Wren Coxswains, 1944

A cup of tea in her hammock. Hazel Morris, of Erdington, Warwickshire, is pictured handing her chum, Gladys Carter, an early morning reviver in their tiny quarters on board ship in November 1944, Plymouth.

WRNS (‘Wren’) Ratings sailed most of the Plymouth duty boats during #ww2, with vessels as large as 60 ft long. Wren Coxswains were at the wheel of the boats which plied between ship and shore serving seagoing sailors in all weathers and at all hours.

The Wrens who crewed the Navy’s small craft were an elite group in a highly prized job. Competition to become a boat crew Wren was fierce and senior Wrens willingly took a pay drop to a lower rate to join them.

The first training course was held at Plymouth in the Autumn of 1941 and from the start the boat crew Wrens were a huge success. Without them the Royal Navy would have come to a halt very quickly. The sense of camaraderie was strong both among the Wrens and with the matelots.

Source: SSAFA