[Mark W. Tonner]

Army Headquarters Report No. 15 - dated: May 1 1947 - Part IV

The Canadian Women's Army Corps, 1941-1946

Recruiting:

63. As already pointed out, when the C.W.A.C. was organized in August 1941 recruiting was made the responsibility of the Department of National War Services. The first women were accepted as members of the C.W.A.C. on 28-29 Aug 41. The method of recruiting adopted was very involved. The Department of National Defence was to requisition from National War Services numbers of women for employment with the Army. The women were then selected by N.W.S. from lists of applicants and ordered to report for enrolment.

64. Individuals who wished to enrol in the C.W.A.C. submitted applications through District Registrars to N.W.S. for consideration. A nominal roll of acceptable applicants was then sent to District Registrars who notified those selected. On the receipt of a satisfactory medical report which the applicant had to obtain within three days after notification of acceptance had been given, instructions were given for the applicant to report for enrolment in the C.W.A.C.

65. This method of recruiting did not prove satisfactory in practice. N.W.S. found it impossible to handle quickly the large number of applications received for enlistment in both the C.W.A.C. and the C.W.A.A.F., with the result that recruiting was delayed. The fact that this system did not provide for direct and personal contact by Army or C.W.A.C. officers with the recruits prior to their reporting for enrolment was unsatisfactory. As early as November 1941 it was suggested that applicants be interviewed at District Headquarters and given a medical examination, after which the N.W.S. application form might be completed and forwarded through the District Registrar. It is not clear from the sources consulted whether this change in recruiting policy was made.

66. After the C.W.A.C. was authorized as a Corps of the Active Militia, recruiting became a matter solely for Army concern, and was taken over by the Department of National Defence in May 1942, by which time approximately 2,752 had enlisted in the C.W.A.C. The Corps Headquarters and District Staff Officers handled all recruiting during the next few months. District Staff Officers interviewed applicants, enlisted them and allocated them to their duties. On 17 Jul 42 recruiting became the responsibility of the Directorate of Army Recruiting.

67. At this time demands for C.W.A.C. personnel were much greater than the supply, a condition which appears to have been chronic. The need for recruits began to be more widely advertised. In order to publicize this need a conference was held in Ottawa on 31 Jul 42, at which 55 delegates from various women's organizations throughout Canada were present. A policy of wholesale enlistment was adopted, and age limits were extended from 21 v 40 years to 18 v 45 years. On 23 Nov 42 a circular letter advised all Districts and Commands as follows:

1. Detailed plans for a continuous national advertising and promotional effort on behalf of C.W.A.C. recruiting were presented to conference of District Recruiting Officers and C.W.A.C. District Staff Officers.

2. In order to derive the greatest possible benefit from this program and to increase enlistments to at least double the present monthly rateY C.W.A.C. personnel are to be employed on the District Recruiting Staff and fill vacancies or replace men within the District Recruiting limited Establishment.

3. It is appreciated that accommodation and other factors have presented a problem in many Districts. Notwithstanding facilities available in your District at present this matter will be treated with the utmost urgency and general enlistment regardless of quotas will be carried out.

68. At a District C.W.A.C. Staff Officers conference held 18-20 Nov 42 a great deal of consideration was given to recruiting problems. Brig Sutherland pointed out that it was intended to employ 20,000 C.W.A.C. personnel to release that number of men for more active service. He stated also that future plans would call for 1,720 women to be enlisted monthly, and that recruiting efforts would have to be doubled.

69. In spite of all efforts, response was slow, and the number of women enlisted fell far short of the desired number. The following extracts from a letter written by the Command Recruiting Officer, Pacific Command, point out some of the reasons for the lack of success: To my mind the great fundamental cause is that there has not been created (even after 3 years of war) a general public opinion that women are needed in the Army. Just how folks can be blasted from their complacency, is difficult to know. Until this is done there will continue to be lethargy, and enlistments for the C.W.A.C. will continue to be comparatively meagre. It takes years to really make an efficient Officer or N.C.O. The C.W.A.C. has grown rapidly. Their Officers and N.C.Os. are very inexperienced. It is marvelous that they have done as well as they have, and that the discipline of the Corps is as good as it is; but there is not yet and exprit de corps formed, and the C.W.A.C. personnel in many cases are not the recruiting media they should be.
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There are still many soldiers (men) who resent women in the Forces. Many others do not encourage enlistment. It is difficult to break this down.

