From - C.M.H.Q. Report No. 120 - dated: 31 July, 1944 - Part II
FORMATION OF CWAC COMPANIES OVERSEAS
31. On 28 Oct 42, the first draft of the C.W.A.C. to be detailed for overseas service left Canada, two months later than had originally been contemplated owing to unexpected delays in accommodation arrangements. On 5 Nov 42, 104 C.W.A.C. personnel arrived in the United Kingdom, functioning temporarily under the name of "Special Detachment, C.W.A.C.". This Detachment, which was accommodated in the barracks at 38 South Street, was authorized on 28 Dec to operate as No. 41 Company under the temporary command of Captain M.F.M. Riley.
32. Excited, happy, and delighted with the splendid mansion which had become a C.W.A.C. barracks for the duration, this group was given a most enthusiastic welcome. Particularly happy to greet them were "Canadian soldiers who had not seen home in two and three years". The one telephone in the building was greatly over-worked as the girls endeavoured to establish communication with husbands, relatives and friends. Much interest in the arrival was shown by members of the press who were busy with cameras. Movies of the landing, of the house, and of the girls were secured for future records. Papers ran special articles.
33. The girls acclimatized themselves remarkably well during the first week although there were two or three stumbling blocks, the greatest of these being blackouts. Another was the difficulty of finding staffs large enough to handle the work in the barracks. Cooks worked hard under the direction of trained and experienced army cooks to master the unfamiliar methods of
rationing and of preparing food. Close helpful liaison in this regard was established between the A.T.S. and the C.W.A.C.
34. "Considerable interest was shown in the CWACS", and offers of hospitality poured into barracks Tours, tea-dances and theatre parties were arranged by P.R.O. and the Y.M.C.A. The first mail arrived in gratifying quantities on 2 Dec, and by the middle of the month Christmas preparations and parties were an absorbing interest. In addition to Christmas gaiety there was the added excitement of preparing for the second draft which it was rumoured was soon to arrive.
35. The second flight of 141 all ranks arrived on 19 Dec 42 as a second London Company, later authorized No. 42, and took up residence in Chesham Hotel Barracks. Captain G.K. Queen-Hughes was detailed temporarily to command this company. There was some slight interchange of individuals between Nos. 41 and 42 Companies to ensure that personnel were quartered in barracks most available to their work.
36. The Chesham Hotel lends itself nicely to the purpose of barracking C.W.A.Cs. Damaged by the 1940 blitz, fresh decorations and alterations had obliterated all evidence of scars. In this, as in the South Street Barracks, central heating had been installed. Officers and N.C.Os. of the "Special Detachment" were on hand at 0100 hours 19 Dec 42 to greet the new arrivals. Old acquaintances were renewed, and a hot meal was served midst much pleasant uproar.
37. During the first few months there were several memorable days for both companies. On 17 Jan 43 the girls had their first air raid experience. Particularly important was 11 Feb to Privates Joyce Jellett and Jean Shum who that day departed "on a very secret mission" and later found themselves serving tea to His Majesty the King as he visited Canadian troops "in Southern England". There was 19 Feb which was graduation day for the first group of recruits. A special ceremony was arranged and held at Wellington Barracks Parade Ground, Birdcage Walk. General Montague took the salute and addressed the class.
38. A third company of 103 all ranks for London Area arrived in the
United Kingdom on 31 Mar 43. This company, authorized No. 43, under command of Lieut. G. Forsland, was quartered at Sussex Square Barracks. Accommodation of No. 43 Company differs from Nos. 41 and 42 in that it consists of a group of houses instead of a single building. All buildings had received the same cheerful decorative treatment and presented a pleasant appearance for the new company.
39. The fourth flight of 85 all ranks arriving on 17 May 43 was a company for Headquarters C.R.U. Under the command of 2/Lieutenant C.R. Gough, it was designated No. 47 Company, subsequently becoming 200 Company on 11 Jun 43, reverting again to 47 Company on 15 May 44. The advance party for this group arrived on 10 May and "set up house in pouring rain". The main party arrived a week later on 17 May to find themselves comfortably and happily quartered. Picnics and gardening proved welcome alternatives to typing and shorthand classes for this group. According to the War Diary of No. 47 Company, June 1943, H.Q. C.R.U. "is immensely pleased with its C.W.A.Cs".
40. After many months of delay the laundry draft of 142 all ranks was despatched as the fifth flight and arrived in the United Kingdom on 29 Jul 43. As this group was accounted for in the Laundry establishment, no C.W.A.C. organization was required. The girls of this group were delighted with the welcome they received from the personnel at No. 1 Static Base Laundry and from neighbouring units. They were immensely pleased with their new quarters. "Nothing had been spared to make them comfortable". Special training in laundry work preceded the settling into jobs. By the end of their first month at the laundry this group had established a very fine espit-de-corps.
41. The sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth flights, arriving in the United Kingdom 21 Feb, 18 Apr, 8 May, 19 Jun and 4 Jul 44 respectively, were reinforcements. Additional accommodation at Addison Road in the Acton Area had been acquired in anticipation of the arrival of these drafts.
