Since Karmen does not have access to the following on the internet, I thought, I would post this here, for everyone to read. The following three posts are taken from Canadian Military Headquarters Report No. 120 , Dated: 31 July 1944 - entitled - The Canadian Women's Army Corps - Overseas - Sep 1939 - Jun 1944.
From - C.M.H.Q. Report No. 120 - dated: 31 July, 1944 - Part I
THE FORMATION OF THE C.W.A.C.
14. On 26 Jul 41, the Government of Canada announced through the Press the decision to form a Canadian Women's Army Corps. In view of the increasing demand upon Canada's available manpower for the Armed Forces, industry, agriculture and other essential services, OTTAWA had decided to enrol several thousand women volunteers for service in Canada as full time auxiliaries in the Armed Forces. The employment of women would permit the utilization of their services as cooks, clerks, stenographers and telephone operators and thus release men for combatant service elsewhere. The formation of the C.W.A.C. was authorized by Order-in-Council P.C. 6289 of 13 Aug 41, and promulgated in C.A.R.O. 1422 of 1941.
15. Regulations governing the Corps were drawn up and despatched to the various Military Districts on 19 Aug 41. The first recruits reported to the Divisional Registrars on 1 Sep 41; the first course for Officers and N.C.Os. assembled on 23 Feb 42 at MacDonald College, St. ANNE DE BELLEVUE, Quebec. Included in the first course for officers were Junior Commander A.E. Sorby, D.A.A.G., C.W.A.C. Overseas, and Junior Commander Margaret C. Eaton, Director-General C.W.A.C.
16. In March 1942, an important step in the growth of the Corps was its promotion from auxiliary to full army status. With this recognition, the C.W.A.C. became a corps of the Active Militia of Canada as if it had been named as such under Section 20 of the Militia Act and the said Corps and the members thereof to be on Active Service as if the same had been placed thereon under Section 64 of the said Militia Act. This authorization was granted by Order-in-Council P.C. 1965 promulgated in General Orders 149 and 150 of 1942 and published as an appendix to C.A.R.O. of 1942.
THE QUESTION OF OVERSEAS SERVICE
17. It is not clear from the evidence available at C.M.H.Q. whether or not N.D.H.Q. contemplated overseas service for the Corps at the time of its organization in 1941, but it is possible that it received some attention. Among the subjects which Brigadier G.R. Turner, B.G.S. Canadian Corps, was to discuss at OTTAWA during his visit to Canada in the summer of 1941 were the nature of C.W.A.C. employment, places of employment, training, discipline and the possibility of overseas service.
18. It was in February 1942 that the possibility of overseas employment for the Corps was first definitely advanced. The suggestion came from C.M.H.Q. A Static Base Laundry was to be established in the United Kingdom and a proposed establishment had passed the War Establishment Committee and was ready for submission to the Canadian Government. Before the submission was made, it was suggested to C.M.H.Q. by War Office laundry experts that 150 other ranks might be efficiently replaced by women.Civilian labour was not available and the most suitable alternative appeared to be the employment of a C.W.A.C. detachment. The principal objection to bringing the C.W.A.C. personnel overseas had hitherto been based upon the argument that their employment would create "most difficult administrative problems" The Static Base Laundry was, however, a different matter. Administrative difficulties in this case appeared easier of solution. A group of 150 C.W.A.C. personnel could be supervised as a unit by their own officers. Furthermore, as the Laundry was still to be constructed there would be ample time for arrangements to be made for the provision of quarters. In the event of the C.W.A.C. being used in this capacity, the war establishment of the Laundry would be amended to include a C.W.A.C. element.
19. In addition to these considerations, there was the paramount factor: the manpower shortage. C.M.H.Q. was deeply concerned over this matter, and was therefore interested in any suggestion which promised to alleviate the situation. Under these circumstances, Brigadier Beament, who up to this time had been opposed to the employment of C.W.A.C. personnel in England, agreed that it would be uneconomical of manpower "to tie up 150 men on the washing of clothes when women could do the job just as well". On 10 Feb 42, the proposal was accordingly submitted to OTTAWA that 150 C.W.A.C. personnel trained in laundry work should be despatched overseas for employment in the Static Base Laundry. On 6 May 42, N.D.H.Q. concurred in this proposal: "Policy re employment of C.W.A.C. personnel overseas now approved", and requested C.M.H.Q. to indicate number of C.W.A.C. that can be employed at Static Base Laundry or otherwise. State if approval for establishment as already submitted should be sought. This was followed on 8 May by another telegram which stated: Would C.W.A.C. personnel be acceptable to B.O.D. Could send 50 June and further drafts up to maximum 300 by August. This proposal has tentative approval here.
20. On the strength of the words "or otherwise" in the N.D.H.Q. telegram on 6 May, C.M.H.Q. submitted a further request to OTTAWA on 6 Jun 42 for 200 trained C.W.A.C. personnel to be employed as clerks in C.M.H.Q. and in records, ACTON. Three days later, OTTAWA concurred in this request, and advised that during the month of August 1942 the first draft of 200 C.W.A.C. personnel would be despatched to the United Kingdom. As the Static Base Laundry was still to be constructed and would not be ready to operate for some months, the clerical personnel for C.M.H.Q. and ACTON were to precede the Laundry draft overseas.
21. Having embarked upon the policy of employing C.W.A.C. personnel overseas, C.M.H.Q. decided to enlarge the field of action in this regard. On receipt of OTTAWA's approval of the request for 200 C.W.A.C. clerks, a survey of all C.M.H.Q. branches was undertaken with a view to ascertain how many and in what capacity "A" category male personnel might be replaced by the C.W.A.C. The summary of submission revealed that a total of 301 could be used. It was estimated that in addition to this number administrative personnel for this group would bring the total requirement up to 400 all ranks.
ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS PRECEDING ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST DRAFT
22. Immediately following the decision to employ C.W.A.C. personnel overseas steps were taken to arrange with the War Office for the necessary accommodation for the first draft of 200 personnel. As this group was to be employed at C.M.H.Q. and Records, ACTON, accommodation was to be found within reasonable distance of both these places. It was considered that one large building would be ideal for a company but adjoining houses would be satisfactory if a large building were not available. Requisition forms were issued for the acquisition of the Chesham Hotel, Surry Street, Strand, and for 38 South Street, W.1.. When by 1 Aug 42 it became evident that a total of 400 all ranks would be required from Canada, C.M.H.Q. found it necessary to obtain further accommodation, and authority was granted by the Senior Officer, C.M.H.Q., to requisition premises in Sussex Square, W.2. Accommodation for 510 was now provided and was allotted as follows:
38 South Street 105
Chesham Hotel 135
Sussex Sq. Area 270
23. Repair, decoration and alterations to these buildings commenced immediately; central heating was installed, air raid shelters were prepared; electric wiring was put in order; additional baths and sinks were provided. Work on all three barracks was to be completed by 15 Oct 42.
24. With respect to stores and equipment, it was agreed that they would be obtained from British sources rather than through Canadian ordnance stores and would be paid for under the capitation rate. Under this scheme, barrack stores and furnishings would be provided on a scale according to that of the A.T.S. All furnishings over and above this scale would be supplied by the Canadian Government. It was agreed that Auxiliary Services would furnish pianos, radiograms, radios, card tables, writing tables and sundry games.
25. On 16 Jul 42, Capt. Alice Sorby was appointed Staff Officer, C.W.A.C. Overseas, and in order to assist in administrative arrangements was despatched to the United Kingdom in advance of the first draft. Major Sorby reported at C.M.H.Q. on 18 Aug 42, and on the following day visited the three barracks in order to assess the administrative needs of the companies. Having regard to the requirements of each building and to the necessity for each barrack area being a self-contained C.W.A.C. unit, Major Sorby recommended to Brigadier Beament that the best way to provide the necessary personnel for the different barracks was to draw up a proposed W.E. for each separate barracks on the basis of the accommodation available. The establishment would be that of a company consisting of a Company H.Q. and four platoons each of two sections subdivided into two subsections. Certain modifications would be made to meet existing conditions in each barracks.
26. The W.E. of the C.W.A.C. personnel at the Static Base Laundry was of a different nature. It was similar to that of mixed batteries in the A.T.S. where the employing unit carries on its strength both soldiers and A.T.S. C.M.H.Q. therefore recommended that the most efficient method of handling C.W.A.C. personnel for Static Laundry will be to absorb individuals in each normal establishment and administer them within that establishment. This is the most economical in manpower as male personnel within laundry do not warrant separate administrative set up. On 20 Mar 43, OTTAWA concurred in this proposal.
27. The accounting routine originally put into effect for the C.W.A.C. overseas was based upon that in operation in Canada. In accordance with the instructions outlined in this system, a C.W.A.C. volunteer is carried on the strength of a C.W.A.C. company for purposes of pay, administration, discipline and in most cases rations and quarters, and is shown as attached for duty with the employing unit. C.M.H.Q. felt that the method therein outlined was a complicated one, although there were certain obvious advantages in having the overseas system correspond with the method used in Canada. It was, moreover, desirable to have some system in working order for the arrival for the first flight of C.W.A.C. Instructions were therefore issued early in October that the Canadian Routine Order mentioned above should be the basis for C.W.A.C. accounting in the United Kingdom.
28. By January 1943 it became evident that the system as outlined was becoming unwieldy. In the first place, certain mixed units were about to be established, such as the Static Base Laundry. Secondly, consideration was being given to the employment of C.W.A.C. officers in C.M.H.Q. as replacement for "A" category younger group male officers. A survey of "G", "A" and "Q" Branches during January and February 1943 had revealed that 31 suitably trained C.W.A.C. officers might be employed in this manner at C.M.H.Q. No provision had been made for these officers in C.W.A.C. companies, and they could only be carried out the strength of C.M.H.Q.
29. On 16 Mar 43, as a solution to this accounting problem, the proposal was put forward by Brigadier Bostock, that "the System" be amended to make provision for the establishment of mixed units in which C.W.A.C. personnel would be carried on the strength of the employing uni. Discussions followed over the next three months on the various methods of accounting. On 24 Jun 43, Major Sorby, submitted a draft amendment for inclusion in "the System"1. The proposed plan, which conformed to that of the A.T.S., would include two methods of accounting; the system then in operation n C.W.A.C. companies plus that used by mixed units.
30. Three months later, the principles involved in Major Sorby's memo were adopted, and on 1 Oct 43, instructions were issued by Brigadier Beament that all CWAC personnel employed in formations or units of the Canadian Army Overseas be absorbed in the War Establishment of the employing formation or unit. Effective that date, Part II Order entries would show the posting of C.W.A.C. personnel to their employing units as far as War Establishments would permit and their attachment back to the C.W.A.C. company concerned for all purposes except duty and pay. The strength of these units employing C.W.A.C. personnel would be reported in two parts, - the first to show total strength including C.W.A.C., the second to show C.W.A.C. strength only.
Cheers
Part II to follow.