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The Veteran Archive

Heartfelt thanks to the veterans who have shared their stories, so we may learn from their experiences and ensure they are never forgotten.

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An interview with

Sue Westlake

Lt Col Sue Westlake spent much of her time in the WRAC as a Selection...
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sharon Broderick

Sharon Broderick was a Chef with the Women’s Royal Army Corps and the Army Catering...
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sandy Acathan

Sandy Acathan was a Sergeant in the Royal Signals Regiment, WRAC.
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Pauline Milnes

Pauline Milnes was a Private in the WRAC.
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Pat Pressler

Pat Pressler was an experimental assistant in gunnery EAG at Shoeburyness whilst working with the...
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Mary Woollard

Mary Woollard had a long career in Pay whilst serving with the WRAC and the...
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Marion Prescott

Marion Prescott was in the Horse and Groom pub in Guildford when it was blown...
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Margaret Lee

Margaret Lee was a hairdresser in the WRAC. She served in Northern Ireland.
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Loraine Patrick

Loraine Patrick was a Groom and Dog Handler in the WRAC
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Lieann Andrew

Lieann Andrew served in the WRAC whilst she was pregnant. There is a mother’s room...
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Katherine McMullin

Katherine McMullin was a Driver in the WRAC
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Karen Mallion

Karen Mallion started her military career in the WRAC but progressed up through the ranks...
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Julia M Crockett

Julia worked in Intelligence whilst she served with the WRAC
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Judy Hasnip

Army
The Aden Emergency
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An interview with

Jenny Wing

Jenny served served as a Groom in the WRAC
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Bernadette Dolan

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Diane Pratt

Diane Pratt worked in logistics for the WRAC and the Royal Transport Corps.
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Cheryl Woon

Cheryl Woon worked as a Stewardess in the WRAC.
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Jane Fountain

Jane Fountain shares her memories of her career with the Royal Military Police as a...
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Ishbel Thomson

Following her pharmacy degree, Ishbel Thomson served in the WRAC and AGC.
Army
Modern Day War and Conflict: Compilation
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An interview with

Betty Webb

Charlotte Elizabeth Webb MBE. who worked at Bletchley Park and then went onto serve in...
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Janet Brodie-Murphy

Janet Brodie-Murphy worked in Welfare whilst she served in the WRAC
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Korean Veterans’ school visit

Legasee works with lots of schools to deliver practical, enjoyable learning across multiple curricula. Contact...
Army
Korean War (1950–53)
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An interview with

Patricia ‘Budgie’ Rosewell

Budgie provided us with some lovely photos of her at work and play!
Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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Women of the Army (1949-92)

In 2024, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we proudly added 30 female voices to the Legasee Archive...
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An interview with

Sue Westlake

Sue gives an inspirational interview on the experiences of army officers in the WRAC.

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At only eighteen and determined for adventure, Sue accepted her place at the WRAC college at Camberley in 1971. Being born into a military family Sue knew from a young age that she would join the army. In her interview she recalls the discipline and regimen of military life, but most importantly her pride at wearing her WRAC uniform. After Commissioning, Sue spent her first ten years in the WRAC recruiting, training or selecting women to be either WRAC Officers or Servicewomen. She was also involved in the training of Warrant Officers, Senior and Junior NCO’s and the selection of WRAC Junior Leaders. Sue reflects on this period with great fondness. Her extensive experience led to her selection to command one of the big three WRAC Companies. Sue was sent to Rheindahlen, Germany, and put in charge of 250 Servicewomen, a role which in many ways marked the pinnacle of her career. Remembering the Guildford bombing, Sue discusses its deep resonation with the women around her and the impact of other IRA attacks which she continued to feel through until the late 1980s. After leaving Rheindahlen in 1989, Sue went to work in the WRAC Directorate. Following the disbandment of the WRAC in 1992, Sue embarked on a seventeen-year career in the Adjutant General’s Corps. When that ended, Sue decided to commit her time to the WRAC Association to ensure its traditions and camaraderie lived on. She became its Vice President and Chairman of Trustees for Eleven years (2003 - 2014) and was awarded an MBE for her services to female veterans in 2014. She is now a Life Vice President of the WRAC Association and continues to give her time and experience to the Charity. A brilliant interview, we thank Sue for being an example of the many trailblazing women of the WRAC.
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Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Roxanne Lawton

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Judy Hasnip

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Bernadette Dolan

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Karen Mallion

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sharon Broderick

Sharon was a chef with the Women's Royal Army Corps and the Army Catering Corps.

