Girls' Training Corps
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The National Association of Training Corps for Girls (initially the ''National Association of Girls' Training Corps'') was formed in the United Kingdom in 1942 by the then
Board of Education A board of education, school committee or school board is the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or an equivalent institution. The elected council determines the educational policy in a small regional area, ...
. It was the umbrella organisation for the ''Girls Training Corps'' (''GTC''), the ''Girls' Nautical Training Corps'' (''GNTC''), and the ''Women's Junior Air Corps'' (''WJAC''), which had all formed in the years prior.


Girls Training Corps

The first Girls Training Corps units were formed in 1941. The GTC's purpose, as with other cadet organisations at the time, was to prepare young people for service to their community and to support in the war effort upon reaching adulthood. For the Girls Training Corps this meant training in military drill in preparation for potentially serving in the
Auxiliary Territorial Service The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS; often pronounced as an acronym) was the women's branch of the British Army during the World War II, Second World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938, initially as a women's voluntary service, and existe ...
. The GTC was open to girls aged 14 to 20, and its motto was "To serve and Train for Service". Activities included learning to act as bicycle couriers, learning
morse code Morse code is a telecommunications method which Character encoding, encodes Written language, text characters as standardized sequences of two different signal durations, called ''dots'' and ''dashes'', or ''dits'' and ''dahs''. Morse code i ...
,
aircraft recognition Aircraft recognition is a visual skill taught to military personnel and civilian auxiliaries since the introduction of military aircraft in World War I. It is important for air defense and military intelligence gathering. Aircraft recognition g ...
, gymnastics, homemaking, craft-work, public affairs, land navigation, learning
first aid First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person with a medical emergency, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery until medical services arrive. First aid is gener ...
,
marksmanship A marksman is a person who is skilled in precision shooting. In modern military usage this typically refers to the use of projectile weapons such as an accurized scoped long gun such as designated marksman rifle (or a sniper rifle) to shoot ...
, firefighting, and assisting with air warden duties. During the war and after GTC companies and members were active in volunteering in the community, such as volunteering as "sitter-ins" in hospitals. The GTC were organised into local units called companies led by an adult Commandant, these companies would sometimes join other cadet units for joint training. Companies were then grouped into areas led by an Area Commandant. Within a year of forming, over 120,000 girls had joined a GTC company. Unlike their male counterparts, members of the GTC had to provide their own uniforms using clothing coupons. The uniform consisted of black shoes, navy blue skirt, white blouse, navy blue tie, GTC badge, and a navy blue forage hat. It was planned that after the
War War is an armed conflict between the armed forces of states, or between governmental forces and armed groups that are organized under a certain command structure and have the capacity to sustain military operations, or between such organi ...
the GTC would be wound down and disbanded, and whilst there was a significant drop in the number of members, there were enough to change the decision to disband the GTC. After the war, following advice from the Youth Advisory Council, there was greater emphasis in the GTC training programme to recognise the girls as "a potential wife and mother". Over 3,000 members of the GTC took part in a parade at the
Royal Tournament The Royal Tournament was the world's largest military tattoo and pageant, held by the British Armed Forces annually between 1880 and 1999. The venue was originally the Royal Agricultural Hall, before moving to Olympia London and latterly the Ea ...
in 1951. In 1955 Princess Alexandra became patron of the National Association of Training Corps for Girls. In 1964 the GTC and WJAC amalgamated to become the Girls Venture Corps.


Girls' Nautical Training Corps

The Girls' Nautical Training Corps was formed in 1942, for girls aged 14 to 20, with the majority of units formed in
Southern England Southern England, also known as the South of England or the South, is a sub-national part of England. Officially, it is made up of the southern, south-western and part of the eastern parts of England, consisting of the statistical regions of ...
. It providing training in
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
drill and
seamanship Seamanship is the skill, art, competence (human resources), competence, and knowledge of operating a ship, boat or other craft on water. The'' Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford Dictionary'' states that seamanship is "The skill, techniques, o ...
, preparing girls for service in the
Women's Royal Naval Service The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women's branch of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. First formed in 1917 for the World War I, First World War, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in ...
, similar to the training and aims of the
Sea Cadet Corps Sea cadets are members of a cadets youth program sponsored by a national naval service, aimed for young people with an interest in waterborne activities and or the national navy. The organisation may be sponsored in whole or in part by the navy or ...
. The Girls' Naval Training Corps numbered 50 Units in 1952, and in the late 1950s changed their name to the ''Girls' Nautical Training Corps''. Lady Pamela Mountbatten was Corps Commandant of the GNTC from around 1952 to around 1959. The GNTC became a colleague organisation with the Sea Cadet Corps in 1963, often sharing facilities such as
Raven's Ait Raven's Ait is an ait (island) in the Thames between Surbiton, Kingston and Hampton Court Park in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London, England, in the reach of the river above Teddington Lock. Used as a boating training centre fo ...
(then also known as
TS Neptune Raven's Ait is an ait (island) in the Thames between Surbiton, Kingston and Hampton Court Park in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London, England, in the reach of the river above Teddington Lock. Used as a boating training centre fo ...
). The GNTC became a full member of the Sea Cadet Organisation in March 1980, when the
Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...
approved the admission of girls into the Sea Cadets, this led to a name change to Girls Nautical Training Contingent. This continued until 1992 when the organisation was absorbed, and all girls became members of the Sea Cadet Corps.


