ATS.....

[Voltigeur]

An ATS FANY driver sits in the cab of her lorry as she receives her instructions for the day from her ATS colleague at the ATS MTC training centre at Camberley in 1941.

http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib...at=photographs

http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib...at=photographs

[Eddie Parks]

It's very hard to read the badges exactly, but I would say that's an ATS driver receiving orders from an ATS officer who has previously served in FANY and thus is allowed to retain her FANY flashes. You can see she's also wearing her chin strap over the top of her cap, another FANY tradition, and a FANY Sam Browne with no cross-strap.

Eddie - son of a wartime FANY trooper who was required to take an ATS commission and wore that badge combination.

[Voltigeur]

Eddie....she was "required" to take an ATS commission..????

Jo

[Eddie Parks]

Perhaps "made an offer she couldn't refuse" would be a better way of putting it.

She was a serving FANY trooper in 1939 and was mobilised to serve in a FANY Motor Company in Northern Ireland. FANY had many priveledges not recognised in the army. They did not differentiate between the ranks when off duty, for instance, they had no officers' or OR's messes. FANY ORs were allowed access to army officers' messes. Which was helpful if they were engaged to an officer - as my mother was

After the formation of the ATS service in the ranks of FANY was clearly a more attractive proposition for most of those who would have formed the initial ATS officer corps. In order to get the whole thing on a working basis FANY's priveledges were withdrawn and members were given the choice of accepting commissions in the ATS or remaining as ORS. It was made clear that once the choice was made there would be no second chance. They were allowed to retain certain uniform distinctions.

None of this, of course, applies to the "Free FANYs" who worked with SOE etc.

Eddie

[BlueBadger]

With your permission, if love to use the photo of your Mum for my research for a book on British women's uniforms of ww2. I think her photo in uniform would be a splendid addition to illustrate the transitional period of many of the women into the ATS. I plan to cover every job and uniform held during ww2, including civilian auxiliaries. Shoot me a PM if you are interested.

Regards, Jeff

[jean-paul Vermersch]

Hello Voltigeur
Ces jolies filles me font penser à la chanson de Roy Orbinson:
"Pretty woman"......
Mais soyons sérieux. C'est la guerre......

Content de voir un message de votre part.

These pretty girls remind me of Roy Orbinson's song:
"Pretty woman" ......
But let's be serious. It's the war......

Glad to see a message from you.

Jean-Paul

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by BlueBadger

With your permission, if love to use the photo of your Mum for my research for a book on British women's uniforms of ww2. I think her photo in uniform would be a splendid addition to illustrate the transitional period of many of the women into the ATS. I plan to cover every job and uniform held during ww2, including civilian auxiliaries. Shoot me a PM if you are interested.

Regards, Jeff

Would you like a picture of the (very attractive) Cpl Early ATS (badged Int Corps)? I bought her uniform and documents about 15 years ago for the Int Corps Museum. She worked at Bletchley Park. Mike

[Eddie Parks]

Jeff,
If you want to us my mother's picture that's fine. At that time she was Trooper Hilda Cowdy.
Eddie