WRAF Storewoman Rank

[Guest]

As part of the research for the Langleybury War Memorial we have encountered a woman serving with the WRAF as a Sorewoman who died in service in the Great War. How should we record the rank of this woman ? Was "Storewoman" a rank or just a job title ? If not a job title what rank would have been given to a woman working as a Storewoman in an RAF Stores ?

[Keith_history_buff]

For men of the RAF, Clerk 3rd Class, Clerk 2nd Class, Clerk 1st Class etc existed from 1 April 1918 to 31 December 1918, in relation to store keepers of the Admin branch. These ranks and associated rates of pay are documented in Air Memorandum No 1 dated March 1918. There must be a similar document for the WRAF.

 

[alf mcm]

Tommy,

  Welcome to the forum.

  Storewoman was not a rank. You can check if her record is here if you have a Findmypast account -  https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/british-womens-royal-air-force-service-records-1918-1920 It is bound to tell you her rank.

  The record should also be available here for a small fee, but you may be able to see her rank using the viewer. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/womens-royal-air-force-service-records-1918-1920/

 

EDIT - OOPS! Just realised that the Findmypast 'record' is actually a link to the National Archives record.

 

Regards,

 

Alf McM

Edited 29 May , 2019 by alf mcm
Error

[MikeMeech]

2 hours ago, Tommy Langley said:

As part of the research for the Langleybury War Memorial we have encountered a woman serving with the WRAF as a Sorewoman who died in service in the Great War. How should we record the rank of this woman ? Was "Storewoman" a rank or just a job title ? If not a job title what rank would have been given to a woman working as a Storewoman in an RAF Stores ?

Hi

From 'Women in Air Force Blue' by Sqn. Ldr. B. E. Escott, pages 35 & 36, extracts from 'F S Pub 14. Classes of Employment and Pay Rates 1918.'  It appears 'Storewomen' could be ranked as Chief Section Leader, Section Leader or Worker, with different 'Grades'.  They could also be in 'Technical' and 'Non-Technical' Stores, these differed in pay rates.  See below:

 

Mike

 

 

Edited 29 May , 2019 by MikeMeech

[Keith_history_buff]

Would the OP be able to post a link to the woman's CWGC entry, please?

Mike, great stuff, thanks for posting.
 

[Jim Strawbridge]

I have a note gleaned from somewhere that she was a non-technical store woman.

[CGM]

Have you checked her full information on the CWGC site?

 

I believe she is classed as MEMBER.

 

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

 

"The minimum age for joining the WRAF was 18 and the selection process complex. Stringent health checks often excluded many poor candidates from polluted cities. Those from educated, upper class families were enrolled as officers, whilst the majority were known as 'Members' and became the backbone of the service."

 

CGM