PARADES, VISITS
42. The largest, and generally conceded the finest parade attempted by the C.W.A.C. Overseas was held on 5 Sep 43 to celebrate the second anniversary of the formation of the Corps. All C.W.A.C. units in the United Kingdom were represented; 22 officers and 405 other ranks took part and later received
commendation from General Montague for "a smart show". The salute was taken by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal.
43. On 8 May 43, at the request of the Commanding Officer, European Theatre of Operations, United States Army, 100 personnel represented Canada in a parade of women's services at White City Stadium. The salute was taken by Major-General W.S. Key, U.S. Army. Regarding this occasion the War Diary of the Staff Officer, C.W.A.C., comments, - C.W.A.C. personnel were "the smartest on parade".
44. All companies have been , on various occasions, honoured by visits from distinguished guests. War Diaries of the companies note a long list, among whom are included H.R.H. the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Lord Bennett, the High Commissioner (the Rt.-Hon. Vincent Massey), the Minister of National Defence (the Hon. J.L. Ralston), and the Director, Auxiliary Territorial Service (Major-General Jean Knox).
C.W.A.C. TRAINING OVERSEAS
(a) Basic and NCO Training
45. The training syllabus for recruits is a modified form of "the
Standard Syllabus for the Canadian Women's Army Corps - Basic Training 1942". It is based on a total of 180 periods of a four weeks course. The training detachment and training quarters are located at No. 43 Company in Sussex Square Barracks; parade grounds are in a suitable area close by.
46. As the supply of N.C.Os. from Canada has been ample to meet the requirements in the United Kingdom, N.C.O. training classes have not been established.
(b) Officer Training
47. With the exception of those who were obtained from Canada for the administration of the first group arriving overseas, provision of officers had been made by appointment from the ranks through the normal selection process. The procedure adopted was based upon the series of proposals drawn up by Major Sorby on 2 Dec 43. Briefly, these were: The recommendation for the appointment, which was to be initiated by the Officer Commanding the C.W.A.C. Company concerned, would be followed by an interview with Personnel Selection, after which the candidate would appear before the C.W.A.C. O.C.T.U. Board. A written examination would complete the procedure.
48. On 23 Feb 43, the establishment of a C.W.A.C. officers' training increment to No. 1 O.C.T.U. Wing, Overseas Canadian Training School, at BORDEN, Hants, was approved by General Montague. A block syllabus based upon an eight period day, six working days per week of a three weeks course was adopted. The course was to follow closely that of the male O.C.T.U. course.
49. Directives concerning "Selection of Candidates for Commissions in C.W.A.C." were issued by Brigadier Beament on 1 Mar 43 and again on 6 Aug 43. In these he pointed out the necessity of maintaining a high standard in the selection of C.W.A.C. officers. He emphasized that a commission should not be held out as a reward for satisfactory service to another rank when it had the result of turning "a good N.C.O. into an indifferent officer". He urged that employing officers arrange to have a potential officer acquire "a wide and varied experience of policy before putting her forward for a commission". Following the publishing of these directives, a policy covering selection procedure and qualities to be assessed in a C.W.A.C. candidate was published in Routine Order (Overseas) 3759 of 1943.
50. There is little difference between C.W.A.C. selection routine and that used in the selection of male candidates. In the case of the C.W.A.Cs., an additional interview is obtained by the utilization of the facilities of the British War Office Selection Board. The interview conducted by this board takes the form of a two-day series of tests conducted entirely by women. Following this examination, recommendations are made by the board to C.M.H.Q., and candidates then appear before the C.M.H.Q. Selection Board whose decision as to the eligibility of the candidate is final.
51. Following the completion of the first class, approval for the transfer of C.W.A.C. O.C.T.U. classes from C.T.S. to an A.T.S. Training School was granted by General Montague on 30 Jun 43. The War Office signified its approval on 11 Aug 43. By this move O.C.T.U. training was extended from a three to an eight weeks course.
(c) Training for Visiting C.W.A.C. Officers on Attachment to A.T.S.
52. During the visit of Major-General Jean Knox, Director of Auxiliary Territorial Service, to Canada in September and October 1942 the Adjutant-General, Major-General H.F.G. Letson, discussed with her the possibility of sending officers of the C.W.A.C. to the United Kingdom for attachment to A.T.S. schools for training. Early in November 1942, the War Office signified its approval of this proposal and agreed that this attachment would be of approximately three months duration, that the first group of 12 officers would arrive late in December 1942, and that thereafter approximately eight officers would follow monthly for similar attachment.
53. The itinerary for this course includes visits to A.T.S. training centres, and rotating attachments in small groups to War Office and to one of the British or Scottish commands. On completion of this series of attachments, senior officers of the group proceed to the Senior Officer School at BAGSHOTT, the junior officers to the Junior Officers School at EGHAM for a complete course. Between January 1943 and April 1944 five groups completed this training.
54. At the time of writing, this course has been replaced by an exchange of Canadian and British Officers. Thirty A.T.S. officers are now on three months duty in Canada, while twenty-four C.W.A.C. officers are on attachment to A.T.S. centres in the United Kingdom.
Cheers
Part III to follow.