He suggested also that the C.W.A.C. rates of pay were not sufficient to encourage enlistment. D.A.R. expressed general agreement with these observations.

70. In order to discover why Canadian women were not enlisting, two public opinion polls were taken. The first, An Enquiry into the Attitude of the Canadian Civilian Public towards the Women,s Armed Forces, was initiated by the Joint Committee on Combined Recruiting Promotion, Women's Services of the Three Armed Forces, to determine the reasons why more women were not offering themselves for enlistment in one of the Women's Services. The second, entitled Canadian Women's Army Corps: Why Women Join and How They Like It: Report of Enquiry, was conducted and prepared by D.A.E. and was undertaken to ascertain reasons why women did not join the C.W.A.C., the types of women who had enrolled and their reasons for enlisting. It was estimated that there were from 750,000 to 800,000 women who were eligible for enquired about enrolment from an authorized recruiting agent. Of these, 37,000 were medically examined and 28,000 accepted by three Services. Among the factors which seemed to handicap recruiting, it was noted that the civilian public felt that service in the armed forces was an unladylike occupation; that young women tended to dislike giving up civilian life and luxuries; and that men in the Services strongly opposed the enrolment of women.

71. Another factor which made it difficult to attract suitable recruits was a Dominion-wide whispering campaign regarding the morality of all three Women's Services. Many steps were taken in an effort to counteract it. A report on this subject by the Wartime Information Board stated:

The whispering campaign against the morality of women in the services is largely a symptom of resentment against an innovation which is somehow felt to be un-womanly. Opposition will not disappear until the Women's Services are taken completely for granted, but it can be substantially reduced by some of the following suggestions:

1. Appeal to the spirit of sacrifice by giving full weight to the hardships and disadvantages of service life

2. Support this by a sober, frank, matter-of-fact tone in all publicity B enlistment is a serious business and deserves to be taken seriously

3. Appeal directly to the families of potential recruits

72. Lt-Col B.M. Clerk, S.A.A.G., wrote to the A.G. on 28 Jul 43 as follows:

I am in agreementYthat no published statistics or retorts should be made in answer to rumours concerning C.W.A.C. The Women=s Services provide, perhaps, the most difficult publicity problem of the whole Canadian war effort. The rumours and chargesYare exaggerated out of all proportion to actual facts. The problem cannot be solved immediately or by any simple formula.

He suggested also that a senior C.W.A.C. officer should make a coast to coast speaking tour in an attempt to alleviate the recruiting problems. General Letson agreed to this suggestio. Accordingly, Lt-Col M. J. Dover left Ottawa on 10 Oct 43, speaking in the larger centres, and completed her tour on 21 Jan 44.

73. It was obvious, however, that the policy of whole sale enlistment had had harmful results, and that many women were accepted who did not contribute to the good of the Corps. The ultimate answer to recruiting problems appeared to be a new system of selective recruiting. This matter was discussed extensively at N.D.H.Q., and the results of the discussions were outlined on 28 Sep 43 as follows:

The Army is a male society developed by men over centuries around the role of he fighting soldier. This society is traditional and imposes rigid discipline and harsh living conditions on the individual in order to build up and maintain the type of physical and mental fitness required for effective action in the field. Upon entering the Army the modern civilian male soon learns to subordinate his own personality to his new role in the Army, forYhis life will eventually depend upon it. He becomes a soldier first and an individual second. Modern Armies have incorporated women into their ranks. But Canadian Army women do not and are not expected to fight. Rather their function is to take over the noncombatant operations of the Army so that more men may be diverted to the fighting fronts. In short, women have been put into uniform to do static jobs.

