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Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF)

You can now search and download the records of around 30,000 women who served with the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) during the First World War.

Introduction

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WRAF driver in staff car, Netheravon Camp, 1918 - by kind permission of Donna Smillie

The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) was formed on 1 April 1918. At the same time the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) came together to form the Royal Air Force (RAF). The WRAF included volunteers from the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), Women's Legion drivers and the Women's Civilian Subordinates.

Although the WRAF was created to free up men for active service, at first the RAF did not appear to support the WRAF, even at the highest levels. The first commanders were not offered administrative staff and were not given staff vehicles to travel on official business. Following a Ministry of National Service investigation, Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, Overseas Commander of the WAAC, was appointed as Commandant of the WRAF in September 1918.

Women performing a variety of roles such as drivers or mechanics as well as the more 'traditional' roles such as cooks or office clerks at first were based in Britain. Later around 500 women served in France and Germany. After the war Helen Gwynne-Vaughan was awarded the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in recognition of her work. The WRAF was disbanded on 1 April 1920.

Searching the records

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The original records were grouped in the series AIR 80 . You can search the surviving records by entering any or all of the following:

The documents are handwritten and printed forms. There are three common page types consisting of either a printed Form of Enrolment in Women's Royal Air Force, a Certificate of Discharge on Demobilisation or a Casualty Form for Active Service. You might also find the Statement for the Services form. Occasionally there might also be some correspondence and/or notes. Enrolment forms can include details such as age, address, religion, marital status, dependants, details of next of kin, statement of services and promotions, transfers, trade, and a physical description of the woman.

Examples of the records

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The first image below is from the enrolment form of Mrs Elizabeth Scott who was living in Edinburgh when she joined up. A widow with no dependents, she was 56 at that time. Both her parents were British-born, although there are no further details. She volunteered for "mobile" service at home but was not willing to serve abroad.

"Mobile" service allowed for working away from the immediate home area. Women volunteering for "immobile" service could continue living at home.

The second image from her file is the Statement for the Services form. It names her sister, Mrs Georgina Gilchrist, as next of kin and reveals that her son, William, was born in Linlithgow on 13 December 1888.

Elsewhere in her file we learn that she was passed as medically fit for enrolment on 24 October 1918. Her file also shows she would be serving at WRAF Old Sarum in Salisbury, Wiltshire, which illustrates how "home" could mean a considerable distance from the usual residence.

Why can't I find an entry?

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There are a number reasons why you might not find an entry:

Continuing your research

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Whether you are researching your family history, the First World War or women's history, The National Archives bookshop will have a book for you:

You can also see also original documents at The National Archives.

Research guides and other websites

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WRAF motorcycle driver, Netheravon Camp, 1918 - by kind permission of Donna Smillie

Women's Services, First World War offers an introduction to researching service, administrative and awards records, including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF).

If you want to search for records about the medals awarded, start with the Medal Card Index. The only gallantry medal issued to women in the First World War was the Military Medal. The research guide British Armed Services: Gallantry Medals explains how to search for the records relating to this award. You can also browse the full A to Z index of research guides.

You can search the service records of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps or later, Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps.

There is a National Archives online exhibition about the First World War. It highlights significant events and examines the war experiences of different people through surviving documents.

The Family Records website hosts an online exhibition, Women in Uniform which examines the role of women in wartime.

The complete survey and listing of National Archives sources relating to women is in Women's Studies Resources in the National Archives

The Royal Air Force Museum has an extensive archive collection which includes papers from a number of women who served in the WRAF during the First World War. It also includes papers from women who served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during the Second World War.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission compiles the online Debt of Honour Register which includes women of the Commonwealth forces who died in two world wars. You can search their database at no charge.

The Imperial War Museum holds an extensive archive. The Women's Work Collection includes a range of WRAF material. You can access this on microfilm at the Department of Printed Books . There is also an online exhibition Women At War

The History section of the Royal Air Force website hosts an online exhibition "Women in Aviation "

The Women's Library holds the most extensive collection of women's history in the UK.

Genesis is a database for locating women's history collections from libraries, archives and museums across the British Isles.

The photographs appear by kind permission of Donna Smillie. Her website, Pictures of the Past, features numerous First World War photographs.