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Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) (1951 - 1985)

Go to Gallery Page Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC)
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Function: Armed services organisation

The Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) was established in April 1951 to help overcome a manpower shortage. During the late 1970s female soldiers began to be integrated into the Army at large and in early 1985, the WRAAC was disbanded. The last Officers' Cadet School parade (6 December 1984) on the WRAAC School parade ground saw the Officer Cadets and the WRAAC Contingent marching to the strains of "Soldiers of the Queen". Prior to the formal closing of the gates the WRAAC School flag was ceremoniously lowered and slow marched "off", to be folded and handed over to the Chief Instructor of the WRAAC School for safe keeping. The gates, which had been repainted for the occasion, were then closed by Major Diane McVicker of the WRAAC School and Mrs Gwen Ellis - sister of Colonel Best.

The WRAAC Prayer was also included in the ceremony:

Almighty God, we ask you to reveal yourself in the fullness of your love to all who reach out to you. Help us to recognise ourselves as your children. Let the day soon dawn when we will allow your love to right every wrong.

Give us the courage and self control to play our part as members of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps to help your kingdom come on earcth. Lead us in the pathway of life as your own wisdom and love see best: we are anxious only to do your will.

We ask you to give us the grace to rise above temptation, to be patient when tired, to be kind and helpful towards others.

To all members of our Army grant the special blessing that we need. Preserve us from selfishness. Bless every member of our Corps, our families and friends.

We come to you as children to our Father, asking these and all other blessing, in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.


Details
URL: The home page for this entity is located at http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/structure/awas.htm
Alternative Names:
  • Womens Australian Army Corps (WAAC) (former name)

Events
25 March 1950

Submission made to the Military Board, with consideration being given for the reintroduction of women into the Australian Regular Army (ARA) and Citizens Military Forces (CMF)

15 July 1950

Cabinet approved the reintroduction of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). The Service was to be raised as an entirely separate unit, and not integrated with the male CMF.

1 December 1950

Approval given for the enlistment of 250 personnel.

February 1951

Decision made to discontinue AAMWS as a separate Service.

12 February 1951 - 15 November 1957

Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen Best, a former matron of the AANS, commenced duty as the first Director at AHO.

23 April 1951

Major Lucy Crane appointed Assistant Director of the WAAC.

23 April 1951

WO Pat Rawlings became the first Chief Instructor for the recruit training course.

23 April 1951 - 23 April 1961

Colonel Sybil Irving appointed as first Honorary Colonel of WAAC.

June 1951

The prefix 'Royal' granted by His Majestry King George VI, in recognition of the AWAS wartime service, thereby becoming Womens Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC).

June 1951

Approval given for defining two Corps of the women's side of the ARA. 1. RAANC and 2. WAAC.

6 December 1951

Approval given for the introduction of the WRAAC in to the Citizens Military Forces (CMF).

1952

Major Crane appointed Chief Instructor for the Officer Refresher Course. Later appointed as Chief Instructor for the Officer's Qualifying Course held for Non-Commissioned Officers who had previously been servicewomen.

September 1952

Announcement that the period of engagement (3 or 6 years) and training for women would be brought in line with their male counterparts.

September 1952

Lieutenant-Colonel Best was promoted to Colonel.

1 January 1953 - 1985

Her Royal Highness, The Princess Margaret, C.I., G.C.V.O. appointed by Her Majesty The Queen as Colonel-in-Chief of the WRAAC.

1954

Queen Elizabeth 11 visited Australia. WRAAC personnel participated in events around the country.

5 December 1955 - 2 December 1957

Colonel Dawn Jackson appointed deputy director of WRAAC

February 1956

An alliance between the WRAAC and the Womens Royal Army Corps (WRAC), approved by Her Majestry the Queen.

26 April 1956

Colonel Irving reappointed as Honorary Colonel

October 1956

WRAAC and RAANC personnel participated as usherettes etc. at the Melbourne Olympic Games.

15 November 1957

Colonel Best died aged 47 years.

2 December 1957 - February 1972

Colonel Dawn Jackson appointed director of WRAAC

August 1958

Approval given for the adoption by the WRAAC of a Corps flag.

1959

The main gates at WRAAC School were designed and named in honour of Colonel Best - "the Kathleen Best Memorial Gateway".

18 May 1959

The Corps recognised as a permanent part of the Defence structure.

14 December 1959

Members of the WRAAC became eligible to contribute to the Defence Forces Retirement Benefit Fund.

23 April 1961

Colonel Irving retires as Honorary Colonel.

26 April 1961 - April 1966

Lieutenant Colonel May Douglas appointed Honorary Colonel.

3 February 1967 - 1 June 1985

Lady Helen Cutler appointed Honorary Colonel.

November 1967

First detachment of WRAAC on overseas duty to Singapore. Seven WRAAC posted for 12 months service with 121 Signals Squadron.

23 February 1972 - 4 July 1977

Colonel Kathleen Fowler appointed Director of Corps.

24 March 1973

Honorary Colonel Sybil H Irving dies.

1974

Married women with children under 16 years are permitted to serve.

5 July 1977 - 14 Mar. 1979

Colonel Barbara Maxwell appointed Director

1979

Posting of Director abolished.

March 1979 - 1981

Colonel Dulcie Verinder appointed Head of Corps.

1980

Graduates are no longer allocated to WRAAC, but rather to the corps in which they are to serve.

1981 - 12 November 1982

Colonel Pam Smith replaces Colonel Verinder

12 November 1982

Lieutenant Colonel Pam Smith appointed Service Women's Advisor to CGS.

12 November 1982

Colonel Margaret Fleming appointed to replace Colonel Smith.

1983

WRAAC members swap their buttons and badges for those of the Corps in which they served.

5 December 1984

Final course of Recruits and Officer Cadets march out of WRAAC School.

31 January 1985

WRAAC School disbanded. Female officer cadets attend OCS Portsea.

13 May 1985

The only member of the WRAAC to serve through the entire life of the Corps was WO2 Joyce Cole (Hogan) who retired aged 60 years. WO2 was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Defence Force Service Medal and Bar

1986

Female cadets are trained at the Royal Military College Duntroon or the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

 
Sources used to compile this entry: A Stroll Down Memory Lane: A Brief History of the Womens Royal Australian Army Corps, Women's Royal Australian Army Corps Association, http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/structure/awas.htm accessed 2002-11-24.
 
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Top of Page
Published Resources

Books

  • Bomford, Janette, Soldiers of the Queen : women in the Australian Army, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Vic., 2001, 183 pp. [ Details... ]
  • WRAAC Association, A Stroll down memory lane, 2001, 38 pp. [ Details... ]

See also

  • 'Vale - Barbara Edwina Audrey Starrett (nee Maxwell) Colonel and Last Director of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps', Best Times, August, 1991, 1991. [ Details... ]
  • Ollif, Lorna, Colonel Best and her soldiers: The Story of the 33 years of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps, Ollif Publishing Company, Hornsby, NSW, 1985, 249 pp. [ Details... ]
  • Southwell-Keely, Michael, 'Australian Servicewomen's Memorial', in War Memorials in Australia, July 2000, http://www.skp.com.au/memorials/pages/00018.htm. [ Details... ]

Google
Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: Anne Heywood
Created: 25 November 2002
Modified: 4 September 2008

Published by National Foundation for Australian Women on Australian Women's Archives Project Web Site
Comments, questions, corrections and additions: awap@womenaustralia.info
Prepared by: Acknowledgements
Updated: 4 September 2008
http://womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE0388b.htm

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