Women's Royal Australian Army Corps - History

The formation of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps was to become a reality after World War II. The disbandment of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) in June 1947.

1950
25 March:
Consideration was made to re-establish the three Women's services, by the Australian Government.

15 July:
It was Cabinets decision for the approval of enlistment of women into the Army.

9 August:
A dress committee met on this date in 1950.

Rhys Williams was a former AWAS and was commissioned to design the uniforms.
Rhys was also a fashion designer. Preference was given for the Highland Green.

1951
Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen Best, OBE.,RRC., became the founding Director of the newly formed Women's Australian Army Corps.
Lt-Col. Best, was born in Sydney in 1910, trained as a nurse, specialising in midwifery.
When the Second World War broke out, she enlisted into the Army in 1940. As the youngest Matron, being sent to Greece, Palestine, Egypt and Ethiopia.
After returning to Australia, her position was the appointment of Controller of the VAD's. When the service was re-organised, her position was as Controller of the AAMWS in June 1942.
It was in 1944, Lt-Col. Best returned to civilian life.
When came the selection for Director of the newly formed WAAC. The position was accepted and held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Although in September 1952, her promotion was that of Colonel Best.

23 April:
Colonel Sybil Irving MBE, was appointed Honorary Colonel.
Best known for appointment as Controller of the AWAS, holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Born into a Military family, her father was Major General GG Irving.
Colonel Irving held positions as Secretary of the Girl Guides Association in Victoria, when she was awarded the MBE.
In 1940, she became the Assistant Secretary of the Red Cross in Victoria, holding that position until 1951.
Lt-Col. Irving was made an Honorary Colonel, 23 April 1951 - 23 April 1961.
Colonel Irving, passed away on 24 March 1973.

May:
The design for the WAAC uniform was given the approval.
The first members wore either Civilian clothes or AWAS uniforms that were left over from World War II.
A rush order was given to have three Officers and 5 Other Ranks uniforms to be made for the Jubilee Celebration of the Opening of Parliament.

June:
His Majesty, King George VI, granted the Corps, "ROYAL" patronage for the Corps to be renamed, Women's Royal Australian Army Corps.
With an acronym being WRAAC.
It was recorded that the Corps name should NEVER to be referred to as WRAACs.

Jubilee celebration - "Opening of Parliament".

9 July:
The first WRAAC recruits were trained at Studley Park, near Camden in New South Wales.
Recruits from Eastern and Northern Commands were trained here.

Warrant Officer Patricia Rawlings, was the first Chief Instructor for the first training course.

September:
For the new recruits, enlisting in the Southern and Central Commands, went to the new training camp at Lonsdale Bight in Victoria. The WRAAC Training Company.

Approval was given to raise the WRAAC Citizens Military Force.

The Corps badge was designed by Colonel Best.
The first Badge was issued two years later.

November:
For the first time, WRAAC members, appeared in the Military Tattoo.

1952
17 January:
Approval was granted for the WRAAC School, to be established at Mildura, providing Recruit, Junior and Senior NCO's, Warrant Officer's and
Officer Training.
Major Crane, appointed Chief Instructor for the Officer refresher course.

June:
The first Officer Cadet Course, for WRAAC and RAANC members,began at the new WRAAC School, Mildura.

August:
WRAAC Training was moved to Queenscliff, Victoria.

September:
Lt-Col. Best was promoted to Colonel.

WRAAC personnel, for the first time were posted to National Service Units.

1953
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, gave approval for the appointment of Her Royal Highness, Princess Margaret, as Colonel-In-Chief of the WRAAC.

More than 10,000 women served Australia, with distinction and dedication in the WRAAC (Regular Corps), the Citizen Military Force and later the Army Reserves.

The WRAAC was disbanded in 1984. This followed moves in the late 1970's, to align male and female training and duties and for the transfer (or the direct enlistment of the new recruits) into employer Corps in the 1980's.

The WRAAC Badge:
The design of the WRAAC badge was approved in 1951, they were not issued until 1953.
The badge consists of the five stars of the Southern Cross, representing the Southern Hemisphere, superimposed on a silver lozenge, which in Heraldic terms, characterises WOMEN. Gilt gum leaves surround the lozenge to signify the Australian Corps and the abbreviated letters from the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC), formed on the scroll at the base of the badge.
Surmounting the badge is the Saint Edward's Crown.

In February 1956, Queen Elizabeth II, gave approval for the alliance between the WRAAC and the Women's Royal Army Corps in the United Kingdom.


WRAAC Regimental Theme Song:
Regimental march is "Soldiers of the Queen", is played on most occassions when members of the Corps are assembled.

1985:
31 January:
WRAAC School finally disbanded.