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Sharon's interview provides an insight into the life of an ambitious woman who pushed against gender boundaries at the time. Having always wanted to join the military, Sharon thrived on the discipline at Guildford and felt proud to wear her uniform. She describes however, the difference in treatment towards men and women within her chef trade training, and how she felt as if the expectations of women were far lower than that of their male counterpoints. Sharon also describes her first posting to Ireland with the Army Catering Corps and the harsh reality of serving during this dangerous period. She later recalls her return to Belfast in 1988, where she was an unfortunate victim of the bombing and reflects on the trauma, she, and others alike, faced on that tour. Sharon also describes the conditions she worked in at the nuclear bunker in Wilton during the height of the Cold War. She only cooked with rations, tinned goods and remained underground for entire shifts. From this point onwards she continued to rise in her corps and as a result became the first female chef to serve officer residences, where she catered for individuals such as Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Reflecting on her time with the WRAC Sharon maintains that she feels forever connected to the female corps, but recognises how it restricted women's opportunities at the time.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
Prince Charles, Northern Ireland, IRA (Irish Republican Army)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Jenny Wing

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Lieann Andrew

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sally George

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Loraine Patrick

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sandy Acathan

Sandy was a sergeant in the Royal Signals Regiment of the WRAC.

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After an unsure start to her career, Sandy soon realised she was talented at using the teleprinter and was immediately taken to the signals centre to begin working in communications. Sandy describes the rapid developments in technology and machines she oversaw whilst working for the Royal Signals, and remembers the complex relationship British intelligence had with American intelligence when co-working with satellite shuttles. She also recalls the adversities of being a woman in the army, not only regarding gender discrimination, but also the manner in which the SIB invested lesbianism amongst members of the WRAC. Sandy sadly describes her own experience with the investigations team, and due to being accused of same sex relations, was forced to leave the army instantly. This interview provides important insight into not only the highly vital roles women played within the WRAC, but also the range of issues they faced. Reflecting on the WRAC Sandy states that although she is proud to have served her country, she never felt like her life was truly hers.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
Guildford, WRAC uniform, Leaving the Army
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Audrey Smith

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Wendy Hooton

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Pat Pressler

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Betty Webb

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Pauline Milnes

Pauline gives an insightful interview about the experiences of being a woman in the Army.

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An adventurous and extroverted young woman, Pauline joined the WRAC at seventeen years old after outperforming boys at her school in an army assault course. She knew in that moment that she would excel in a military career. Following her six weeks at Guildford she was posted to Blackdown to train as a supply clerk with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. She wanted to be a Physical Training Instructor but was advised to go into stores whilst placed in holding for an opening in physical trades. She remained in her first role as a store supplier before she was posted to Rheindahlen to supply local army bases. Being from Guyana Pauline describes the anxiety she felt in certain environments regarding racial prejudice but reflects fondly on her time in Rheindahlen due to her being surrounded by many women of different ethnicities. During her three years in Germany, as well as managing stores, she was also told to watch for Russian number plates or report suspicions of IRA or Cold War tensions. In this interview, Pauline recalls her upset at her forced leave due to her pregnancy and describes the many good soldiers the army lost due to this very reason. Like many other women, she felt she had more to give and these opportunities were taken away. Although Pauline speaks passionately about her time with the WRAC, her journey also highlights the issues with the treatment of women in the army.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
Rheindahlen, IRA (Irish Republican Army), Pregnancy
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Audrey Smith

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Katherine McMullin

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Roxanne Lawton

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Marion Prescott

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Pat Pressler

Pat was an experimental assistant in gunnery at Shoeburyness whilst working with the WRAC.

