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WWII Living History / Militaria / Research
Women's Ambulance and Defense Corps of America (WADCA) - Uniform
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WADCA Insignia
Design which was used for the WADCA Insignia cloth patch.
These were 2 1/2" in diameter and used as both shoulder patch and cap badge
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Ida Lupino in Coast magazine, May 1942
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Rose Wagner, Dec 1941 - See note below
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History of the WADCA
The Womens Ambulance and Defense Corps of America (WADCA) was an organisation founded to give women the opportunity to share in the responsibility of protecting home, community and country in time of war in a period when the US Army had no services open to women except the Army Nurse Corps (ANC).
The WADCA was started in Los Angeles in 1938 by Colonel John W. Colbert (1880 - 1965) of Los Angeles, a Great War veteran, who provided medical care to the French and American Armies in Belgium, Gallipoli and France during WWI. The Great War influence can be seen in details of the tan four-pocket uniform and its insignia.
Persons qualifying for becoming a WADCA were required to be American citizens, or have their first papers; be in good health; between 18 and 45 years of age and be willing to devote at least two nights a week to the service.
Classes in drill, first aid, advanced first aid, motor mechanics, rifle and pistol shooting, radio sending, gas mask wearing and usage, and map reading were held every week. Every few weeks the troopers practiced driving under blackout conditions. The following is an account of one of these exercises.
"Seventy-five members of the Women's Ambulance and Defense Corps participated in a blackout driving and first aid drill Sunday afternoon. Leaving the Armory at 3 p.m. in 40 cars, travelling in convoy order, the WADC members and 23 auxiliary police proceeded to the Chemung County Road and Gun Club's Breesport farm. There the corps members in groups of seven, dispersed over the countryside in search of bombing "victims" most of whom were some distance from the road. After opening sealed orders describing the "victim's" injuries, the women gave first aid treatment and, preparing a stretcher from a blanket carried the injured through the field to their car ambulance"
WADCA troopers were "on call" for blackout, air raid drill and emergency service at any time. They were also active fundraisers, taking part in campaigns such as visting every working man and woman locally to persuade them to donate to the Red Cross War Fund with their "Give at Least 10 Per Cent of One Week's Pay" campaign.
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941, women rushed to join this and many other civillian organisations. The founding of the Women's Army Auxilliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942 finally made a military role available to women.
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WADCA Service Chevron
Capt. Catherine L. Finter, the organizer of the 200+ strong Elmira unit, displaying a one-year service stripe (a small tan coloured chevron which can be just be seen above the dark stripe) at a banquet celebrating the unit's first anniversary. Pictured to the left is Sgt. Margaret E. Constantine.
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Tan four pocket jacket and belt
Tan shirt
Tan tie
Tan garrison cap
Skirt
Tan garrison cap - Not part of grouping
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WADCA Collar Disc
WADCA Insignia and Unit Patch "Los Angeles"
WADCA Unit Patch "El Monte"
Medal Ribbon on WADCA Jacket
WADCA Service Chevron
WADCA Buttons
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Other WADCA items
Matchbook with cartoon logo designed by Walt Disney
Matchbook with WADCA insignia
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Re: Photograph of Rose Wagner. Please contact me (remove #) if you are able to put me in touch with Vera S. Williams, from whose excellent book "WACs Women's Army Corps" I purloined this photograph, being unable to find any other of sufficient quality.
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