (Land Girls).
Key facts
1917-1945
Date range
More than
487,000
Images
More than
187,000
Transcribed entries
Source
Enrolment form to the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps from The National Archives' series WO 398
About this series
Until the First World War, women’s official involvement in the war duties in Britain was largely confined to nursing roles, a tradition that continued from 1914 onwards. However, the outbreak of the Great War marked a significant shift, as women became an essential part of the nations’ war effort in various capacities. Women took on essential roles across society, under the premise of enabling more men to be released for combat. This series brings together over 487,000 images and over 187,000 transcribed entries related to the experiences of women during the First and Second World Wars and their involvement as part of the British state-led military and labour initiatives. This collection focuses on women in Britain through British records, although occasionally women of other nationalities (often daughters or wives of British citizens) are also represented.
In order to coordinate women’s military duties, organisations such as the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS or Wrens) and the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) were established. Women stepped into diverse positions, including as clerks, cooks, drivers, messengers, and telephonists, as well as more specialised roles like electricians, wireless telegraphists, code breakers, tinsmiths, and carpenters. They also served as stewards, despatch riders, photographers, metal workers, motorcyclists, tailoresses, shoemakers, and even intelligence operatives. Although recruitment campaigns often framed roles as a way to ‘free men from soft jobs’ so they could serve on the front lines, their contributions spanned virtually every area of support, showcasing the breadth and relevance of their involvement during this transformative period.
Women also contributed vital labour beyond the military. A prominent example is the Women’s Land Army, colloquially known as the ‘Land Girls’. Established during the First World War to replace male farmers and agricultural workers, its primary aim was to boost food production to support the war effort. Revived in 1939 with the outbreak of another global conflict looming, the Women’s Land Army became a key institution during the Second World War. Members undertook a wide range of roles, including ploughing fields, dairy farming, rat catching, cultivating fruit and vegetables, and operating and repairing machinery.
Bringing together documents from three military and one civil organisation (WAAC, WRNS, WRAF, and Women’s Land Army), the records in this collection include application forms, medical examinations, uniform assignments, and personal references, among others. They offer rich insights into the physical descriptions, medical histories, educational backgrounds, and work experiences of thousands of women involved in the war efforts in different capacities between 1914 and 1945. As such, this series is an invaluable resource for social, military, and gender historians, shedding light on the lives and contributions of women during a pivotal moment in history.
Until the First World War, women’s official involvement in the war duties in Britain was largely confined to nursing roles, a tradition that continued from 1914 onwards. However, the outbreak of the Great War marked a significant shift, as women became an essential part of the nations’ war effort in various capacities. Women took on essential roles across society, under the premise of enabling more men to be released for combat. This series brings together over 487,000 images and over 187,000 transcribed entries related to the experiences of women during the First and Second World Wars and their involvement as part of the British state-led military and labour initiatives. This collection focuses on women in Britain through British records, although occasionally women of other nationalities (often daughters or wives of British citizens) are also represented.
In order to coordinate women’s military duties, organisations such as the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS or Wrens) and the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) were established. Women stepped into diverse positions, including as clerks, cooks, drivers, messengers, and telephonists, as well as more specialised roles like electricians, wireless telegraphists, code breakers, tinsmiths, and carpenters. They also served as stewards, despatch riders, photographers, metal workers, motorcyclists, tailoresses, shoemakers, and even intelligence operatives. Although recruitment campaigns often framed roles as a way to ‘free men from soft jobs’ so they could serve on the front lines, their contributions spanned virtually every area of support, showcasing the breadth and relevance of their involvement during this transformative period.
Women also contributed vital labour beyond the military. A prominent example is the Women’s Land Army, colloquially known as the ‘Land Girls’. Established during the First World War to replace male farmers and agricultural workers, its primary aim was to boost food production to support the war effort. Revived in 1939 with the outbreak of another global conflict looming, the Women’s Land Army became a key institution during the Second World War. Members undertook a wide range of roles, including ploughing fields, dairy farming, rat catching, cultivating fruit and vegetables, and operating and repairing machinery.
Bringing together documents from three military and one civil organisation (WAAC, WRNS, WRAF, and Women’s Land Army), the records in this collection include application forms, medical examinations, uniform assignments, and personal references, among others. They offer rich insights into the physical descriptions, medical histories, educational backgrounds, and work experiences of thousands of women involved in the war efforts in different capacities between 1914 and 1945. As such, this series is an invaluable resource for social, military, and gender historians, shedding light on the lives and contributions of women during a pivotal moment in history.
