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Auxiliary Territorial Service

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For the women's branch of the United States Army, see Women's Army Corps.
For the women's branch of the Canadian Army, see Canadian Women's Army Corps.
Auxiliary Territorial Service
Cap Badge of the Auxiliary Territorial Service
Active9 September 1938 – 1 February 1949
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Size190,000
Commanders
Ceremonial chiefPrincess Mary (Honorary Controller-Commandant)

The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS; often pronounced as an acronym) was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938, initially as a women's voluntary service, and existed until 1 February 1949, when it was merged into the Women's Royal Army Corps.

The ATS had its roots in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC), which was formed in 1917 as a voluntary service. During the First World War its members served in a number of jobs including clerks, cooks, telephonists and waitresses. The WAAC was disbanded after four years in 1921.

Prior to the Second World War, the government decided to establish a new Corps for women, and an advisory council, which included members of the Territorial Army (TA), a section of the Women's Transport Service (FANY) and the Women's Legion, was set up. The council decided that the ATS would be attached to the Territorial Army, and the women serving would receive two thirds the pay of male soldiers.

"White statue of a woman in uniform, with a chapel in the background. Photographed 1877"
An ATS memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.

All women in the army joined the ATS except for nurses, who joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS), medical and dental officers, who were commissioned directly into the Army and held army ranks, and those remaining in the FANY, known as Free FANYs.

In action

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Two members of an ATS searchlight unit.

The first recruits to the ATS were employed as cooks, clerks and storekeepers. At the outbreak of the Second World War, 300 ATS members were billeted to France. As the German Army advanced through France, the British Expeditionary Force was driven back towards the English Channel. This led to the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk in May 1940, and some ATS telephonists were among the last British personnel to leave the country.

As more men joined the war effort, it was decided to increase the size of the ATS, with numbers reaching 65,000 by September 1941. Women between the ages of 17 and 43 were allowed to join, although these rules were relaxed in order to allow WAAC veterans to join up to the age of 50. The duties of members were also expanded, seeing ATS orderlies, drivers, postal workers and ammunition inspectors.[1]

Over the six-year period of the War, about 500 ATS personnel were trained to operate the Cinetheodolite, with the highest number being in 1943–44, when 305 ATS were in active service using this equipment.[2]

One application of this specialist camera was in gunnery practice, where a pair of Cinetheodolites a known distance apart filmed the shell bursts from anti-aircraft artillery against target drones towed by an aircraft. By comparing the filmed location of the shells' detonation and the target, accurate calculations of their relative position could be made that would reveal any systematic error in the gunsights.[3][4]

The National Service Act

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ATS recruitment poster, with AA gun in background

In December 1941, Parliament passed the National Service Act, which called up unmarried women between 20 and 30 years old to join one of the auxiliary services. These were the ATS, the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and the Women's Transport Service. Married women were also later called up, although pregnant women and those with young children were exempt. Other options under the Act included joining the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS), which supplemented the emergency services at home, or the Women's Land Army, helping on farms.[5]

There was also provision made in the act for objection to service on moral grounds, as about a third of those on the conscientious objectors list were women. A number of women were prosecuted as a result of the act, some even being imprisoned. Despite this, by 1943 about nine out of ten women were taking an active part in the war effort.

Women were barred from serving in battle, but due to shortages of men, ATS members, as well as members of the other women's voluntary services, took over many support tasks, such as radar operators, forming part of the crews of anti-aircraft guns and military police. However, these roles were not without risk, and there were, according to the Imperial War Museum, 717 casualties during World War II.[6]

ATS women working on a Churchill tank at a Royal Army Ordnance Corps depot, 10 October 1942.
Two projectionists of the Auxiliary Territorial Service operate a projector at the field stores, Aldershot, in 1941.