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At only seventeen years of age Pat joined the WRAC and was soon posted to Shoeburyness as an Experimental Assistant in Gunnery. Pat discusses the high level of classification she experienced whilst working as an EAG and how on her arrival she had to be cleared with the secret atomic at the highest grade of security. She goes on to further describe how all aspects of her life had to be investigated in order for her, and other soldiers, to engage in the top secret work at this posting. Pat reflects fondly on this time period and speaks passionately about her role as an optical measurer. After a few years Pat married and was forced to leave the army as there were no opportunities for marital couples to be posted together. When asked to reflect on her time with the WRAC Pat was grateful for the skills and experiences she was able to take with her from her time in the military, however, struggles to view herself as a veteran due to the glass ceiling that restricted opportunities for women in the army.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
Shoeburyness, Reflecting on the WRAC, Guildford
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Sally George

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Lieann Andrew

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Ali Brown

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Jane Fountain

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Mary Woollard

Mary served under the Pay Corps and had a long history in pay duties within, and beyond, the WRAC.

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Originating from a military background, Mary knew she wanted to join the army and officially signed in 1978 when she left school. After excelling in her assessments, she chose to join the Royal Army Pay Corps knowing that they had bases all over the world. Following her initial training at Guildford, Mary was posted to Brighton where she worked on translating army promotions into symbols in order for occurrences to be coded into computer systems. She was then moved to Krefeld in Germany and placed in a pay team with two other RAPC individuals. She remembers her time in Germany as the moment in which she, like many others, became aware of the IRA threats and realities of life in the army. Having joined the WRAC towards the end of the 1970s, Mary reflects on the changing nature of women's roles and remembers the introduction of weapon training. She describes the extensive NBC training in Krefeld, in particular 'Active Edge' exercises which were intended to mimic Russian invasion. Mary describes the relationship between technological development and pay duties, and her developing awareness of the discrepancy in pay. With the disbandment of the WRAC she went for commission and became the only female RAPC. Her interview is an inspiring and authentic account of one of the many trailblazing women who broke the system.
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Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
Pay, Training exercises , Treatment of women
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Patricia ‘Budgie’ Rosewell

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Pat Pressler

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Rowena Patrick

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Dorothy Apps

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Marion Prescott

Marion provides an interesting and at times emotional account of her experience in the army, beginning with the Guildford bomb in 1974.

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Having grown up in Ireland during 'The Troubles', Marion joined the army to escape and begin life somewhere different. However soon after arriving at Guildford, she was injured in the bombing of the Horse and Groom pub in 1974. Marion recalls being aware that something was wrong but before she had time to react the bomb had exploded and she was left injured among the chaos. She describes how following this incident she was held back from completing her trade training and interrogated by army officers on suspicions of her being involved in the attack. In her interview she states that her treatment by the army during this time is something she held resentment towards for many years. She went on to complete her clerical training and was subsequently posted to Blackdown, Bicester, then Rheindahlen. In Germany an opportunity arose for Marion to become an army welfare assistant, where her role consisted of mostly dealing with war-affected and bereaved families. Although this position was extremely difficult, Marion found it rewarding but knew that it was soon time to leave. Reflecting on her time with the WRAC, Marion felt proud to be a veteran and values her connection to the female corps.
Photo Gallery icon 6 Photos
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
Guildford, IRA (Irish Republican Army), Guildford Pub Bombing
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Wildern School

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Patricia ‘Budgie’ Rosewell

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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ATS veteran interviewed
An interview with

Joan Harrison

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sandy Acathan

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Margaret Lee

Margaret served as a hairdresser in the WRAC.

