How old did a woman have to be to join the WAAC?

[Sue L]

Hi

 

Can anyone tell me how old a woman would have to be before joining the Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps?  Dorothy Bateman Maddocks was a member when she died on 14.10.1918 aged 18.  Just trying to work out how long she might have been in the services

 

Thanks

 

Sue L

[Jim Strawbridge]

Actually she was aged 17 years and 11 months when she died. My guess is that they would be taken at aged 16 after an interview for suitability and maturity but this is pure guesswork. The work, generally, was little different to being a domestic servant.

[Sue L]

Thanks Jim

 

After I posted this yesterday, I came across a service record for another woman who had a service number a few before Dorothy.  Her parents tried to have her enlistment overturned because she had volunteered BEFORE she was 18 without her parents consent - she had lied about her age.  

 

Sue

[alf mcm]

The age limits or serving in France was between 20 and 40.

 

Regards,

 

Alf McM 

[Carmania]

From their regulations: "No woman under 20 will be accepted for service Overseas and no woman under 18 for Local or Home service."

[Sue L]

Hi

 

Thanks for the various messages

 

Sue