From - C.M.H.Q. Report No. 120 - dated: 31 July, 1944 - Part III
ENLISTMENT OF C.W.A.C. OVERSEAS
55. C.W.A.C. policy for enlistment in the United Kingdom is similar in respect to that of men in the Canadian Army Overseas. It is on a selective basis. The C.W.A.C. may enlist only Canadian nationals, that is, those who are either (a) Canadian born (b) Canadian by right of domicile, or (c) married to Canadian soldiers. In the case of (b), the candidate's legal status is decided by the Department of Immigration. A civilian applying for enlistment is required to produce a release from the Ministry of Labour. Candidates must be between the ages of 18 and 35. In the case of A.T.S. personnel wishing to transfer to the C.W.A.C., permission must be first obtained from the War Office. Total enlistment of recruits in the United Kingdom as of 12 Jun 44 is 219. Of these 51 were former A.T.S. personnel. The strength of the Corps Overseas as of 5 Jul 44 totals 67 officers and 964 other ranks.
56. With the enlistment of recruits in the United Kingdom and with the despatch of reinforcements from Canada, it was decided to carry these personnel on the strength of No. 43 Company. Subsequently, the Y-32 list also became the responsibility of this company. By April 1944, No. 43 Company was administering 379 personnel, and it was Major Sorby's opinion that in the interest of efficiency the company should be relieved of its duties as a reinforcement unit by the establishment of a small C.W.A.C. Wing at No. 1 C.G.R.U. On 19 May 44, the establishment of this wing was approved by Brigadier Booth.
DISCHARGES
57. Discharges for the C.W.A.C. in the United Kingdom generally follow the provisions of C.A.R.O. (Overseas) 1784, although each case is judged on its own merit. Disposition of pregnant personnel depends upon the circumstances. Appropriate adjustments are made in all cases. Under authority of A.G. Cable 3308, those whose home is in Canada are returned there; those who are resident in the United Kingdom or whose husbands are citizens of the United Kingdom are discharged in England. Discharges from the Corps in the United Kingdom up to 31 May 44 total eight. Personnel returned to Canada to the same date number 11 officers and 64 other ranks.
EMPLOYMENT OF THE C.W.A.C.
58. As compared with those of Canada, the types of employment of the C.W.A.C. Overseas are not greatly varied. However, this field of activity has expanded to an extent which would have seemed decidedly improbable at an earlier time.
59. A very large majority are employed in a clerical capacity. C.W.A.C. personnel are now employed in Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, 21 Army Group, Allied Army Italy, C.M.H.Q., H.Q. C.R.U., Army Show and in eight Army Corps, - Medical, Dental, Postal, Pay, Service, Engineers, Ordnance and Signal Corps. As of 30 Apr 44, with total other rank strength at 853, eleven trades were represented as follows: clerks 378, cooks 29, switchboard operators 17, cipher operators 4, dental assistants 4, keyboard operators 3, postal sorters 2, driver mechanics 2, storewomen T.O.D. 1, and draftswomen 1. Apart from the trades, as of the same date, there were 390 general duty personnel and 22 drivers IC.
EMPLOYMENT OF THE C.W.A.C. IN REAR AREAS OF OPERATIONAL THEATRE
60. On 18 Mar 44, Brigadier A.W. Beament, OIC Cdr Sec, G.H.Q., 1 Ech, 21 Army Group, proposed to Lt-General K. Stuart, Chief of Staff, that consideration might be given to the question of employing the C.W.A.C. in both 1st and 2nd Echelons, 21 Army Gp. The need for clerical help was pressing and "this HQ would welcome a small number of clerk stenogaphers". This proposal had the approval of the M.G.A. 21 Army Gp who declared himself as being favourably disposed towards the employment of the C.W.A.C. in Cdn Sec. G.H.Q., 1 and 2 Ech 21 Army Gp in capacities similar to those already being filled by the A.T.S. in British Headquarters. Brigadier Beament further suggested that there were substantial opportunities in hospitals for the C.W.A.C.
61. Existing policy regarding C.W.A.C. employment had not envisaged such expansion of activities, and the proposal was therefore thoroughly discussed at C.M.H.Q. before it received the approval of the Chief of Staff. Availability of manpower was surveyed to ensure that fully competent male personnel would not be retained in C.M.H.Q. while C.W.A.C. were sent out.
Subsequent submissions revealed that there were definite tradesmen deficiencies impossible to fill with male personnel. Since, in this event, tradesmen would have to be brought from Canada, it was suggested that manpower would be saved by the employment of C.W.A.C. in rear areas. Approval of this policy was expressed by General Montague on 12 Apr 44, and by General Stuart on the following day.