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As a child Margaret travelled around the world with her father who was in the Royal Navy, therefore when she settled in England, joined the WRAC as a means of continuing her travels. Margaret joined in 1975, and as the first intake of army recruits after the Guildford bomb, she described the unnerving atmosphere and extreme safety precautions that were at place during her first six weeks of training. Having previously trained as a hairdresser, Margaret continued this trade and was quickly posted to Northern Ireland where she ran her own hairdressers in Aldergrove. She describes the horror of the bombings, shootings and overall violence in Ireland and her experience with PTSD following this posting. When asked to reflect on the WRAC, Margaret states that although she enjoyed the confidence being in the military gave her, she felt resentment towards the manner in which her career was so easily terminated as a result of pregnancy.
Photo Gallery icon 17 Photos
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Pat Pressler

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Judy Hasnip

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sylvia Adams

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Janet Brodie-Murphy

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Loraine Patrick

Loraine was a groom and dog handler under the WRAC.

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After seeing the WRAC in a magazine, Loraine was inspired to join the army and in 1973 arrived at Guildford. Determined to work with animals, she was quickly posted to Mulgrave where she began her specialised dog training. Loraine describes how following graduation, each woman was given a 'line' to maintain. She recalls the strict disciplinary environment of the kennels and the limited positions for women available. Although members of the WRAC were in training with dogs, they weren't officially allowed to train dogs - only handle them, as this was an overtly male profession. Following her years at the kennels, she left to work in a veterinary hospital on promotion. Devastatingly, she was forced to leave on conditions of marriage but after divorcing years later, was able to rejoin the WRAC with the encouragement of other women around her. She provides some interesting insights into the changing climate when she returned to the army in 1984. After becoming a qualified instructor, in 1988 she was promoted to a professional horse coach and groom at the Saddle Club in Hong Kong. In this interview, Loraine describes the disbandment of the WRAC as a societal indicator that not only were women's roles changing, but they were moving beyond a restrictive system.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Karen Mallion

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sylvia Adams

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Roxanne Lawton

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Jane Fountain

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Lieann Andrew

Lieann served in the WRAC whilst she was pregnant. There is a mother's room named after her in Worthy Down.

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At only seventeen years of age, Lieann joined the WRAC so she could travel and see the world. Lieann describes working hard at Guildford and her amazement at the rate in which young women transformed into soldiers within only six weeks. After excelling in her aptitude tests she was posted to Catterick to train as a data telegraphist. Lieann discusses developments in technology and the transition to computers in 1989. She also describes the introduction of weapons training across WRAC trades, and how she could feel the change happening within the female corps. During her time in communications, Lieann was posted to the nuclear bunker in Wilton and recalls the enhanced security measures in place during Cold War exercises. She was then posted to the Falklands and later Cyprus where she re-badged with the Royal Signals. At this point the WRAC had been disbanded and Lieann permanently signed on to the ninth Signal Regiment. During her time in Cyprus she fell pregnant and continued to serve until her last few weeks. She was one of the first women to serve in the army whilst pregnant, and although this marked an important moment in military history - Lieann describes the lack of emotional, financial and even uniform support offered to her during her pregnancy. A woman who truly pushed boundaries, we thank Lieann for her brilliant interview and her candour surrounding women's experiences within the WRAC.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Wendy Hooton

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Julia M Crockett

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Wildern School

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Judy Hasnip

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Katherine McMullin

Katherine describes her time as a driver for the WRAC.

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From a young age Katherine knew she wanted to travel and when offered the opportunity to join the Royal Corps of Transport, she signed with the army. At nineteen she left for Guildford and speaks fondly of her time at the training base, in particular her passing out parade which she describes as an incredibly surreal experience. Although her trade training was postponed due to the Mill Hill Bombing in 1988, she soon became part of the team at Bovington Training Centre that drove new officers fresh from Sandhurst who were on their Tactical Exercise Without Troops (TEWT) training. Later she was moved to Rheindahlen 68 Squadron where she met different soldiers from the UN and NATO and remembers this as the best tour she served whilst in the army. During this tour she witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall and contributed to the peacekeeping duties in Czechoslovakia. In 1991 Katherine recalls troops being sent to Iraq and the importance of her work behind the front lines in the rear party. She provides great detail of one particular mission which developed from an initial twenty-four hour drive to an almost three week task of shipping ammunition to the Gulf. From here she was posted to Northern Ireland where she worked as both a driver and searcher for IRA bombs. Following the disbandment of the WRAC Katherine returned to work in Germany with the onset of the Bosnian war, and worked as a driver until she left in 1995. Katherine's interview offers an insightful overview of different experiences of WRAC women and gives an authentic account of the many adversities women faced in the army.
Photo Gallery icon 19 Photos
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Jenny Wing

