Biddy Brooks

[Ian C]

Hi

I have recently been sent this photo by a lady I met at a genealogy show, of her ancestor, Biddy Brooks (Possibly Gertrude Elizabeth Brooks) on the back it says, British Expeditionery Force" Paris 1918.

Any ideas on the uniform, I thought WAAF, but I read somewhere that the WAAF was not established until 1939?

Regards

IanC

[Standard Bearer]

Could the shoulder title read "WRAF" rather than "WAAF"? I understand that WRAF did exist between 1918 and 1920. The only thing is that the hat doesn't appear to me to be the same as in the photo on

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/women-of-the-air-force/womens-royal-air-force-wraf-1918-1920.aspx

[4thGordons]

Can't help with the question but I did a quick repair on the scratch!

Chris

[HERITAGE PLUS]

I think that this is the lady in question:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=GERTRUDE+&_ln=BROOKS&_no=&_crp=&_ttl=WORKER&_cr1=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=200&_hb=tna&image1.x=49&image1.y=17&image1=GO

Dave

[Standard Bearer]

I think that this is the lady in question:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=GERTRUDE+&_ln=BROOKS&_no=&_crp=&_ttl=WORKER&_cr1=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=200&_hb=tna&image1.x=49&image1.y=17&image1=GO

Dave

Dave, I think you are spot on. I was a bit uncertain at first as the first letter on the shoulder title seems to me to be a "W". However, it seems that Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps was the successor to the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (renamed on 9 April 1918)

http://www.qaranc.co.uk/Queen-Marys-Army-Auxiliary-Corps-History.php

Uniform looks right for WAAC

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=wac+uniform+ww1&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=685&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=iY9rVNbEAoPgaMnzgegF&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=waac+uniform+ww1&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=UnRuJO5LElDBSM%253A%3BhcnlTZPEqQ1bTM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.worldwar1postcards.com%252Fresources%252FWAAC%2525202%252520B.jpg.opt607x385o0%252C0s607x385.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.worldwar1postcards.com%252Freal-photographic-ww1-postcards.php%3B607%3B385

I guess the photo was either taken just before 9 April 1918 (or the shoulder titles had yet to be replaced).

[Ian C]

Hi Everyone

Thank you very much. Chris, great repair, that looks fantastic!! Dave & SB, since my initial post I had found the entry on the medal roll but was still confused because I couldn't think was WAAF was, now of course I can see that its a C not an F!!

Thanks again, this is going to make one lady very happy!!!!

Regards

IanC