Article from Stand To! Number 32, 1991
WAAC (by this time QMAAC) telegraphists in the signals office at Boulogne. (Photo: IWM Q7971).
WAACs baking bread in Dieppe, 10 February 1918. (Photo: IWM Q8473)
WAAC gardeners working in a war cemetery at Abbeville, 15 September 1917. (Photo: IWM Q5953).
A bomb crater in a WAAC camp at Abbeville caused during an air raid on 22 May 1918. During a similar raid a week later nine WAACs were killed when their trench received a direct hit. See ST/31, page 17. (Photo: IWM Q7890).
The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps-the WAACs-was formed in March 1917 to undertake essential behind the lines work with the Army abroad and at home, thereby releasing able-bodied men for more active duties. Its strength was about 56,000. The basic 'rank' was 'worker' while the 'officers' were styled 'aadministrators'.
In April 1918 the corps became Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps in recognition of its valuable work.
The photographs here depict just a few of the duties undertaken by the 9500 WAACs in France and Belgium. In addition to signalling duties, bread baking and the tending of war graves, they were employed as clerks, cooks, canteen assistants, mess waitresses, storekeepers, printing press operators and on various other similar tasks.
Altogether 172 WAACs, including eight administrator class, died during the war as the result of enemy action, accident or disease.
There can be no doubt that the corps did invaluable work. The fact that little is now known about the corps must surely present a challenge to the researchers in our ranks, especially the ladies who must sometimes feel that the women's part in the struggle is seldom recognised.