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Karen Mallion

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Wildern School

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Betty Webb

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Karen Mallion

Karen's interview is a powerful account of the trailblazing attitude of many WRAC women.

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In this interview Karen shares an inspiring story which began with her passion for sports and a determination to transgress the roles available to women in the army. Although she began her WRAC journey as a chef, she had plans to be a Physical Training Instructor and it was only after serving two years in Cyprus as a cook that she applied for her second trade. Karen describes how she passed the initial selection but suffered an unfortunate ankle injury which prevented her from completing the specialised PTI training. Feeling lost after her injury, she recalls the frustration she began to feel with the options available to women in the WRAC and considered leaving. Therefore, for Karen, the disbandment of the WRAC came as a sign that she and many other women alike could move forward and beyond the restraints of female specific roles. At Deep Cut she trialled for the military training instructors course with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, and in her interview describes the constant discrimination she faced in such a male dominated field. Karen became the first female instructor and went on to serve as Sergeant Major in Bosnia, Macedonia and Iraq before her career was ended by misfortune. This interview provides an example of one of the many trailblazing veterans of the WRAC.
Photo Gallery icon 16 Photos
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Judy Hasnip

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Wendy Hooton

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Dorothy Apps

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Roxanne Lawton

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Julia M Crockett

Julia describes her time with the Intelligence Corps both within and beyond the WRAC.

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Originating from a military background, Julia recalls how it was somewhat inevitable that would serve in the army. After excelling in the aptitude tests, she was offered a position in the Intelligence Corps. In her interview Julia remembers finding the transition into army life difficult and struggled with the uniform due to both its impracticality and restrictiveness. Additionally, she found the climate of fear surrounding the IRA shocking and saw many women horrified by threats they either personally, or by an extension of their trade, received. Julia was posted to former West Germany with the 13th Signal Regiment where she worked alongside Signals Personnel. Within this role she would map the movement of troops in East Germany and flag Russian tanks, and being her first time overseas, she reflects on this period as particularly exciting. After leaving in 1975, Julia went on to join the MET as she felt there were more equal opportunities for women in organisation's that didn't restrict roles to gender. She continued to work for the Intelligence Corps at GCHQ on the Palestinian desk for many years. Reflecting on the WRAC, Julia describes the potency of class divisions within the military and her frustrations with the gendered restrictions. She maintains however that the fundamentals of the WRAC gave her the determination to continue her work in intelligence and commends the importance of documenting a history of female veterans.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Mary Woollard

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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ATS veteran interviewed
An interview with

Joan Harrison

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sue Westlake

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sally George

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Judy Hasnip

Judy was deployed to Aden when she served with the WRAC.

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In this interview Judy recalls joining the WRAC as a way to begin her career and move out of her family home. Judy completed her initial basic training at Lingfield, which was the predecessor of Guildford, before she was posted to Worthy Down to specialise as a pay clerk in the Royal Army Pay Corps. Reflecting on her training, Judy remembers being amazed at how quickly she transformed from a young girl into an adult woman. She also describes the experience of working with fast-changing technology, and how later in her life she realised how instrumental her work in data processing became with the arrival of the first computerised consensus. Later, Judy was posted to Aden and remembers the excitement of flying over the pyramids. Here she was taken to the Singapore lines where she worked with the binary code. When asked to reflect on the WRAC, Judy felt frustrated by the lack of options made available to women at the time but also extremely proud of the work she had done.
Photo Gallery icon 17 Photos
Service:
Army
Project:
The Aden Emergency
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Colin Parker

Army
The Aden Emergency
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An interview with

Sylvia Adams

Army
The Aden Emergency
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An interview with

Diane Pratt

Army
The Aden Emergency
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An interview with

Wildern School

Army
The Aden Emergency
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An interview with

Jenny Wing

Jenny describes her time as a dog and rider groom in the WRAC.

