History of the New Zealand Womens Army Corps

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S ROYAL ARMY CORPS (NZWRAC)

Corps Motto: "Pro Patria" (For Country)

This was the motto chosen for the NZWAAC on it's formation in 1942. This remained the motto of the NZWAAC's successors, namely the NZWAC and NZWRAC

<<< The Tui is a bird which dwells in native bush land in most parts of New Zealand.

It has a prominent white tuft at the throat and a white patch on the wing. They are usually dark brown or black with variable metallic blue green colouring. With the formation of the New Zealand Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942, the Tui was selected as the Corps emblem. The Tui continued to be used as the emblem for the New Zealand Women's Army Corps and finally the New Zealand Women's Royal Army Corps.

The story of the organisation, which ultimately evolved into the New Zealand Women's Royal Army Corps (NZWRAC), had it's beginnings in the early days of World War Two. During the years of 1939-1942 a multitude of women's volunteer organisations sprang up throughout New Zealand. Although very different in name, structure and size, all had a common purpose, to assist the New Zealand Army in the War effort.

LINEAGE OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS
- New Zealand Women's Army Auxiliary Corps 1942-1948
- New Zealand Women's Army Corps 1948-1952
- Royal New Zealand Women's Army Corps 1952-1977

Members of these many units learned marching and the system of military discipline. They learned how to drive and repair cars, motorcycles and trucks.

They were schooled in signalling by Morse code, wireless and flags and many other skills.

The women of these volunteer corps assisted the New Zealand Army by providing drivers, cooks, messengers, clerks and by performing many less glamorous tasks, such as digging air raid trenches.

Two of the largest of these organisations was the New Zealand Women's National Service Corps (NZWNSC) and the New Zealand Women's War Service Auxiliary (NZWWSA). All members of these formations were volunteers, not only were they unpaid for their time and dedication, but they also had to pay for their uniforms from their own pockets.

These units were outside the direct control of the New Zealand Army.

In 1941 the New Zealand Prime Minister's Office, decreed that the NZWWSA would be the only officially approved organisation for women's war service work. So it was that the many and varied women's volunteer units from around the country merged into the single NZWWSA.

Members of the NZWAAC, 1942.

Permission of the Alexander Turnball Library, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

In 1942, after much lobbying, the Government created the New Zealand Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. The NZWAAC was under New Zealand Army control. This not only meant that the women were paid for their work and had uniforms provided but also for the first time, it bought official status, as compared to the previous unofficial volunteer units.

Many members of the NZWWSA immediately enlisted in the NZWAAC. Some members of the NZWWSA had already been posted to Cairo work in the Armed Forces Canteens located there.

Upon transferring to the NZWAAC, these women became the first NZWAAC's to serve overseas. During the course of World War Two. NZWAAC's served in the European, African and Pacific theatres, along with New Zealand troops.

At home, in New Zealand, members of the NZWAAC served in a variety of trades all over the country, within many different New Zealand Army formations.

With the end of World War Two, the majority of NZWAAC's were demobilised to return to civilian life, and the strength of the NZWAAC was dramatically reduced.

<< A NZ stamp issued in 2003

Despite this, NZWAAC's served in both J-Force (the Army of Occupation in Japan) and K-Force (New Zealand's contingent, which served under United Nations command during the Korean War).
In 1948 the word "Auxiliary" was removed from the NZWAAC title and it was renamed as the New Zealand Women's Army Corps (NZWAC). Perhaps more importantly, at the same time, it was made a permanent Corps of the New Zealand Army Regular Force.

The New Zealand Women's Army Auxiliary Corps hat badge.

This badge was worn by WAAC's during World War Two and up until 1948.

It was solid brass and worn by all ranks.

The first pattern hat badge for the New Zealand Women's Royal Army Corps.
Introduced in 1952.

A bi-metal badge was worn by other ranks, while officers badges were of gilt and enamel.

The third pattern hat badge of the New Zealand Women's Royal Army Corps.

It was the last badge to be worn by New Zealand WRAC's, worn by all ranks, it was an anodised aluminium badge with a green enamel garter.

Of special interest, is the fact that when the NZ Women's Army Auxiliary Corps was renamed the NZ Women's Royal Army Corps the direction in which the Tui bird faces on the hat badge was reversed from that which it faced on the NZWAAC hat badge.

In 1952 the Corps underwent yet another name change, this time as the result of Queen Elizabeth II, granting the Corps the title prefix "Royal". From this point on the Corps was known as the New Zealand Women's Royal Army Corps (NZWRAC).

The next major change was the final one and came in 1977. In this year, as a result of Government policy, the NZWRAC was deactivated. It's member's were integrated into which ever Corps of the New Zealand Army their trade applied.

This bought to end, a unique chapter of New Zealand military history.