The first 'Mixed' Heavy Anti-Aircraft (HAA) battery of the Royal Artillery (435 (Mixed) HAA Battery) was formed on 25 June 1941, and took over an operational gun site in Richmond Park, south-west London, in August. It was the forerunner of hundreds of similar units with the ATS supplying two-thirds of the personnel: at its height in 1943 three-quarters of Anti-Aircraft Command's HAA batteries were mixed. Several Heavy Anti-Aircraft regiments deployed to North West Europe with 21st Army Group in 1944–45 were 'Mixed' regiments.[7]

A secret trial (the 'Newark Experiment' in April 1941) having shown that women were capable of operating heavy searchlight equipment and coping with conditions on the often desolate searchlight sites, members of the ATS began training at Rhyl to replace male personnel in searchlight regiments. At first they were employed in searchlight Troop headquarters, but in July 1942 the 26th (London Electrical Engineers) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery became the first 'Mixed' regiment, with seven Troops of ATS women posted to it, forming the whole of 301 Battery and half of 339 Battery. In October that year the all-women 301 Battery was transferred to the new 93rd (Mixed) Searchlight Regiment, the last searchlight regiment formed during World War II, which by August 1943 comprised about 1500 women out of an establishment of 1674. Many other searchlight and anti-aircraft regiments on Home Defence followed, freeing men aged under 30 of medical category A1 for transfer to the infantry.[7][8][9][10]

Similarly, by 1943 the ATS represented 10 per cent of the Royal Corps of Signals, having taken over the major part of the signal office and operating duties in the War Office and Home Commands, and ATS companies were sent to work on the lines of communications of active overseas theatres.[11]

Princess Elizabeth in her ATS uniform in front of an Army ambulance.
Mary Churchill, in her ATS uniform, accompanying her father Prime Minister Winston Churchill

By VE Day and before demobilization of the British armed forces, there were over 190,000 members of the women's Auxiliary Territorial Service.

Famous members of the ATS included Mary Churchill, youngest daughter of the prime minister, Winston Churchill,[12] and Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, eldest daughter of the King, who trained as a lorry driver, ambulance driver and mechanic.[13][14]

Post-war

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After the cessation of hostilities women continued to serve in the ATS, as well as in the WRNS and WAAF. It was succeeded by the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC), which formed on 1 February 1949 under Army Order 6.

Ranks

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Initially ranks were completely different from those of the army, but used the same rank insignia, although the crown was replaced by a laurel wreath.[15] Members were required to salute their own superior officers, but not other organisations' officers, although it was considered courteous to do so.[15]

ATS trainees have various parts of an engine explained to them by their instructor, 1941

On 9 May 1941, the ATS rank structure was reorganised, and as of July 1941 the ATS was given full military status and members were no longer volunteers. The other ranks now held almost identical ranks to army personnel, but officers continued to have a separate rank system, that was somewhat modified. All uniforms and badges of rank remained the same, although crowns replaced laurel wreaths in the rank insignia. Members were now required to salute all superior officers.

The only holders of the rank of chief controller were the first three directors, promoted to the rank on their appointment, and Princess Mary, who held it from 1939 and was appointed the ATS's honorary controller-commandant in August 1941.

When other ranks were assigned to mixed-sex Royal Artillery batteries of Anti-Aircraft Command starting in 1941, they were accorded the Royal Artillery ranks of gunner, lance-bombardier, and bombardier (instead of private, lance-corporal, and corporal), and wore the RA's braided white lanyard on the right shoulder and the 'grenade' collar badge above the left breast pocket of their uniform tunic.[16]

Officers

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General officers Field officers Junior officers
United Kingdom Auxiliary Territorial Service
(1938–1941)
Chief controller Senior controller Controller Chief commandant Senior commandant Company commander Deputy company commander Company assistant
United Kingdom Auxiliary Territorial Service[17]
(1941–1949)
Chief controller Senior controller Controller Chief commander Senior commander Junior commander Subaltern Second subaltern
United Kingdom United Kingdom
(1928–1953) 		Field Marshal General Lieutenant-General Major-General Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Officer Cadet
Field Marshal General Lieutenant-General Major-General Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Officer Cadet
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1

Other ranks

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Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
United Kingdom Auxiliary Territorial Service
(1938–1941)
 No insignia
Senior Leader Section Leader Sub-Leader Chief Volunteer Volunteer


United Kingdom Auxiliary Territorial Service
(1941–1949)
 No insignia
Warrant Officer Class I Warrant Officer Class II Staff Sergeant Sergeant Corporal
Bombardier[note 1] 		Lance Corporal
Lance Bombardier[note 2] 		Private
Gunner[note 3]
United Kingdom United Kingdom
(1920 – 1953) 		No equivalent No insignia
Warrant Officer Class I Warrant Officer Class II Warrant Officer Class III[note 4] Staff/Colour Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal Private
(or equivalent)
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1

List of Directors ATS

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ATS 'Ack-Ack Girls' memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum. The badges depicted are those of the ATS, Royal Artillery and Anti-Aircraft Command.