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Jenny always knew she wanted to work with animals and in her interview discusses the journey that led her to becoming a rider groom with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Growing up in Northern Rhodesia, she found the move difficult and initially struggled with army life. Once she had adapted to military life at Guildford, she remembers finding enjoyment in her specialised training and uniform. As a kennel maid, Jenny describes the different sections of dogs that were trained within the army and the limited dog-work available to women in the army. She recalls the lack of options for women and how much harder they had to work to progress into higher ranks, such as the horse stables. Once she had been promoted to the stables, she was placed in control of cavalry horses and breaking in wild horses for military use. She describes the difficulty of this job, along with its demanding hours and social restrictions. When asked to reflect on the WRAC Jenny states that she always felt part of a sisterhood, however, like many other female veterans resented the manner in which she was forced to leave on the condition of marriage and the restrictions placed on women in the army.
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Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Karen Mallion

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Pat Pressler

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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ATS veteran interviewed
An interview with

Joan Harrison

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sue Westlake

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Bernadette Dolan

Bernadette 'Bernie' Dolan worked with the Royal Engineers Postal and Courier Services.

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Bernie's interview begins with her retelling the story of how she never wanted to join the army, but as she was too short to join the police, she found herself at the army recruitment office instead. She was posted to Mill Hill in London to train with the postal and courier services. Bernie handled classified mail and transported important documents during the height of the Cold War and IRA threats. In 1978 Bernie was posted to Northern Ireland where she was flown with mail to different barracks and sites all over the country. She remembers experiencing an explosion in the barracks, and in that moment realising that no one was safe from the bombings. After Ireland, Bernie returned to Mill Hill, then Dusseldorf where she ran a post office on the Rhine. She was then posted to the Falklands and responsible for organising soldier's mail as it came into the port. On her return home she was promoted to Quartermaster, and later Sergeant Quartermaster in the Royal Artillery Regiment in Warwickshire. It was at this point in her career that she began to feel the WRAC shifting, and was sad to leave in 1994 when the Corps disbanded. Bernie shares her story because she believes it is important to document history and portray what has happened in the past.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
NBC Training, SIB, Northern Ireland
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Sharon Broderick

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Wildern School

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Lieann Andrew

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Marion Prescott

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Diane Pratt

Diane Pratt worked in logistics for the WRAC and the Royal Transport Corps.

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When the Royal Marine Band and military recruiters visited her school, Diane was immediately drawn to the idea of joining the armed forces. She first applied to the Royal Navy, but the prospect of being posted to her home town of Plymouth didn’t offer the adventure she was looking for. Then she learned that the Army could send her further afield — and that was all the encouragement she needed. At just seventeen, she enlisted, and her journey with the Women’s Royal Army Corps began. After her initial training at Guildford, Diane was posted to Kineton where she worked with classified documents and ammunition. She was then posted to Northern Ireland as a volunteer searcher and worked alongside the Royal Military Police. Diane describes the issues women faced in the army, and the mistreatment of female corps by male soldiers. Whilst in this posting she experienced the bombing of Newry in 1980 and soon after decided to leave Ireland. Diane was then moved to Berlin where she worked as a clerk for the Royal Transport Corps. Although Diane feels forever connected to the WRAC, she felt strongly that there were innate issues with the female corps surrounding pay discrepancy, limited opportunities for women on the front-line, and multiple attempts to stop women's careers on the conditions of marriage and pregnancy.
Photo Gallery icon 7 Photos
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
Northern Ireland, IRA (Irish Republican Army), Cold War: Berlin
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Wildern School

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Wendy Hooton

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Bernadette Dolan

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sally George

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Cheryl Woon

Cheryl Woon worked as a Stewardess in the WRAC.