Women's Junior Air Corps

The WJAC did not, initially, receive official support from the
Air Ministry The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force and civil aviation that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the ...
, but the Air Ministry did give guidance on ranks, badges, and uniform. The uniform was modelled on that of the RAF and WAAF and consisted of: black shoes, Air Force blue skirt, grey shirt, black tie, WJAC badge, and a grey forage hat. The WJAC was formed in 1939, with larger towns and cities often hosting multiple units. The WJAC provided training and activities in similar areas as the GTC and GNTC, including drill, morse code, marksmanship, physical training, first aid, motor maintenance, and aircraft recognition. Optional training courses included anti-aircraft operational duties, radio location, signals, engineering and electrical work, and clerical and office duties. The core and optional training available were used to prepare girls for service in the
Women's Auxiliary Air Force The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as WAAFs (), was the female auxiliary of the British Royal Air Force during the World War II, Second World War. Established in 1939, WAAF numbers exceeded 181,000 at its peak ...
and the
Air Transport Auxiliary The Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) was a British civilian organisation set up at the start of the Second World War with headquarters at White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire. The ATA ferried new, repaired and damaged military aircraft between fac ...
(ATA). Both WJAC and the GTC were also active in supporting local governments in areas such as health initiatives, an example being providing vitamins to school children. Many Units also formed bands who would perform in parades and services. They were also provided with a limited number of aircraft, such as the Fairchild Argus II, to provide pleasure flights and basic flight instruction. After the War, WJAC continued with many of the same activities including supporting the community in health initiatives. In 1956 the WJAC expanded its activities to include riding, gliding, and driving lessons. Even into the 1960s the WJAC still had to purchase their own uniforms. In 1964 The GTC and WJAC amalgamated to become the Girls Venture Corps, with the addition of "Air Cadets" added to the title in 1987. Many famous female pilots were officers in the WJAC, including: *
Diana Barnato Walker Diana Barnato Walker MBE FRAeS (15 January 1918 – 28 April 2008) was a pioneering British aviator. In World War II, she became one of the first women pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary, flying 80 types of aircraft and delivering 260 Spitf ...
, ATA pilot and the first British woman to break the
sound barrier The sound barrier or sonic barrier is the large increase in aerodynamic drag and other undesirable effects experienced by an aircraft or other object when it approaches the speed of sound. When aircraft first approached the speed of sound, th ...
* Freydis Sharland, ATA pilot and founding chairwoman of the
British Women Pilots' Association British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and cultur ...
* Gabrielle Patterson, ATA pilot and WJAC Commandant, 1946-1950 *
Jean Bird Jean Lennox Bird (8 July 1912 – 29 April 1957) was a pioneering pilot and the first woman to be awarded Aircrew brevet, RAF wings. Early life Jean Lennox Bird was born in Hong Kong on 8 July 1912, the second daughter of Lt Col. Lennox Godfr ...
, first woman to be awarded RAF wings, flying instructor in the WJAC.


Ranks


Girls Venture Corps

In 1964 the GTC and WJAC amalgamated to become the Girls Venture Corps, which had two wings corresponding to the former GTC (Ground Wing) and WJAC (Air Wing); it was common at this time for former GTC units to share premises with
Army Cadet Force The Army Cadet Force (ACF), generally shortened to Army Cadets, is a national Youth organisations in the United Kingdom, youth organisation sponsored by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence and the Bri ...
units and for former WJAC units to share premises with
Air Training Corps The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a British Youth organisations in the United Kingdom, volunteer youth organisation; aligned to, and fostering the knowledge and learning of military values, primarily focusing on military aviation. Part of the ...
units. At this time a new uniform was designed by
Norman Hartnell Sir Norman Bishop Hartnell (12 June 1901 – 8 June 1979) was a leading British fashion designer, best known for his work for the ladies of the British royal family, royal family. Hartnell gained the Royal Warrant of Appointment (United Kingdom ...
with a variant for each wing. From 1983 girls were accepted into the ACF and ATC, which caused many GVC cadets to transfer to their respective counterparts. It was decided that the GVC would focus on air activities and in 1987 at the request of its membership the organisation was renamed the
Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets The Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets (GVCAC) was a voluntary uniformed Youth organisations in the United Kingdom, youth organisation in the United Kingdom for girls aged between 11 and 20. It was a registered charity, and a member of NCVYS, The ...
.


See also

*
Navy League Wrennette Corps The Navy League Wrennette Corps was formed by the Navy League of Canada in 1950 as a cadet organisation for girls to complement the Navy League Cadet Corps of Canada. It had similar objectives to the boys' organisation, and taught girls seamansh ...
- The Canadian equivalent of the Girls' Nautical Training Corps.


References


External links


Royal Naval Museum Fact Sheet 106 - the Navy LeagueWomen on the home front by Dr. Sarah HaybittleW.J.A.C. (1950)1st Kinglassie Women's Junior Air CorpsKnaresborough Recruiting CampaignWORLD WAR TWO By Pauline Druiff
{{Royal Air Force 1942 establishments in the United Kingdom Military organizations established in 1942 1964 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Organizations disestablished in 1964 Air Cadet organisations British Cadet organisations Youth organisations based in the United Kingdom Women's organisations based in the United Kingdom