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The girls of hut "Marlborough", Aldermaston Camp, August 1942.
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How We Began Collecting
We began collecting ATS items about six years ago.
The ATS seemed to be a forgotten part of our military history and that inspired us to collect ATS items. Our first item was a early pattern Battledress blouse issued to a Subaltern attached to the Royal Corps of Signals.
We now have a large collection which comprises of many uniforms & caps, (both Officers and Other Ranks), equipment, medals, photos & paperwork and "sweetheart" badges. We have many items that are named and numbered to the original owners.One of our earliest groups of items are an ATS Soldiers Service & Paybook, (the "AB64") and a small silver "ATS" lapel badge. (This was issued due to shortages of uniforms in 1939 and was worn on civillian clothes while training) Both of these were issued to a lady that joined up in November 1938.
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Brief notes about the ATS.
The ATS was the Women's Army in Great Britain during WW2. The ATS was formed on Sept.9th 1938. The intention was to free as many men as possible for service at the Front. The girls of the ATS eventually did many jobs that they were not originally intended to do, such as helpers on the Anti - Aircraft guns. The girls were in charge of the equipment used for spotting enemy aircraft. Although not offically allowed to fire the guns themselves, many ATS Veterans recall that the men sometimes allowed them to have a go! Conscription was introduced in 1941 and the girls of the ATS were then on an equal footing with the men and subject to Military law. After 1941 many ATS girls served overseas. Peak strength of the ATS was reached in mid 1943 with 210,308. One interesting point was ATS pay was only two thirds the male rate! The ATS continued in exsistance until Feb.1st 1949, when it became the Womens Royal Army Corps, the WRAC. The WRAC was disbanded in 1992. Women now serve alongside the male comrades and wear the cap badge of the appropriate Corps or Regiment.
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Our rarest item.
Our most valued item must be a scarce dark brown ATS issue track suit dated 1942. This example is a "sealed pattern" and is the original prototype that all others had to conform to. These were mainly issued to PT instructors. We know of only two others in private hands. Her Majesty the Queens ATS track suit is in the collection of the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London.
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Contact us.
Did you or any of your family serve in the ATS? If so, we would love to hear from you. Contact us at:
Please bear in mind we are collectors and not the Veterans Association, please contact the WRAC Association for contacting old comrades etc.
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ATS Girl on "Ack-Ack" duty.
She is wearing the Mk.I steel helmet and the ATS Battledress blouse. Note the gas mask in the ready position.
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ATS Girls of Anti - Aircraft Command manning a sound detector. They are wearing the "Teddy Bear Coat". Made of artificial fur, and a special issue item to girls on "Ack-Ack" duty .
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"Lilly" wearing the private purchase ATS coloured
field service cap.
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Join the Veterans Association.
Are you an ex member of the ATS or the WRAC? If so, why not join the WRAC Association?
There are 80 Branches throughout the UK and membership is only £5 per year.
Members receive a magazine, "The Lioness" , twice a year.
HQ WRAC Association,
Adjutant General's Corps Centre,
Worthy Down,
Winchester,
Hants.
SO21 2RG.
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Our Favourite Links
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Suggested reading & viewing.
Book; "Britain's Other Army" by Eileen Bigland. First Published in 1946.
Film: "The Gentle Sex". Wartime propaganda film on life in the ATS.Directed by Leslie Howard.
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An early ATS "pop-up" Greetings card.
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"For England, Home and Beauty".
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"Cheerio!"
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