More Info →Memorandum to Women's War Service Auxiliary from J. S. Hunter

(COPY)
National Service Department,
Hope Gibbons Buildings,
Private Bag,
WELLINGTON, C.1.

31st. October, 1941

MEMORANDUM for: -

The Dominion Secretary,
Women’s War Service Auxiliary,
87 The Terrace,
WELLINGTON, C.1.

I am directed by the Hon. the Minister of National Service
to convey to your Central Executive his decisions regarding the
establishment of training groups, uniforms, badges and insignia, etc.
in respect of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary.

(1) Training and Service Groups;
Seven training groups have been approved namely, Transport,
Group, Cycle Group, Signalling Group, Canteen Group, Land Workers Group,
Clerical Group, Nursing Group. It is to be understood that fresh
training groups cannot be established without Ministerial authority.

(2) Formation of Groups;
As all these groups undertake military drill in Army form-
ation as part of their training, the groups may be divided into companies
and platoons. The number of companies in each group and the number of
platoons in each company may be entirely flexible according to the
number of members, but the basis of the organisation is to be uniform
throughout the Dominion.

(3) Office Holders.
The following are the approved group office holders and
their method of appointment:
Division Leader: Section
This title will be used by the Convener of the particular
group under training. Her appointment will be by the District Committee.
These leaders should be chosen solely by reason of their suitability
for training their respective groups, rather than by reason of the fact
that they may be Committee members. Where the present Division Leaders
who are members of the District Committees are deemed suitable, their
appointment can, of course, stand, but the way should be open for
special qualifications for their respective duties. Care must be taken
not to deplete District Committees so that they are unable to function
as administration bodies.
Company Leader:
The duties of this officer on parade will correspond with
the duties of a Sergeant-Major in the Army, and as far as instructional
work is concerned she will undertake such duties as are delegated to
her by the Division Leader. Her appointment will be by the District
Committee on the recommendation of the Division Leader.
Platoon Leader:
The duties of this officer on parade will be the duties of
a Platoon Sergeant. Her appointment will be made by the Division Leader
on the recommendation of the Company Leader.

FIRST MARKER:
The duties of this officer will correspond with those of a
Corporal in the Army Platoon, and she will be responsible to the Platoon
Leader. Her appointment will be made by the Division Leader on the
recommendation of the Company Leader.

Second Marker:
The duties of this officer will correspond with those of a
Lance-Corporal in the Army Platoon and she will be responsible to the
Platoon Leader. Her appointment will be made by the Division Leader
on the recommendation of the Company Leader.

All the officers mentioned will require to be available for
training, and in the event of an emergency their services will be
exclusively employed to the extent to which their units may be required.

(4) Uniforms, Emblems, Insignia, of Office.
Under the Uniforms and Badges Emergency Regulations, 1941,
provision is made for the prohibition of the use of uniforms or any
colourable imitation thereof without the consent of the competent
authorities. In the case of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary as it is
part of the Emergency Reserve Corps, the Minister of National Service is
the competent authority in this respect. The Minister has, therefore,
approved the standardisation of the official W.W.S.A. uniform already
in use, and at an early date steps will be taken to have the details
gazetted. The uniform may be more particularly described as under: -
Uniform:

The uniform for all members of the Women’s War Service
Auxiliary shall be khaki cotton drill coat-frock with three
military pockets, two on skirt and one on left breast;
self-coloured belt; buttons affixed on the front,; and tie
to be worn in colour according to the training section
to which the member belongs.

Cap:

Soft crowned cap of similar material with visor.

In addition the Minister has approved of two-[piece]
khaki cotton drill costume type uniforms being worn by
Committee members, Division, and Company Leaders.
Description of these uniforms will be gazetted at a later
date.

Badge:
The badge to be worn by all members of the Women’s War
Service Auxiliary shall bear the letters “N.Z.”. and also
the letters “W.W.S.A.” as indicated on the diagram below.

[image]

Members of the Dominion Council, the Dominion Central
Executive and District Committees may wear a special
badge with letters mentioned above and the word “Official”
appended as indicated in the diagram below.

[image]

Arm Bands:
The Arm band to be worn by all members of the W.W.S.A.
shall bear a crown and the letters “W.W.S.A.” in red on
white cloth. This band will only be worn by members
when not in [uniform?].

• 3 -
  Emblems for Training Groups:
  The following shall be worn by members of the appropriate groups
  set out hereunder:

Transport Group: The emblem shall be the word “Transport” in
in white letters on a blue ground.
Cycle Corps: The emblem shall be the word “Cycle” in white
letters on light navy blue ground.
Signalling Group: The emblem shall be crossed flags, one white
and one blue, as indicated by the following
diagram, on white ground.

WHITE [images of flags] BLUE

Canteen Group; The emblem shall be the word “Canteen” in
white letters on red ground.

Land Workers Group: The emblem shall be the word “Land” in white
letters on green ground.

Clerical Group: The emblem shall be the word “Clerical” in
white letters on purple ground.

Nursing Group: The emblem shall be the St. John badge to be
worn on the left upper sleeve.

Insignia:
Division Leaders: To wear “Official” badge only.

Company Leader: Star to be worn on each upper sleeve and
lanyard in approved colour.

Platoon Leader: 3 chevrons inverted to be worn on each fore-
arm in approved colour.

First Marker: 2 chevrons inverted to be worn on each fore-
arm in approved colour.

Second Marker: 1 chevron inverted to be worn on each forearm
in approved colour.

The uniforms shall be issued only to persons duly enrolled as
members of the W.W.S.A. and worn only on authorised occasions, namely:-
(1) Wearers must have been members of the Auxiliary for not less
than three months.

(2) During that period the members must have attended not less
than twelve training classes or drill classes of the Auxiliary

(3) The uniform will be issued on the understanding that it will
be worn only in class or on duty or when going to, or returning-
ing from class or duty.

(4) An undertaking must be given by the member to continue in
the Auxiliary for the duration of the War.

(5) The recommendation and certificate of an accredited instructor
must be obtained.

It is only reasonable, however, that members of the W.W.S.A.
who are enrolled with other sections of the Emergency Reserve Corps may
retain the right to wear the W.W.S.A. uniforms on occasions approved by
controlling authorities of the Emergency Reserve Corps. Suitable insig-
nia with the exception of badges is being manufactured in printed
coloured cloth, and will be supplied by this Department for distribution
to the various units as and when required. As soon as supplies are
available, you will be informed accordingly.
(Sgd.( J.S. Hunter.
DIRECTOR.