Auxiliary Territorial Service

Auxiliary Territorial Service. The Auxiliary Territorial Service was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. Formed in September 1938, it played a vital role in releasing men for frontline combat duties across all theatres of the war. Its members served in a wide array of essential support roles, from driving and clerical work to operating anti-aircraft guns, and it was the direct predecessor of the Women's Royal Army Corps.

History

The service was established on 9 September 1938, as tensions escalated in the lead-up to the Second World War, evolving from the earlier Women's Auxiliary Army Corps of the First World War. Its formation was overseen by the War Office and it was initially placed under the command of Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, a noted botanist and former head of the Women's Royal Air Force. Following the outbreak of war, the service expanded rapidly, with its numbers growing from under 20,000 in 1939 to over 200,000 by 1943, as chronicled by the official historian Terry Charman. Members served with distinction during critical events like the Battle of Britain, the Blitz, and the Normandy landings, with some personnel deployed to theatres including North Africa, Italy, and Southeast Asia. In 1941, it was granted full military status by an Act of Parliament, and it was officially disbanded on 1 February 1949, with its functions and personnel transferred to the newly created Women's Royal Army Corps.

Organisation and structure

The service was organised into companies and battalions, integrated within the structure of the British Army and under the ultimate authority of the War Office. Its leadership was headed by a Chief Controller, with notable holders of the position including Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan and later Jean Knox. The service was divided into various directorates responsible for different functions, such as training, personnel, and technical trades. Key training centres were established at locations like Guildford and Ilfracombe, where recruits underwent basic instruction. A parallel officer corps was developed, with ranks such as Senior Commander and Chief Controller, mirroring but distinct from traditional army ranks like Major-General or Brigadier. The service maintained close working relationships with other women's auxiliaries, including the Women's Royal Naval Service and the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.

Roles and duties

Initially, members were restricted to domestic and clerical tasks, such as cooking, typing, and telephony, to free men for combat roles in units like the Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers. As the war progressed, the range of duties expanded dramatically following a pivotal review by the National Service Act 1941. Members became drivers for the Royal Army Service Corps, operated radar and searchlight equipment, and served as plotter-operators in anti-aircraft command centres. In a highly significant development from 1941, they were permitted to crew ack-ack guns, though they were prohibited from actually firing them under the Geneva Conventions. Other technical roles included working as armourers, mechanics, and postal operators, providing crucial support for major operations like the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Burma campaign.

Uniforms and insignia

The initial uniform consisted of a khaki tunic, a skirt, and a distinctive side cap, which was widely satirised in publications like *Punch*. This was later supplemented with battledress for those in technical and outdoor roles. Rank insignia for officers used a system of diamonds and crowns, worn on shoulder straps, while other ranks wore chevrons on their sleeves. Specialist trade badges, such as a wheel for drivers or crossed guns for anti-aircraft operatives, were worn on the lower sleeve. Headgear options included the field service cap or, for other ranks, a beret. The service's insignia and uniform distinctions were formally outlined in regulations from the War Office and were designed to be clearly identifiable from those of the Royal Marines or the Home Guard.

Notable members

Many women who served later achieved prominence in diverse fields. Mary Churchill, daughter of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, served as a map plotter. The renowned archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon worked as a photo-interpreter. Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II, trained as a driver and mechanic. The novelist Rosamond Lehmann worked in a clerical capacity. Dame Laura Knight, an official war artist, painted scenes of service life. The pioneering police officer Dame Lilian Barker served as a senior administrator. Other notable figures included the actress Phyllis Calvert, the Labour politician Edith Summerskill, and the writer Noel Streatfeild. Their collective service helped transform public perceptions of women's roles in society and the military.

Category:British Army Category:Women in World War II Category:Military units and formations established in 1938 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1949