Women's Royal Naval Service

The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS, popularly known as 'Wrens') was a non-combat branch of the United Kingdom Royal Navy that recruited women.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Royal Navy

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Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, and electricians. It was formed in 1916 during the First World War, and by the end of the war had 5,500 people, 500 of them officers.

Related Topics:
Cooks - Clerk - Wireless telegraphist - Electrician - 1916 - First World War

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It was revived during the Second World War, with an expanded list of allowable activities, including flying transport planes. At its peak in 1944 it had 75,000 people. During the war there were 100 deaths. It was eventually wound down again in the 1950s, and was finally integrated into the regular Royal Navy in 1993. One of the slogans used in recruiting posters was "Join the Wrens -- free a man for the fleet."

Related Topics:
Second World War - 1944 - 1950s - 1993 - Slogan

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