Reference questionnaire part of a 1919 enrolment form to join the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (The National Archives, series WO 398)
Letter sent to officer Olga Franklin terminating their appointment in the WRNS after the end of First World War (The National Archives, ADM 318/111)
Record sets
British Army, Women's Army Auxiliary Corps 1917-1920
British Women's Royal Naval Service Ratings' Service Registers 1918-1919
British Women's Royal Naval Service Officer Files 1917-1919
British Women's Royal Air Force Service Records 1918-1920
England & Wales, Women's Land Army Service Cards 1939-1950
Highlights
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was first established in 1917. It soon received royal patronage from the queen consort, Mary of Teck, and on 9 April 1918 its name was changed to the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC). The QMAAC was disbanded on 27 September 1921. Approximately 57,000 women served with the WAAC/QMAAC during First World War. Each woman worked in one of four sections: cookery, clerical, mechanical, and miscellaneous. Women in the cookery section were responsible for preparing meals in camps and hospitals, as well as serving food in dining facilities. The clerical section provided essential administrative support to the war offices, including tasks that required specialised skills in typing and shorthand. In the mechanical section, women contributed to the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, working both on-site at breakdowns and in factories to construct new vehicles. These contributions were vital to sustaining military operations.
The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was first established in 1917. It soon received royal patronage from the queen consort, Mary of Teck, and on 9 April 1918 its name was changed to the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC). The QMAAC was disbanded on 27 September 1921. Approximately 57,000 women served with the WAAC/QMAAC during First World War. Each woman worked in one of four sections: cookery, clerical, mechanical, and miscellaneous. Women in the cookery section were responsible for preparing meals in camps and hospitals, as well as serving food in dining facilities. The clerical section provided essential administrative support to the war offices, including tasks that required specialised skills in typing and shorthand. In the mechanical section, women contributed to the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, working both on-site at breakdowns and in factories to construct new vehicles. These contributions were vital to sustaining military operations.
Women's Royal Naval Service
Women's Royal Naval Service
In 1917, the Royal Navy became the first of the British armed forces to recruit women. The Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS or Wrens) was set up to be a shore service, and women were recruited as cooks, stewards, despatch riders, sailmakers, clerks, drivers, wireless telegraphists, code experts, electricians, and in Intelligence, among other roles. Initially, it was believed that women could be recruited from around the main naval bases so that they wouldn’t need to leave home, but soon there were applications from all over the British Isles and beyond. Divisions were soon established in every major port and eventually spread to Ireland and to the Mediterranean. By the end of the war, there were 5,500 members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service, with 500 officers. Additionally, around 2,000 members of the WRAF had served in the Wrens supporting the Royal Naval Air Service before being transferred when the WRAF was created. The Wrens were disbanded in 1919 but reformed in 1939 with an expanded list of activities, including flying transport planes. At their peak in 1944, there were 75,000 members. The Wrens were eventually integrated into the regular Navy in 1993.
In 1917, the Royal Navy became the first of the British armed forces to recruit women. The Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS or Wrens) was set up to be a shore service, and women were recruited as cooks, stewards, despatch riders, sailmakers, clerks, drivers, wireless telegraphists, code experts, electricians, and in Intelligence, among other roles. Initially, it was believed that women could be recruited from around the main naval bases so that they wouldn’t need to leave home, but soon there were applications from all over the British Isles and beyond. Divisions were soon established in every major port and eventually spread to Ireland and to the Mediterranean. By the end of the war, there were 5,500 members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service, with 500 officers. Additionally, around 2,000 members of the WRAF had served in the Wrens supporting the Royal Naval Air Service before being transferred when the WRAF was created. The Wrens were disbanded in 1919 but reformed in 1939 with an expanded list of activities, including flying transport planes. At their peak in 1944, there were 75,000 members. The Wrens were eventually integrated into the regular Navy in 1993.