74. Although the system of selective recruiting had the desired effects of raising the general standard of enlistment, improving the prestige of the Corps, and removing discipline problems, it provided no assurance that the Corps could be maintained at the desired strength. It appears, however, to have been the policy governing recruiting until recruiting was discontinued two years later.

75. Under the regulations drawn up on the formation of the C.W.A.C., only British subjects might be enlisted. On 19 Dec 43 it was noted that a ruling had been received from American authorities to the effect that they had no objection to the enlistment of United States citizens in the C.W.A.C. When new C.W.A.C. Regulations were authorized in 1943, provision was made for women from the United States to enlist, and the C.W.A.C. was publicized at recruiting centres already set up in such centres as Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, St Paul and Seattle. It was noted, however, that most of those who presented themselves for enlistment were in the 18-20 age group and did not prove to be satisfactory soldiers. Accordingly, enlistment of United States citizens ceased in January 1944.

76. Recruiting was also carried on in Newfoundland from July 43 until February 1945. It was a difficult matter for many reasons: there was no accommodation in Newfoundland for the housing of recruits; no arrangements had been made for C.W.A.C. personnel resident in Newfoundland postdischarge benefits; and early results obtained did not indicate that a sufficient number of women could be obtained to justify the administrative difficulties necessary.

77. At no time was the recruiting situation completely satisfactory. Lack of careful selection, particularly until February 1944, proved expensive and was also a deterrent to the enlistment of more desirable types of women. The demand appears always to have been generally greater than the supply, and the public never seemed aware of the genuine need for C.W.A.C. personnel.

Training:

78. The Regulations which governed the C.W.A.C. from its formation contained no instructions regarding training beyond the general statement that D.Os.C. were responsible for whatever training was necessary for recruits. Such training was often carried out after duty hours, since recruits were usually employed immediately upon enlistment.

79. In October 1941 the Director of Military Training drafted a basic training syllabus which was approved and made available in pamphlet form in January 1942. Cadet training and other syllabi were also drawn up, and issued to Districts.

80. The need for a training centre which would provide standardized training soon became obvious, and on 1 Feb 42 part of MacDonald College at Ste Anne de Bellevue was leased from McGill University for this purpose. The new Training Centre was taken over officially by a Board of Officers on 22 Feb. Two male officers were placed in charge with C.W.A.C. officers assisting, and five male N.C.O. instructors arrived on 23 Feb. On the same day, the first basic training course, covering basic training and administration, commenced with a total of 156 all ranks in attendance. The course was completed on 14 Mar and the graduates were inspected by the Minister of National Defence.
Seventeen women were selected from the course as potential instructors, and were required to attend a special course which began on 16 Mar. New basic training and administration course began on 30 Mar 42 for 176 all ranks. On the completion of these the same procedure was followed and courses for prospective instructors and provosts began on 20 Apr. Junior Commander Dover took over the command of the Training Centre on 31 Mar.

81. Approximately 300 newly-enrolled personnel attended the first basic training course for recruits which began on 27 Apr. Basic training at MacDonald College continued until November 1942, after which the Training Centre was given over to advanced and cadet training.

82. A new Basic Training Centre had been set up in Vermillion, Alberta, in July 1942, in buildings which had formerly housed the Provincial Agricultural College and which were capable of accommodating 500 basic trainees monthly. Basic training courses commenced on 3 Aug. Male personnel were supplied by M.D. 13 to take charge of training until sufficient C.W.A.C. instructors were trained and available. In 1944 it seemed obvious that no marked increase in recruits was likely, and that the third Training Centre at Kitchener would be sufficient to handle all basic training. No 2 C.W.A.C. (B)T.C. was therefore reduced to nil strength on 15 May 44.

