Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS)

Accession Number: 122533

Four WRANS members in the medical records section of the Flinders Naval Depot hospital at HMAS Cerberus, 30 November 1945. Photograph by Fred Carew, 122533

The Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) was the women’s branch of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The service commenced in the Second World War with a group of dedicated women wanting to help the war effort. Initially trained in signalling, the first WRANS members were employed as wireless operators/telegraphists. As the war progressed, the WRANS contribution grew to include roles in administration, recruitment, mechanics, education, and more. Disbanded after the Second World War in 1948, the WRANS was reinstituted in 1951 and continued until 1985, when it was again disbanded, this time with its personnel incorporated into the RAN.

The origins of the WRANS

The WRANS traces its beginning to the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps (WESC), established in Sydney in 1939, shortly before the beginning of the Second World War. The WESC was founded by Mrs Florence Violet McKenzie, affectionately known as Mrs Mac, the first qualified female electrical engineer in Australia. Having fought hard for many years to attain this position, she used this tenacity to start the WESC and became the main proponent of women joining Australia’s Defence forces.

The women of the WESC were privately trained in telegraphic and visual signalling by Mrs Mac. As they became more experienced, they helped train men wishing to enlist in the defence forces and Merchant Navy. This training became a major feature of the WESC and continued through the war. As the school did not charge a tuition fee, WESC girls and trainees paid one shilling per week to help pay the rent.

Accession Number: 017675

Members of the WESC instructing Australian service personnel in morse code, 2 October 1944. Photograph by Gordon Short, 017675

Women’s entry into the navy

By the end of 1940, Mrs Mac and Commander Jack Newman, Assistant Director of Signals, RAN, had convinced naval authorities to make female telegraphists a permanent feature of the RAN, arguing that enlisting women in support roles would free up men to serve in front-line positions. Progress was slow, and it was not until April 1941 that official approval was given for 12 telegraphists and two attendants to be employed. On 28 April 1941, 14 women arrived at Harman (later HMAS Harman), a wireless station in Canberra, launching the WRANS.

Accession Number: 009234

RAN and WRANS telegraphists working together at HMAS Harman near Canberra, 27 August 1941. Unknown Australian Official Photographer, 009234

From civilian to enlisted

The first 14 telegraphists were initially employed as civilian staff due to the RAN’s enlistment policy but were later invited to formally join the RAN from 1 October 1942. Existing employees were given the choice to sign up for further service as enlisted WRANS or to resign. WRANS officers were recruited and trained from January 1943.

Over 3,000 WRANS members enlisted during the Second World War, with a peak strength of 2,600 women making up around 10 per cent of Australia’s naval complement.

Accession Number: 052715

WRANS members approach the saluting base during the naval march, Melbourne, 25 June 1943. Photographer unknown, 052715

Disbandment, re-establishment and obstacles

By the time the last member of the WRANS was discharged on 2 July 1948, its presence in the naval forces was already missed and discussions about women re-entering the service were well under way. WRANS was reestablished in 1951 due to ongoing manpower shortages and made a permanent part of the RAN in December 1959.

Throughout WRANS history, its members have faced obstacles and restrictions to their service. WRANS members were not permitted to serve aboard ships and were discharged if they fell pregnant. With the reestablishment of the WRANS in 1951, married members were prohibited from service, something not previously regulated. The determination of WRANS women, recognition of their significant contribution to the RAN, and a changing social environment led to change. The rules around married women not being allowed to serve were removed in 1969, the automatic discharge of pregnant women was abolished in 1974, equal pay was implemented in 1978, and women were finally permitted to serve on board ships in 1983.

Finally, part of the RAN

This gradual progress of change allowed time for the creation of spaces safe for women to inhabit and for systems to support them to be put in place. WRANS members were gradually absorbed into the RAN during the 1980s, and it was disbanded altogether with the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.