62. Meanwhile, a similar discussion had been taking place at OTTAWA, and on 10 Apr 44, N.D.H.Q. sought the views of C.M.H.Q. on the advisability of such a move. In reply, C.M.H.Q. advised OTTAWA on 13 Apr 44 that the situation was being canvassed to determine the number of individuals and the types of employment which could be utilized in the United Kingdom. To meet the immediate demand of 1 Ech for six stenographers, C.M.H.Q. agreed to supply this number from among those already serving overseas but pointed out that this method of provision could not be carried on indefinitely as Echelon would thus be built up by the sacrifice of C.M.H.Q. Future demands for operational areas would therefore have to be supplied by despatch of further drafts from Canada.
63. Late in May, the first detachment of one officer and 17 other ranks of the C.W.A.C. (6 of whom were detailed to the Army Show) to serve in these areas left the United Kingdom for service with Cdn Sec, G.H.Q., 1st Echelon, A.A.I. According to information supplied by the office of the D.A.A.G., C.W.A.C. (5 Jul 44) 4 other rank C.W.A.C. personnel3 had preceded this group to Italy. Further information from the same source reveals that S.H.A.E.F. has three C.W.A.C. clerks on its strength, while at Cdn Sec, G.H.Q., 1 Ech 21 Army Gp, two C.W.A.C. officers and 10 C.W.A.C. other ranks are employed. On 17 Jun 44, authority was granted by the Chief of Staff for the posting of C.W.A.C. personnel to 2 Ech, 21 Army Gp.
64. The administrative policy adopted for these areas is that of a mixed unit.This method, which has proved particularly feasible in the Static Base Laundry, is considered more economical of administrative staff than is the establishment of C.W.A.C. administrative companies.
THE MANPOWER CEILING AND THE C.W.A.C.
65. All female army personnel come under the manpower ceiling of 232,1004 for the Canadian Army Overseas. On 14 Oct 43, C.M.H.Q. set their total C.W.A.C. requirements within the ceiling at 4500, an estimate which, they pointed out, was not to be considered as a demand until policy was firm on whether or not the ceiling was capable of absorbing large numbers of C.W.A.C. It was agreed at that time that C.W.A.C. personnel should be despatched overseas at the rate of 50 per month. In March 1944 it was agreed that this number should be increased to 75 per month, possibly even to 100 per month after June 1944 if enlistments in Canada should warrant it.
66. Because of the extra staff required for administration, female personnel cannot always be counted on a basis of soldier for soldier. The British, when employing A.T.S., had found that it required three A.T.S. to replace two soldiers on some establishment while a ratio of one for one is adequate on others. C.M.H.Q. had proposed to OTTAWA that C.W.A.C. personnel might be supplied on the basis of 10 women for every seven or eight men.
67. With the adoption of the policy to employ the C.W.A.C. in operational areas, an assessment of C.W.A.C. requirements was made by C.M.H.Q. and it was found that the demand from operational areas for clerical help, plus those from H.Q. C.R.U. and those of C.M.H.Q. itself for various types of employment
amounted to approximately 1173 individuals. It was pointed out to N.D.H.Q. that provision of these numbers would have to be made from OTTAWA. The question arose: could the Canadian Army Overseas absorb C.W.A.C. personnel to this extent? General Montague considered it doubtful owing to the large number of low category men available not only in the United Kingdom, but also within 21 Army gp and particularly in the A.A.I. The supply of this type of soldier was approaching a saturation point in all theatres overseas, and policy in this regard was to explore every possible means of employing a soldier now overseas before despatching him to Canada as unemployable. While it was true that there were deficiencies in certain trades which could be quickly and efficiently filled by the C.W.A.C. in forward areas, it was Brigadier Bostock's opinion that it would be unwise to employ them in these theatres except in those trades for which male personnel could not be found. It was therefore suggested by Brigadier Bostock that before further C.W.A.C. drafts were despatched overseas "consideration should be given to providing an allowance under the manpower ceiling". He further recommended that C.M.H.Q. should reach an agreement with N.D.H.Q. whereby the ceiling would be increased by 300 for every 1,000 C.W.A.C. employed overseas.
68. General Montague discussed the matter on 5 May 44 with Brigadier Booth and with General Stuart who proposed that the solution to the problem would be to count the C.W.A.C. outside the ceiling, a solution which he was submitting to OTTAWA. Until a decision in this regard was reached, it was agreed that immediate action should be taken in the first place by sending a "token draft" of the C.W.A.C. to A.A.I. Secondly, a statement of all jobs now performed by "A" category men which might be filled by low category men or by the C.W.A.C. was to be prepared by C.M.H.Q. It was also recommended that OTTAWA be requested to indicate the numbers of the C.W.A.C. they were prepared to supply to meet these requirements. In the event of the C.W.A.C. being provided outside the ceiling the proposal to increase the ceiling would not be pursued. Present information reveals nothing further in regard to General Stuart's proposal to count the C.W.A.C. outside the manpower ceiling.
Cheers
Thats it for now.