Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS)

The Women's Royal Australian Naval Service was formed in April 1941 as a result of a shortage of telegraphists in the RAN.

By October 1942, 580 female volunteers had been recruited and enlisted, and four months later the number had increased to 1000. By the end of WWII, the Australian Navy had more than 2500 serving WRANS in its ranks, which made up 10 per cent of the entire naval strength; and by 1945, a total of 3122 women had enlisted in the WRANS. Read more...