WRCNS rate badges - Second WW Period

[RCN]

The rate badges for the WRCNS in the WW2 period were identical to those of the RCN/RCNR/RCNVR, only the colour of the badge was different, being embroidered in blue as their ranks badges & shoulder titles.

The WRCNS did not thave the many rates held by the men & generally their rates were shore service ratings. WRCNS operated in Canada, USA, Newfoundland, overseas in UK, & some saw service in Europe & in the Pacific theatre. Most WRCNS tho served in Canada, USA, & Newfoundland.

Some of their rate badges are illustrated below..

Many WRCNS served in the Signals & Telegraphist branches:

[RCN]

The WRCNS, like their male counterparts, had their own Regulating (Police) branch, & illustrated below is the WRCN Patrolwoman rate badge:

[RCN]

WRCNS Photographer rate badge:

& WRCNS Torpedo rate badge:

[RCN]

WRCNS "star" rate badges, covering several branches, these being:


Officer's Cook

Cook (ratings mess)

General Duties (various duties not covered by rate badges - ie: postal clerk, teletype operator, messenger, chauffer etc)

Officer's Steward

Supply

Writer

Motor Transport (drivers & mechanics)

[RCN]

When the WRCNS were established in Aug 1942, initially they wore a blue & white wide brim felt hat (similar to a man's wide brim hat of the period) with a WRCNS cap ribbon.

Later, in 1943, this WRCNS ribbon was replaced by the standard wartime HMCS issue.

[RCN]

Here is a couple photos of the WRCNS wearing the blue & white hats whilst training at HMSC Conestoga in Galt, Ontario, 1942.

[RCN]

A photo of CPO MAA (Chief Master At Arms) Sanderson.

She is wearing the blue felt hat with CPO cap badge, & MAA rate badges on her tunic lapels.

Sanderson was the first WRCN CPO & a member of the first class of WRCNS to be trained at Kingsmill House in Ottawa. She subsequently served at HMCS Conestoga for two years, then at HMCS Niobe, Glasgow, UK. She was awarded the BEM in June 1945.

& I have added another photo of MAA Sanderson (right) in a photo with a Second Officer(left) & a Third Officer{Supply branch} (Centre).
You can see clearly Sanderson's MAA badges on the lapels of her tunic. Her shoulder titles are the WRCNS pattern.

[RCN]

Here are some Photographs of the WRCNS wartime blue felt hat.

This is the hat worn by the WRCNS in 1942-43 period, & is being worn by MAA Sanderson in the photo above. If the WRCN was below the rank PO she wore the WRCNS cap ribbon. The WRCNS ribbon was replaced by the standard wartime HMCS ribbon in later 1943. You can see in the photo above CPO Sanderson is wearing the CPO cap badge.

The wide brim felt hats were found impractical in windy weather (which in some parts of Canada is quite common, especially on the coasts), so this hat was replaced by the flat top cap as shown in the next post.

[RCN]

Photographs of the blue "seaman" cap that replaced the felt hat circa late '43.

This cap was similar to the cap worn by ratings, but was softer,(not a firm hard shell as the seamans caps were) & somewhat smaller, that is, this cap could be folded up & put in one's pocket should need be. Some examples have wire stiffeners inside the top. The cap ribbon was the standard wartime HMCS

This cap survived when the WRCNS was re-instituted in 1952.

[Raymond Gilbert]

A fine group of pictures and information on this group. I have given some WREN material to the Dundas, Ontario Museum. This museum is building up a Canadian Navy collection. The material from this forum will be most useful to them.

[RCN]

Here are two photos of a WRCN wearing the wide brim hat, the sailor type of cap. Both 1943.

[RCN]

A couple more photos of WRCNS wearing the wide brim hat - the photo on the left they are wearing the light blue summer uniform. You can also see the specialist rate stars (shown earlier in this topic) on their right sleeves.

In the two right photos - lower photo - the WRCN on the left is wearing the summer uniform but her skirt is too high, the skirt had to be below the knees. Its possible she had not pulled her skirt down, (perhaps they had just been sitting) but if MAA Sanderson had caught her she would be doing some punishment time for certain!

[RCN]

& here is a photo of the Ship's Company at Divisions, HMCS Conestoga - Galt, Ontario, 1943.

The last company (4th at the rear) has just arrived & are still in civvies.

[RCN]

During the war the WRCNS produced their own magazine. This was separate form the RCN Crowsnest magazine, also produced during the war.

The WRCNS magazine was entitled "The Tiddley Times" & came out every two months. It started circa 1943 & ran until Dec 1945. Size was 5 1/2 x 7", much smaller than the Crowsnest magazine of the day.

These magazines are very rarely seen today.

A couple issues are illustrated below............

[servicepub]

Thnx for the great pix. For a few more photos of WRCNS (and other women in uniform) go to http://www.servicepub.com/women.htm
Clive