Women's Royal Air Force
Women's Royal Air Force
The Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) was created on 1 April 1918, the same date as the Royal Air Force. Volunteers from the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps, Women’s Royal Naval Service, Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Women’s Legion were invited to join the new WRAF. Members of the WRAF were either mobiles or immobiles. The immobiles lived at home and were contracted to work at their local station in their neighbourhood. In lieu of food and accommodation they were given an allowance in addition to their rate of pay. The mobile members lived in quarters on or near the base and could be transferred anywhere. Most of the WRAF were based in Britain, but after 1919 about 500 women were sent to serve in Germany and France. There were four categories of work for members of the WRAF: clerks and typists; household such as cooks, waitresses and domestic workers; technical roles such as tinsmiths, photographers, metal workers, wireless operators and carpenters; and lastly non-technical or general jobs, which included tailoresses, shoemakers and motor cyclists. Compared to other services the WRAF and the RAF worked closely together. By the end of the war the women of the WRAF were receiving orders directly from the RAF. In 1920, the WRAF was disbanded, but the organisation paved the way for future female pilots and servicewomen.
The Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) was created on 1 April 1918, the same date as the Royal Air Force. Volunteers from the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps, Women’s Royal Naval Service, Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Women’s Legion were invited to join the new WRAF. Members of the WRAF were either mobiles or immobiles. The immobiles lived at home and were contracted to work at their local station in their neighbourhood. In lieu of food and accommodation they were given an allowance in addition to their rate of pay. The mobile members lived in quarters on or near the base and could be transferred anywhere. Most of the WRAF were based in Britain, but after 1919 about 500 women were sent to serve in Germany and France. There were four categories of work for members of the WRAF: clerks and typists; household such as cooks, waitresses and domestic workers; technical roles such as tinsmiths, photographers, metal workers, wireless operators and carpenters; and lastly non-technical or general jobs, which included tailoresses, shoemakers and motor cyclists. Compared to other services the WRAF and the RAF worked closely together. By the end of the war the women of the WRAF were receiving orders directly from the RAF. In 1920, the WRAF was disbanded, but the organisation paved the way for future female pilots and servicewomen.
Women’s Land Army
Women’s Land Army
The Women’s Land Army was a civilian organisation originally set up in 1917, founded to replace male farmers and farmworkers during the First World War. Their main objective was to increase food production to support the war effort, and thousands of women joined the WLA and became affectionately known as ‘Land Girls’. The organisation was disbanded in November 1919. In early summer 1939, with the prospect of war becoming increasingly likely, the British government wanted to increase the amount of food grown but, with the introduction of conscription, men were being called away to fight and there was a shortage of workers on the farms. The WLA was reinstated in June 1939 under the command of Lady Denman. Initially recruits were volunteers but, with the introduction of the National Service Act in December 1941, women were conscripted to the WLA. Over 200,000 Land Girls served in the WLA between June 1939 and November 1950. The Land Girls were recruited from cities, towns, and the countryside, often with little to no agricultural experience. They undertook several roles including ploughing the land, dairy production, rat catching, growing fruit and vegetables, and driving and fixing machinery. In 1942, a branch of the WLA called the Women’s Timber Corps was set up to source and prepare wood. These women became known as ‘Lumber Jills’. The WLA continued to operate beyond the end of the Second World War, officially disbanding in November 1950.
The Women’s Land Army was a civilian organisation originally set up in 1917, founded to replace male farmers and farmworkers during the First World War. Their main objective was to increase food production to support the war effort, and thousands of women joined the WLA and became affectionately known as ‘Land Girls’. The organisation was disbanded in November 1919. In early summer 1939, with the prospect of war becoming increasingly likely, the British government wanted to increase the amount of food grown but, with the introduction of conscription, men were being called away to fight and there was a shortage of workers on the farms. The WLA was reinstated in June 1939 under the command of Lady Denman. Initially recruits were volunteers but, with the introduction of the National Service Act in December 1941, women were conscripted to the WLA. Over 200,000 Land Girls served in the WLA between June 1939 and November 1950. The Land Girls were recruited from cities, towns, and the countryside, often with little to no agricultural experience. They undertook several roles including ploughing the land, dairy production, rat catching, growing fruit and vegetables, and driving and fixing machinery. In 1942, a branch of the WLA called the Women’s Timber Corps was set up to source and prepare wood. These women became known as ‘Lumber Jills’. The WLA continued to operate beyond the end of the Second World War, officially disbanding in November 1950.
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Editorial Board
This series provides access to invaluable material for the study of the female experience of war in Britain during the first half of the twentieth century. It’s an unmissable resource for researchers and students alike.
Dr Paula Del Val Vales
Editorial Associate at The Social History Archive