The year 2002 is a very special year for a group of Canadian Women who are celebrating and remembering an exceptional time in their lives. They are the women veterans of the WWII Royal Canadian Navy.
Following are excerpts of articles from various publications regarding their history
Wrens Association of Toronto Anniversary Events ... Edmonton Reunion ... Question Period ... History

 
From BUMPH, February 2002 - Naval Officer's Association of Canada Toronto Branch Newsletter: With permission from the editor, Robert A Willson.

See also ...

From The Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service and Their Successors - The First Sixty Years 1942-2002  - Calendar produced by Naval Lore - Presentations & Exhibits on Naval History. With permission.

The WRCNS (Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service), more familiarly known as the WRENS was founded in 1942, challenging the traditional all male armed forces. Between 1942 and 1946 close to 7,000 volunteers enlisted in the WRCNS and served in 39 so-called 'non-combatant' occupations on Canadian and allied naval bases at home and abroad.

The WRENS trained at HMCS CONESTOGA, in Galt Ontario, and it was the only ship in the Royal Canadian Navy commanded by a women. Nearly 1000 WRENS served in Halifax, and 1000 more served in Washington DC, New York City and overseas in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Over 500 WRENS served in Newfoundland.

In 1943 Captain F.L. Houghton was S.N.C.O. (senior Canadian Naval Officer) London, located in King's House, at Number 10 Haymarket. In preparation for Operation Neptune his staff grew to almost 700, including a hundred members of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, occupying seven buildings in various parts of the city. The WRENS were accommodated in a large house on England's Lane, off Haverstock Hill, about three miles from the office. For their 1943 Christmas party he wrote a song in their honour, which was put to music by Wren Madgwick. As far as is known the tune is irretrievably lost, but here for the record are the words:

The Belles of London

Here's to the Girls in Navy Blue,
The Wrens at England's Lane.
There one of the boughs of the mighty oak
That rules the raging main.

CHORUS:
Come, Hearts of Oak,
Your glasses fill
And drink a Toast
To Sailor Jill,
At England's Lane
On Haverstock Hill.

We know the nice girls all love Jack -
We sing it now and then;
But something else we know full well -
All Jack Tars love a Wren!

We're very fond of WAAF's and WAAC's,
And soldiers and Marines,
But what can beat a tiddley Wren
In Navy cap and jeans?

CHORUS:
Come, Hearts of Oak,
Your glasses fill
And drink a Toast
To Sailor Jill,
At England's Lane
On Haverstock Hill.

(From the memoirs of the late Rear-Admiral Frank Llewellyn Houghton, CBE, RCN, © as published in Salty Dips Vol. 8, published by the Ottawa Branch of the NOAC. And reprinted with permission from his son and daughter.)


The WRCNS ceased to exist in August 1946, but in 1951 parliament authorized the formation of a WREN section in the RCN(R). In 1955 a women's component of the RCN was authorized and fully integrated into the regular force. This was a first throughout the British Commonwealth. They served in the RCN until February 1, 1968, on which date, along with the rest of the Royal Canadian Navy, they fell victim to the Canadian Forces Reorganization Act.

The WREN Association will be holding a Diamond Jubilee Reunion in Edmonton AB from August 30 to September 1 at the Mayfield In Trade Centre.
Wren Association of Toronto : Based at the Toronto Naval Club on Hayden St.


Excerpts from The Jenny Wren Times (their monthly newsletter), are used with permission from the Wren Association of Toronto.
Email: torontowrens@thewrens.com