83. It was decided in 1942 that a second Training Centre was needed in eastern Canada, and the site decided upon was the camp occupied by No 10 C.A.(B)T.C. in Kitchener. The advance party of C.W.A.C. personnel arrived in Kitchener on 17 Oct 42, followed three days later by the first group of recruits. Sufficient accommodation was available in this camp for training 1,000 personnel. Basic training began on 26 Oct 42. On 31 May 45, when No 1 C.W.A.C. (A) T.C. was reduced to nil strength, the cadet course moved to Kitchener. No 3 C.W.A.C. (B)T.C. was redesignated No 4 C.W.A.C. T.C. and was disbanded with effect from 30 Oct 45.

84. In addition to basic and cadet training, other regimental courses were given, including Advanced Corps Training, N.C.O. courses, Warrant Officers courses and Regimental Officers courses. A prebasic English language course was begun at Kitchener in the summer of 1944 for French-speaking personnel. C.W.A.C. personnel also attended Chemical Warfare and Technique of Instruction courses at A-32 C. Pro T.C.

Trades Training:

85. When the C.W.A.C. was organized and it was expected that fully qualified recruits would be enlisted no provision was made for the trades training of its personnel. The fact soon became obvious that some special training in such Army trades as driving, cooking Ordnance duties, etc., would be necessary in order to enable C.W.A.C. personnel to replace soldiers satisfactorily. In addition, it had been noted from time to time that, while a type of girl with good educational standards is joining the Corps, she has no trades qualifications, but she could be quickly trained under proper instruction. Any such training was, however, to be the responsibility of the D.Os.C. In M.D. 2 advantage was taken of an offer made by the Regional Director of the Dominion-Provincial War Emergency Training Programme on 9 Oct 41 to train C.W.A.C. personnel as cooks at the Central Technical School in Toronto. On 29 Oct it was noted that Aa short course of instructions for drivers in motor mechanics was being held in M.D. 3, and in M.D. 10 C.W.A.C. personnel underwent training as wireless operators at the University of Manitoba during the school year of 1941-42.

86. While undoubtedly the question of trades training had received general consideration at N.D.H.Q., the first large scale plan for training in any trade appears to have been advanced by the M.G.O., who wrote to the A.G. on 14 Jan 42 as follows:

It is proposed to utilize enlisted C.W.A.C. personnel to the maximum extent possible in the M.G.O. Branch in order to release "A" category soldier personnel, particularly tradesmen for Overseas service. A programme, using such personnel in Ordnance Workshops in the Army both in Canada and Overseas, can be undertaken with great confidence that it will succeed as women are now being used in industry, both in munitions and other war plants for heavy as well as light work of a similar nature. Women are used in Ordnance Workshops in England to repair tanks and from observations of our officers during visits to Ordnance Workshops in England approximately 35% to 40% of the total personnel consists of women. All Ordnance Workshops in Canada are being surveyed at the moment to determine the exact number of women that can be used. We know we can use a minimum of 1500 women. Authority is requested to recruit and train that number. The Director of Mechanical Maintenance advises me you have agreed, in principle, to a separate establishment to be known as the "Canadian Women's Army Corps - Ordnance Division". The C.W.A.C. establishment, in part, will include one senior officer, three junior officers and four clerks in the Directorate of Mechanical Maintenance. In each District there will be a minimum of one officer with one clerk. The larger districts will have two or three officers with three or four clerks. The establishment will vary in accordance with the number of women undergoing training in each District. It is proposed to recruit 500 women per month for three months.

He stated that facilities existed to train the 1,500 women in technical schools in addition to those who were then in training, and concluded with the first definite proposal for the employment of C.W.A.C. personnel overseas:

"the O.C. 1st Canadian Base Ordnance Workshop is aware of the large number of women already being used in Base Ordnance Workshops with the British Army and he has suggested, and we concur, that 500 of this 1500 women be despatched Overseas about the 1st August, 1942, to work in the 1st Canadian Base Ordnance Workshop".

