The Royal Navy was one of the first armed forces to enlist women into its services; this was due to suffering a serious shortage of sailors to man the ships. Formed in November 1917 the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) encompassed the roles of electricians, mechanics, wireless operators, telegraphists, code readers, cooks, cleaners and clerks. In spite of this, there were scores of sailors serving ashore and it was determined that women should take the place of these men. This led to the establishment of the WRNS and the saying of "Free a Man for Sea Service".

Initially the Navy declared that women could only do domestic work. Nonetheless, recruits grew very quickly and WRNS established roles in some one hundred different jobs, many of which had been deemed traditionally too difficult for women to undertake. Even though the Women's Royal Naval Service was active for only nineteen months during the First World War, the WRNS proved how important and what a valuable contribution women could make to the Navy in difficult times. These WRNS were significantly recognised when the Service was hastily re-formed at the outbreak of war in 1939.

The Second World War saw WRNS numbered at over 74,000 at its peak in 1944 with women doing over two hundred different jobs. These WRNS played a key role in the preparation, development and organisation of many of the Navy's most significant operations; as well as playing a vital role in the efficient running and maintenance of naval activities ashore. Thousands of WRNS served overseas and many more thousands worked with the Fleet Air Arm, Coastal Forces, Combined Operations and the Royal Marines.

Select one of the women below to hear and read about their experiences in the WRNS