What is the W.A.D.C.? - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Brian Conyngham · #1 03-09-15, 09:15 PM

Hi Guys

I need some help, recently acquired a group of medals to a lady in the W.A.A.S.

However in her papers it shows her Corps as W.A.D.C. unit W.A.A.S.

Never seen W.A.D.C. before, can anyone please assist?

Regards
Brian

Arthur R · #2 03-09-15, 10:01 PM

WADC was the Women's Auxiliary Defence Corps, the "umbrella" corps for the four women's services in WWII :
- Women's Auxiliary Air Force (est 1940)
- Women's Auxiliary Army Service (est 1940)
- Women's Auxiliary Military Police Corps (est 1942)
- Women's Auxiliary Naval Service (est 1943).

milhistry · #3 04-09-15, 05:46 AM

Did the SA Military Nursing Service fall under the Director-General of Medical Services or under the WADC? I was just wondering whether there were any male nurses back then and if all the nurses were female, whether it would've been regarded as a Womens Aux. unit or a medical one?

Arthur R · #4 04-09-15, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milhistry

Did the SA Military Nursing Service fall under the Director-General of Medical Services or under the WADC? I was just wondering whether there were any male nurses back then and if all the nurses were female, whether it would've been regarded as a Womens Aux. unit or a medical one?

AFAIK, the SAMNS was not part of the WADC, but I'm open to correction. SAMNS already existed before the war, and continued to exist after the war, whereas the WADC was a wartime setup, and its post-war successor, the Women's Defence Corps, didn't last very long because defence minister Erasmus didn't approve of women serving in the army or air force.

Brian Conyngham · #5 05-09-15, 09:57 AM

Thanks Arthur

I have the SA Defence Force abbreviation book and it is not even in there?

Thank you.

Brian

Milmed · #6 05-09-15, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milhistry

Did the SA Military Nursing Service fall under the Director-General of Medical Services or under the WADC? I was just wondering whether there were any male nurses back then and if all the nurses were female, whether it would've been regarded as a Womens Aux. unit or a medical one?

SAMNS was an all female unit formed 1914 and disbanded 1972, when merged into the SA Medical Service. Male nurses were members of SA Medical Corps.