87. On the following day, however, it was pointed out that there was no necessity, but instead a "positive objection", to the formation of a "separate division of the C.W.A.C. for the Ordnance". It was agreed that the normal scheme of command and administration of the Corps was much more desirable and convenient than any special organization. It was considered that eventually 1,500 C.W.A.C. personnel could be provided for employment with the R.C.O.C.

88. On 19 Jul 42 Maj-Gen H.F.G. Letson, then A.G., asked the opinion of the C.G.S., Q.M.G. and M.G.O. concerning an expansion of the programme of employment of the C.W.A.C. He wrote:

In view of the large drain that has been made on manpower in this Country for the Armed Services, I feel that the replacement of men by women in the Army can be extended beyond the point now contemplated. I feel that they could be used extensively in Anti-Aircraft Artillery, actually manning and firing the guns, in the R.C.A.M.C., in the R.C.A.S.C., in fact in all places where they have the physical ability to perform the necessary duties. The policy already approved does envisage a wide employment of women, but if my suggested course of action is to be followed it will be necessary to place women after they have completed their Basic Training in advanced Training Centres. This will entail an expansion of these facilities eventually. The immediate problem is to seek authority for the extension of the employment of women in the Army, and to investigate means of giving them the necessary advanced training. In South Africa, Great Britain and the U.S., this policy is now in effect, and I feel that the time is now due for us to extend the field of employment of women to the fullest extent. A rough estimate has been made, indicating that eventually some 20,000 women can be usefully employed on tasks already approved; I feel confident then an extension of the above mentioned policy would result in a substantially larger number being employed.

The other Military Members concurred in the proposal. It was pointed out that the Minister, the C.G.S. and the A.G. were all pressing for action in this regard.

89. At a meeting of the Army Council on 29 Jul 42, the question of the employment of personnel of the C.W.A.C. in operational units was discussed generally. The C.G.S. stated that women were already being employed in Pacific Command in certain operational roles such as "the operation of predictors, G.L. sets, and in operation rooms and had proved quite satisfactory". It was decided at this meeting that experimental training of C.W.A.C. personnel should be carried out with a view to their being eventually employed in the actual handling and firing of anti-aircraft guns. D.M. & R. pointed out, however, that demands for several thousand C.W.A.C. personnel were outstanding, and that until sufficient cooks, clerks, and women for other "sedentary occupations" were provided no attempt should be made to place C.W.A.C. in operational duties. It was decided, therefore, that "for the present" C.W.A.C. may be employed in operational units only on H.Q. Comd Fortress Plotting Room and G.O.R. D.M. & R. considered that the setting up of trades schools for C.W.A.C. personnel was "vitally necessary" unless it was anticipated that sufficient personnel could be found from enlistments in civil life for the "sedentary occupations".

90. Lt-Col J.E. McKenna was instructed to visit all Military Districts to ascertain the number and types of vacancies for women, the training facilities available. He renorted on 19 Aug as follows:

I would respectfully point out that in studying the types of present employment of C.W.A.C. personnel, there is a great similarity in all Districts. It comprises mostly clerical workers, (stenographers, typists and clerks) cooks, waitresses, store women and general duties. There is a conspicuous absence of demand for technically trained girls. This may be attributed to the fact that when original demands were asked for, a certain number of technicians were included in returns, but they were not available and there appeared no hope of their being supplied. Demands were then kept to more or less non-technical trades. All Districts are anxiously looking forward to the establishment of trades training for C.W.A.C. personnel. This particularly applies to the mid-western Districts, where girls of good education, but without any specialized training are enlisting and performing more or less menial tasks. After their basic training if they were sent to trades training courses they would become of special value in replacing "A" men. When trades training for C.W.A.C. is actually in force and units are able to see them employed at specialized work, there should be no difficulty in obtaining through Districts the numbers that can be used to replace soldiers now so employed.