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Cheryl was twenty-four when she joined the WRAC and saw the army as a career opportunity. At Guildford she dedicated herself to training and felt a sense of achievement wearing her solider's uniform. Cheryl completed her trade training at Aldershot, and specialised in silver service techniques. She was then posted to the Royal Armament and Development Establishment where she worked in both the sergeant's mess and on guard duty. At the RARDE soldiers would test new vehicles and weapons under extremely classified conditions, therefore those working there, such as Cheryl, had to stand on high alert at all times. Cheryl remembers having basic weapon training during this period, yet she still was not given ammunition whilst on guard. In her interview she describes the horrific treatment of women in the army, one of the reasons for her leaving in 1989. Cheryl felt unsupported on her leave and disappointed by the army's attitude towards the female corps. She feels that although the WRAC is a huge part of her history, there were real issues of gender discrimination which should be documented in oral histories such as those held in Legasee's archive.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
Stewardess, Guildford, Weapons training
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Janet Brodie-Murphy

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Margaret Lee

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Marion Prescott

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Julia M Crockett

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Jane Fountain

Jane Fountain shares her memories of her career with the Royal Military Police as a WRAC Provost.

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Jane knew she wanted to join the Royal Military Police, and although she disliked the uniform, enjoyed the many opportunities to learn and improve. After completing her specialised trade training and NBC practices, Jane was first posted to Berlin where she worked on check points and interacted with Russians at the border. Jane recalls the threat of nuclear warfare and the shared realisation amongst soldiers that there would not have been enough reserves for them to all have survived more than a few days. She was then posted to Northern Ireland, firstly to Aldergrove and then Portadown. Jane returned to Berlin years later, where even as a Sergeant she struggled with misogyny in the officer's mess. Jane faced repeated issues with gender discrimination and was taken to trial, but won her case and moved to Ireland with her husband to escape the misogynistic environment in Münster. Jane felt strongly that the WRAC shouldn't have been disbanded. She didn't, and still doesn't, like the idea of women being under a male hierarchy and in her interview maintains that she made the right decision to leave when the WRAC was disbanded.
Photo Gallery icon 17 Photos
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Ali Brown

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Sue Westlake

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Wendy Hooton

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Diane Pratt

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Ishbel Thomson

Joining the OTC at university while training as a pharmacist set Ishbel Thomson on an army career that saw her serve in many global conflicts.

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Ishbel had experience with the University Officers Training Corps (OTC) and the Territorial Army (TA) before she joined the WRAC in 1985. She had trained as a pharmacist at university and it was only after graduating she considered joining the army. She recalls Crusade Eight as the first major operation she worked on alongside the local infantry unit. Ishbel describes how in this role, aside from escorting VIPS, most of the women would take on administrative work. She was then posted to C Company in Grangemouth as a Platoon Commander and comments on the changing atmosphere surrounding women's treatment in the early 1980s. Ishbel also describes how in the OTC and the TA women were afforded more opportunities, such as weapons and armed combat training, whereas the WRAC were only just introducing weapons training. From this point Ishbel underwent a series of role changes within the army; she traveled to Sandhurst, Catterick, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, and London where she completed her Masters in Administration. At Porton Down, she revisited her pharmacist experience and worked with scientists to develop pharmaceutical and technological military defences. Ishbel went on to become an Adjutant General in Bosnia, the Balkans, then a Lieutenant Colonel in Cyprus and a medic in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Reflecting on the WRAC, Ishbel feels that it gave her the grounding to begin her wider military career. An inspiring interview, we thank Ishbel for her incredible stories and for being a trailblazing woman.
Service:
Army
Project:
Modern Day War and Conflict: Compilation
Top Tags:
Canada, SIB, Bosnia
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Rowena Patrick

Army
Modern Day War and Conflict: Compilation
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An interview with

Ali Brown

Army
Modern Day War and Conflict: Compilation
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An interview with

Wildern School

Army
Modern Day War and Conflict: Compilation
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An interview with

Wendy Hooton

Army
Modern Day War and Conflict: Compilation
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An interview with

Betty Webb

Betty joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1941.

