Themes

The Navy's People

• Naval Lives

• In Focus: Women in the Navy

  • The story of the WRNS

  • The Image of Women in the Navy

  • Free a Man for the Fleet

  • Camaraderie

• In Focus: Recreation and Time off

• In Focus: Discipline and Punishment

Learning

• How To: Understand Naval Medals

1917 - 1919

Article highlights

• Women workers

• The Navy's need for women

• Recruitment and training

• Jobs for the girls

• Covering the country

• The end of the War - and the Wrens?

• Life after the Wrens

Jobs for the girls

Wrens were restricted to domestic tasks at first, such as replacing naval cooks and stewards, but the need for their services quickly grew. Laundresses, book keepers, clerks, telegraphists, telephonists, wireless operators, motor drivers and other technical experts were also soon required.

WRNS working in the bakery. (RNM)

The Officers' branches diversified throughout the war, offering women the opportunity to work in Accounts, Administration, Anti-Gas, Cypher, Fleet Mail, Intelligence, Quarters, Secretarial and Signaller work.

The list of potential jobs for ratings became even more diverse as the war progressed. Anti-submarine wire net constructors, depth charge primers, despatch riders, fitters, gyroscope adjusters, mine cleaners, motor drivers, porters in victualling stores, respirator repairers, sailmakers, searchlight lamp and hydrophone maintenance and repairers, and turners could all be found by the end of the conflict.

Related External Links

• BBC Website - Peoples War