91. As a result, on 1 Sep 42 all demands previously submitted for C.W.A.C. personnel were cancelled, and D.Os.C. were requested to provide N.D.H.Q. with a complete statement of their C.W.A.C. requirements in order to ascertain the number for whom it would be necessary to provide trades training. The first trades training courses under N.D.H.Q. arrangements appear to have begun on 12 Nov 42, with 15 personnel attending a clerks' course at the
Edmonton Wing, No 13 District Depot; 20 attending a cooks' course and 30 a drivers' course at No 13 Vocational Training School. During the next year, courses for Drivers I.C. were held at each of the C.W.A.C. Training Centres and at S-5 C.D. & M.S., Woodstock, Ontario. As demands were filled it became possible to discontinue the courses at the Training Centres in 1945, leaving only the school at Woodstock, with a capacity of 50, to provide instruction for this trade. Courses for Driver Mechanics were held at A-20 R.C.A.S.C. T.C., Red Deer, Alberta, and No 1 C.W.A.C. (A) T.C. during 1943. Cooks' courses were established at Ste Anne de Bellevue, Kitchener and Calgary; but requirements were quickly filled and No 3 C.W.A.C. (B)T.C. with a capacity for 60 potential cooks was left to supply future demands. Courses for clerks and stenographers were used most extensively, and were held in a number of schools across Canada, including the Northern Vocational School, Toronto, the High School of Commerce, Ottawa, Vancouver Technical School, Edmonton Technical School, Saint John Vocational School, Gordon Bell High School, Winnipeg, Kitchener-Waterloo Vocational Institute, the Halifax Academy and the Saskatoon Technical School. In addition, instruction was provided for small numbers of the following tradeswomen: instrument mechanic draughtswomen, equipment repairers, painters, kinetheodolite operators, laboratory assistants, radiologists, storewomen, nursing orderlies, dental assistants and dental technicians, night-vision testers.

92. From an unsatisfactory beginning, training gradually improved and became standardized. Trades training fulfilled the standards laid down by D. Org, and the methods of regimental training which evolved were considered generally satisfactory.

Despatch of C.W.A.C. Overseas and to the United States:

93. It is not clear from the sources consulted when the despatch of C.W.A.C. personnel overseas was first considered. In the various drafts of Regulations drawn up during 1940 and 1941, and in the Regulations finally adopted, provision was made that all women who enrolled must undertake to serve "at home or abroad". The first definite proposal appears to have been put forth by the M.G.O. on 14 Jan 42. He pointed out that large numbers of women were employed in the British Army Base Ordnance Workshops, and suggested that 500 C.W.A.C. personnel might be despatched overseas in August 1942 to work in No 1 Canadian Base Ordnance Workshop.

94. In February 1942 it was suggested by C.M.H.Q. that C.W.A.C. personnel might be employed to replace 150 other ranks in a Static Base Laundry which was about to be established. The manpower shortage was beginning to be a matter for deep concern, and any objections to the employment of C.W.A.C. personnel overseas were set aside. On 10 Feb 42 therefore, the proposal was submitted to N.D.H.Q. On 6 May 42 C.M.H.Q. was advised that the policy of employing C.W.A.C. personnel overseas had been approved. Two days later N.D.H.Q. inquired whether C.W.A.C. would be acceptable for employment at the Base Ordnance Depot, and added that 50 might be sent by June, and further drafts up to a maximum of 300 might be despatched by August.

95. On 6 Jun 42 C.M.H.Q. requested 200 C.W.A.C. clerks. The request was approved, and it was stated that during August the first draft of 200 C.W.A.C. personnel would be moved overseas. Since the Static Base Laundry was not yet constructed, the clerical personnel were to be despatched first. A survey was made of all C.M.H.Q. offices in order to ascertain the number of "A" category soldiers who might be replaced by members of the C.W.A.C. The result revealed that 301 personnel could be employed as replacements which, with administrative personnel, would constitute a requirement of approximately 400 all ranks.

96. Accommodation consisted of three building converted to barracks and capable of housing 510 all ranks was acquired, and stores and equipment were to be provided by British sources on a scale equal to that of the A.T.S. Capt E.A. Sorby was appointed C.W.A.C. Staff Officer overseas, and arrived in London on 18 Aug 42 in order to assist in preliminary preparations for the first draft.

