Women at War: The ATS, WRNS, and WAAF

Breaking Barriers

When war broke out in 1939, the British government had already established three women's auxiliary services: the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) for the Army, the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS, known as "Wrens"), and the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). Over the course of the war, more than 640,000 women served in these organisations, performing roles that ranged from clerical work to anti-aircraft operations.

The ATS

The ATS was the largest of the women's services, with over 190,000 members at its peak. Women served as drivers, cooks, telephone operators, and most notably as members of anti-aircraft batteries. Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) joined the ATS in 1945 as a driver and mechanic.

The WRNS

The Wrens served in roles ranging from communications and plotting to the maintenance of naval torpedoes. They worked at the Admiralty and at naval bases across the country and overseas. Some Wrens operated the "bombes" — the machines that helped break the German Enigma code at Bletchley Park.

The WAAF

The WAAF performed vital roles in Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, operating radar stations and plotting enemy aircraft movements. WAAF plotters were the ones who placed the markers on the famous operations room maps that guided fighter squadrons to intercept incoming raids.

Legacy

The contribution of women in the auxiliary services fundamentally changed British society's view of women's capabilities. Their service paved the way for women's integration into the regular armed forces, which was finally achieved in the decades following the war.