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Women's Royal Naval Service, WRNS
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Women's Royal Naval Service was reformed in April 1939, having been disbanded at the end of the Great War. The main objective was to release men for active service with women taking over the shore based tasks. By the end of the war the Wrens numbered 74,000.
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On our 12th Anniversary we would like to thank all those who have contributed to this project.
Research your own Family History.
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June 2011 - Please note we currently have a large backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site.
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We are aware of the issue with missing images, this is due to the redesign of the website, images will reappear as soon as the new version of the page is completed, thank you for your patience.
We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates.
If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.
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If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes.
World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great
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List of those who served with the The Womens Royal Naval Service during The Second World War
Select a story link or scoll down to browse those stories hosted on this website
- Ldg Wren Joan Margaret Ashburner (d.9th Jun 1944)
- First Offcr. Madeline Barclay Read her Story.
- Ldg Wren Margaret Elsie Claire Batchelor (d.9th Jun 1944)
- Elizabeth Laidler "Spelk" Cram Read her Story.
- Pauline Cunliffe Read her Story.
- Dorothy Patricia Dickinson Read her Story.
- Petty Officer Wren Pauline Mary Gompers (d.27th Jul 1945)
- Sheila Hamnett Read her Story.
- 3rd Officer Thelma Daphne Jackson (d.23rd Jul 1944) Read her Story.
- Christian Lamb Read her Story.
- Petty Officer Wren Isobel Florence Squires (d.27th Jul 1945)
- Ldg Wren Pamela Annette Tansley (d.7th Jul 1942)
- Dorothy May Wright Read her Story.
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3rd Officer Thelma Daphne Jackson HMS Shrike (d.23rd Jul 1944) Daphne Jackson was the daughter of Charles Trench Stewart and Norah Eileen Trench Stewart, of Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland. She was married to Sub-Lieut.(A) Arthur Myles Jackson, R.N.V.R. who lost his life at H.M.S. Shrike |
Dorothy Patricia Dickinson My mother Dorothy Patricia Dickinson was in the Wrens. She married my father
Frederick John Cole of 57 Sqd RAF on the 10th April 1944.
Read his story |
Christian Lamb Christian Lamb wrote the book "I only joined for the hat" about her experiences as a wren. |
Elizabeth Laidler "Spelk" Cram I only know my mother Elizabeth Cram was stationed in Ramsgate I believe on searchlights and/or tracking equipment. I can tell very little of her service life but till the day she passed away in 1987 if she was caught unaware by the sound of an air raid siren or "doodlebug" on the TV she would still jump.
If anyone remembers her or has any information I would love to hear from them |
Dorothy May Wright I would like to hear from anyone who remembers my mum, Dorothy Wright as I was conceived while she was in the Wrens at Seaford, I was born when she was 7mths and would like to know if anybody remembers her and who might my father be |
I Only Joined for the Hat Christian Lamb
A wonderfully evocative illustrated memoir that gives the reader a rare account in close-up of what life was truly like for World War II Wrens, as they were catapulted into the drudgery and deprivation, mayhem and maelstrom, and the tribulations and triumphs of war. In 1939, the young Christian Lamb felt she had to 'do her bit' for the war effort. Her comfortable life was about to be turned upside down. With a Naval background, the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) was the obvious choice, besides it had by far the most attractive uniform - topped by the splendid tricorne hat. On joining as a lowly Wren rating she found that this crowning glory was not for her but strictly for officers only. It was to be the first of many nasty surprises. In "I Only Joined For The Hat", the author wittily describes how class and snobbery had no place in a world of girls from all social backgrounds, suddenly plunged into life together. From scrubbing floors and squad drill to coding and catering, ChristMore information on:
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Bellbottoms and Blackouts Louisa M Jenkins
'The big day had arrived and after only three weeks' intensive training Susan passed out and mustered on the parade ground--a fully fledged Wren in the much sought after Communications branch of the service, proudly boasting the Naval flags on the badge on the sleeve of her jacket. There was a gabble of excited noise as the young Wrens, sounding like their feathered namesakes, jostled and pushed each other around the drafting board...' The author tells it like it was, the trials, the tribulations, and the fun--her detailed and humorous account of her experiences as Wren in World War II is both historically informative and delightfully entertaining. More information on:
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British Women's Uniforms in Colour Photographs (World War 2) Martin Brayley & Richard Ingham
This reference book contains the uniforms of the women's services during World War II. Nearly 200 colour photographs of rare, original uniforms from private collections are featured with detailed explanatory text. This really is an extraordinarily good book if you're looking for details of women's uniforms from the WWII period. Every page has a large, clear photograph of a uniform (worn by a modern model, but with 40s styling), plus detail shots of shoes, insignia, berets and so on.More information on:
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The 1940s Look: Recreating the Fashions, Hairstyles and Make-up of the Second World War Mike Brown
"The 1940s Look" tells you everything you need to know about the fashions of wartime Britain and the impact that rationing, the Utility scheme, changing tastes and the demands of everyday life had on the styles people wore. People had to 'Make Do and Mend' - with varying degrees of ingenuity and success. Hair styles, glasses, jewellery, and tattoos were essential in creating your own fashion statement. Women's magazines advised readers on the difficulties of dressing growing children, offered instructions for making clothes and accessories, and hosted debate over whether by dressing up, women were helping or hindering the war effort. Thoroughly researched and lavishly illustrated, "The 1940s Look" tells you how civilian men, women and children dressed - and why they looked the way they did during the Second World War. It draws on contemporary sources including government advice, periodicals and books, and benefits from an entertaining narrative by author Mike Brown.More information on:
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Voices of The Codebreakers: Personal Accounts of the Secret Heroes of World War II Michael Paterson
a comprehensive look at the undercover war, revealing just how much of WWII was won away from the battlefields and how each side desperately tried to get into the 'mind set' of their enemies' code makers.From the British cryptologists to the Navajo Indians whose codes helped win the war against Japan, this book reveals the stories of extraordinary people and their chance finds, lucky accidents, dogged determination and moments of sheer brilliance, to expose how the war was really won.It includes an intriguing glimpse of the early history of the computer - its spectacular uses and subsequent development. It features vivid first-hand accounts from the staff of Bletchley Park, French and Dutch resistance fighters, the American secret agents and members of the Services Liaison Unit who passed on vital coded information to field commanders. It also includes a 16 page plate section with rare archive photographs.More information on:
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Wartime: Britain 1939-1945 Dr Juliet Gardiner
Juliet Gardiner's 'Wartime' provides a marvellously rich, and often entertaining, recreation of life on the Home Front, 1939-45, drawing on an enormous range of oral testimony and memoir.More information on:
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Can you help us to add to our records?
The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them
Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial?
Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area?
If so please let us know.
Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.
Celebrate your own Family History
Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.
Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.
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I Only Joined for the Hat
Bellbottoms and Blackouts
British Women's Uniforms in Colour Photographs (World War 2)
The 1940s Look: Recreating the Fashions, Hairstyles and Make-up of the Second World War 
Voices of The Codebreakers: Personal Accounts of the Secret Heroes of World War II 
Wartime: Britain 1939-1945
