British grandmother enlisted in CWAC?

[Zamdrist]

This is my grandmother, who was a British citizen and living in or around London until 1946 before she married my grandfather, a US serviceman at Westminster Abbey.

I believe she is wearing a CWAC uniform, the Canadian Women's Army Corps. If this is true, and it looks to be, how is it a British woman of around 19-20 came to enlist in this particular corps? Sure, she would have been eligible I suppose, by way of the commonwealth, but I don't have any solid information she was ever in Canada. Was it unheard of for British women to join Canadian units, even those living in Britain? Thanks.

[servicepub]

DND actually set aside a block of Regimental Numbers for CWACs enrolled in the UK. Do you have her ID tags or paperwork?

[Zamdrist]

Originally Posted by servicepub

DND actually set aside a block of Regimental Numbers for CWACs enrolled in the UK. Do you have her ID tags or paperwork?

DND?

I don't, unfortunately. I hope to dig up any official documentation, whatever there is, about her service. It was brief, no more than three years I believe. I have her full name and a likely last known address in the UK.

Thanks.

[LLWill]

DND?
Department of National Defense

Larry

[REMEVMBEA1]

Is it possible she was in the ATS attached to the CWAC as ATS did wear collar badges of the unit they were attached to?

[Bill A]

Hi, the tunic appears to be a CWAC tunic. Note the CWAC buttons, and the different coloured shoulder straps. The CWAC wore a tan uniform with beech brown epaulets and beech brown backing on the titles and nco's rank badges.

[Zamdrist]

If she was enlisted as a CWAC member, would there be any kind of official record that can be obtained? I'm not expecting a good deal of information, simply a date window and recognition of service, you know? I've seen similar things for US services.

[servicepub]

Originally Posted by Zamdrist

If she was enlisted as a CWAC member, would there be any kind of official record that can be obtained? I'm not expecting a good deal of information, simply a date window and recognition of service, you know? I've seen similar things for US services.

If she is deceased you may be able to get a copy of her service file from the Library & Archives Canada. (LAC) They have a comprehensive web-page which explains the process and criteria.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/g...909.007-e.html

[Zamdrist]

Originally Posted by servicepub

If she is deceased you may be able to get a copy of her service file from the Library & Archives Canada. (LAC) They have a comprehensive web-page which explains the process and criteria.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/g...909.007-e.html

Excellent, thank you!

[Zamdrist]

Just wanted to follow up and say thank you again for the assistance. I received a great amount of information back from the Canadian Library and Archives.

In fact, learned the reason she, a British citizen, joined the CWAC rather than just the regular British service. She was married to a Canadian station in London, and when called up, joined the CWAC. Plausible enough considering Canada is a Common Wealth of the UK. I imagined they figured after the war they would go to Canada. Turns out the marriage didn't work, and she soon married an American from Wisconsin. This I had know, but the marriage to the Canadian was a surprising and new revelation!

[dougrcoc]

FYI, a total of 152 women were recruited, trained and employed in the UK during WW2. The women were either Canadian citizens or were married to a Canadian soldier.

Of interest, the women wore the FS cap (wedge cap) while under training and those who graduated wore the regular Cap CWAC.

The CWAC training officer was Lt. Madeleine Platt. She wore the Wedge cap with a brown flash in the front.

Unfortunately, I have not come across any documents regarding the local training or wearing the wedge cap. What I have written is based upon official Cdn Army photos.

DT.