97. Unexpected delays which had been encountered in completing arrangements for accommodation postponed the despatch of the first draft until 28 Oct 42. On 5 Nov, 104 all ranks arrived in the United Kingdom. Quartered at 38 South Street in London this group was designated No 41 Coy. A second flight of 141 C.W.A.C. personnel, lated designated No 42 Coy, reached London on 19 Dec 42 and occupied Chesham Hotel Barracks.

98. The third flight of 103 all ranks did not arrive until 31 Mar 43. It was quartered in a group of houses known as Sussex Square Barracks and constituted No 43 Coy. On 17 May 43 the fourth flight of 85 personnel arrived for employment at Headquarters, C.R.U., and formed No 47 Coy. The draft for No 1 Static Base Laundry finally arrived on 29 Jul 43. The next five flights, disembarking in the United Kingdom on 21 Feb, 18 Apr, 8 May, 9 Jun and 4 Jul 44 respectively, served as reinforcements. A total of 25 drafts were despatched overseas, and two additional companies were set up later, i.e. Nos 50 and 51 Coys.

99. Women in the United Kingdom were allowed to enlist in the C.W.A.C. if they were:

(a) Canadian-born
(b) Canadian by right of domicile
(c) Married to a Canadian soldier

They had also to obtain a release from the British Ministry of Labour and for A.T.S. personnel wishing to transfer to the C.W.A.C. the permission of the War Office was necessary. The total number of personnel enlisted in the United Kingdom was 322.

100. Training for recruits in the United Kingdom was a modified form of the standard basic training syllabus. The first group of recruits, numbering 39, completed basic training on 19 Feb 43. On 23 Feb a C.W.A.C. officers training increment was added to No 1 O.C.T.U. Wing, Overseas Canadian Training School at Bordon, Hants. A three-week course followed closely that of the regular O.C.T.U. At the end of the first course, the C.W.A.C. O.C.T.U. classes were transferred to an A.T.S. Training School, and the course was extended to cover eight weeks.

101. During her visit to Canada in September and October 1942 General Knox discussed with the A.G. the possibility of sending C.W.A.C. officers overseas for attachment to A.T.S. Training Schools. The proposal was approved by the War Office in November. It was agreed that the attachment would be of about three months= duration, and that approximately eight officers would be despatched each month. The first group, consisting of 12 officers, was despatched in December with the second flight of replacement personnel. The C.W.A.C. officers were to visit A.T.S. training centres, and were to be attached in rotation in small groups to the War Office and to one of the British or Scottish commands. Senior officers were then to proceed to the Senior Officers School at Bagshott, and junior officers to the Junior Officers School at Bgham. This system was later replaced by an exchange of C.W.A.C. and A.T.S. officers for a period of three months' duty.

102. Early in 1944 both overseas and in Ottawa consideration was given to the question of employing C.W.A.C. personnel in rear areas of the operational theatre. The policy was approved, and a survey revealed that an additional 1,173 C.W.A.C. personnel could be employed in operational areas, at Headquarters, C.R.U., and at C.M.H.Q. Subsequently C.W.A.C. personnel served in Italy, in North-Western Europe, and with S.H.A.E.F.

103. C.W.A.C. personnel also served in the United States in Washington and Detroit. On 17 Dec 41 three C.S.Ms. were despatched to Washington for duty. By the end of March 1943 a total of 106 personnel were employed in Detroit & Washington, and were administered by No 36 Coy which had been established in Washington during the latter part of 1942. By the end of 1943 A.T.S. personnel recruited in the West Indies and trained in Canada had replaced the C.W.A.C. attached to the British Army Staff for duty, and it was estimated that the reafter no more than 100 C.W.A.C. personnel would be required for duty in Washington. No 36 Adm Unit was reduced to nil strength on 28 Feb 46 and its personnel were returned to Canada for disposal with the exception of 45 who remained behind on subsistence to be administered by the Canadian Army Staff.