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Joining during the Second World War, Betty was sent to train at the Welsh Barracks near Wrexham. After performing well in her tests, she was sent to interview with the Intelligence Corps in London. She remembers being immediately taken to sign the Official Secrets Act and proceed to working in listing translated messages in Bletchley. It was at this posting that she discovered her talent for paraphrasing, and from this point onwards was given the task of paraphrasing translated enemy messages to be sent on to Burma. Remarkably, Betty was then sent to work in the Pentagon before moving to the British Army Staff base in Washington DC. In her interview she describes the lack of news made available to American civilians surrounding the war in Europe, and her frustration at the lack of understanding future employment had on the highly classified status of her military work. When asked her thoughts on the disbandment of the WRAC, Betty felt disappointed that there was no longer a women's army as she enjoyed the independent identification of the female corps.
Photo Gallery icon 10 Photos
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
TA (Territorial Army), Women in the Army, Outbreak of WW2
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Pauline Milnes

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Ishbel Thomson

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Janet Brodie-Murphy

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Cheryl Woon

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Janet Brodie-Murphy

Janet worked in Welfare whilst she served in the WRAC.

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Janet began her journey with the WRAC in the early 1970s and knew on arrival that it was the right career for her. Although she initially found life at Guildford a bit of shock, by the time she had finished her trade training with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, she felt like a soldier. She describes her first posting to Rheindahlen where aside from working on classified clerical work, she embarked on many trips to surrounding cities and landscapes. Janet also recalls the rising threat of Eastern Germany, and her own exposure to the realities of the Cold War. After Germany she was posted to Beaconsfield, Krefeld and Deepcut where she became chief clerk of the WRAC company in 1976. Although this was a great achievement, Janet remembers still feeling outnumbered by men in the army and experiencing gender discrimination even at her rank. The rest of the interview follows her journey to London, back to Rheindahlen, and finally becoming quartermaster at Aldershot where she campaigned for contraceptive machines in the women's blocks. A fantastic interview and a true trailblazer, we thank Janet for her inspiring story of the frustrations, limitations and power of women in the army.
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Bernadette Dolan

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Jenny Wing

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Patricia ‘Budgie’ Rosewell

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Wildern School

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Korean Veterans’ school visit

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Service:
Army
Project:
Korean War (1950–53)
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

John Pritchard

Army
Korean War (1950–53)
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An interview with

Peter Lawrence

Army
Korean War (1950–53)
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An interview with

Ron Yardley

Navy
Korean War (1950–53)
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An interview with

Stan White

Navy
Korean War (1950–53)
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An interview with

Patricia ‘Budgie’ Rosewell

From county gymnast to an influential Physical Training Instructor who travelled the world with the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC)

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Patricia ‘Budgie’ Rosewell shares her journey from a county gymnast to an influential Physical Training Instructor in the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC). She describes her early passion for gymnastics and how it led to a career in the WRAC, where she played a crucial role in training and mentoring new recruits. Patricia recalls her initial training, the challenges she faced, and her rise to a leadership position. She emphasises the importance of physical fitness and discipline in the military and reflects on the camaraderie and sense of purpose she found in her service. Her interview highlights the evolution of women's roles in the military and the impact of dedicated instructors like herself in shaping the physical and mental resilience of soldiers. Patricia's story is one of determination, leadership, and a commitment to excellence in the face of evolving military demands.
Photo Gallery icon 24 Photos
Service:
Army
Project:
Women of the Army (1949-92)
Top Tags:
Gymnastics, Royal Tournament, Homesick
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Bernadette Dolan

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Pauline Milnes

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Loraine Patrick

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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An interview with

Pat Pressler

Army
Women of the Army (1949-92)
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