Notable ATS personnel

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See also: Category:Auxiliary Territorial Service soldiers and Category:Auxiliary Territorial Service officers
Princess Elizabeth (centre) with officers of the ATS Training Centre
ATS recruitment poster from Mandatory Palestine, in English and Hebrew

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ used when assigned to AAC batteries[citation needed]
  2. ^ used when assigned to AAC batteries[citation needed]
  3. ^ used when assigned to AAC batteries[citation needed]
  4. ^ 1938-1940

References

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  1. ^ Margaret Dady, Women's War: Life in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (1986)
  2. ^ Margaret Lang, Senior Commander K.T Staff, School of A. A. Artillery, Manorbier in The Kine Gazette, December 1945. Printed by E.H. Leach, South Parade, Tenby
  3. ^ "The life of an ATS Ack-Ack girl". Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Personal statements from ATS gunners". Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  5. ^ Dady, Women's War: Life in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (1986)
  6. ^ "The Auxiliary Territorial Service in the Second World War" (PDF). The Imperial War Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  7. ^ a b Brig N.W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994, ISBN 1-85753-099-3, pp. 399–401.
  8. ^ Keith Brigstock 'Royal Artillery Searchlights', presentation to Royal Artillery Historical Society at Larkhill, 17 January 2007.
  9. ^ Norman E. H. Litchfield, The Territorial Artillery 1908–1988 (Their Lineage, Uniforms and Badges), Nottingham: Sherwood Press, 1992, ISBN 0-9508205-2-0.
  10. ^ Ellis, Major L. F. (1968), Victory in the West", Vol II: "The Defeat of Germany", History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series (Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004 ed.), London: HM Stationery Office, ISBN 1-845740-59-9, Appendix IV.
  11. ^ Maj-Gen R. F. H. Nalder, The Royal Corps of Signals: A History of its Antecedents and Developments (Circa 1800–1955), London: Royal Signals Institution, 1958, p. 352.
  12. ^ Wrigley, Chris. (2002). Winston Churchill: A biographical companion. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-87436-990-8.
  13. ^ "Her Majesty the Queen – Early Public Life". Official website of the British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  14. ^ Barr, Sabrina (22 April 2020). "Our Queen at War: Princess Elizabeth's role in the British armed forces during the Second World War". The Independent. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Badges of Rank in the ATS", The Times, 30 September 1939
  16. ^ Col J.D. Sainsbury, The Hertfordshire Yeomanry Regiments, Royal Artillery, Part 2: The Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment 1938–1945 and the Searchlight Battery 1937–1945; Part 3: The Post-war Units 1947–2002, Welwyn: Hertfordshire Yeomanry and Artillery Trust/Hart Books, 2003, ISBN 0-948527-06-4, Plate 9, p. 7.
  17. ^ Talbot-Booth, E. C., ed. (1943). Rank and Badges in the Navy, Army, RAF, and Auxiliaries (PDF). London: George Philip and Son Ltd. p. 31.

Further reading

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  • Bidwell Shelford. Women's Royal Army Corps (1997) 141pp
  • Bigland, Eileen. Britain's other army: The story of the A.T.S (1946), an official history
  • Cowper, J. M. The Auxiliary Territorial Service (1949), an official history
  • Crang, Jeremy A. "The revival of the British women's auxiliary services in the late nineteen-thirties," Historical Research (May 2010) Volume 83, Issue 220, pages 343–357, online at EBSCO
  • Crang, Jeremy A. "'Come into the Army, Maud': Women, Military Conscription, and the Markham Inquiry," Defence Studies, Nov 2008, Vol. 8 Issue 3, pp 381–395, online at EBSCO
  • Dady, Margaret. Women's War: Life in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (1986)
  • De Groot, Gerard J. "'I love the scent of cordite in your hair': Gender dynamics in mixed anti-craft batteries" History, Jan 1997, Vol. 82 Issue 265, pp 73–92
  • Kerr, Dorothy Brewer. Girls Behind the Guns: With the Auxiliary Territorial Service in World War II (1990)
  • Noakes, Lucy. Women in the British Army: War and the Gentle Sex, 1907–48 (2006), pp 61–81 on ATS of war years
  • Robinson, Vee. Sisters in Arms (1996) ISBN 0004720849 A personal memoir by an ATS anti-aircraft gun crew member.
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