History of the WRNS BT

  • The WRNS was created in November 1917 as a result of heavy naval losses in the previous years. The promotion of the WRNS was based on “free a man for sea service”.
  • Over 6,000 women undertook a variety of duties including some that were deemed too difficult for women!
  • Dame Katherine Furse led the WRNS and was a tireless worker involved with all aspects of the service, including the introduction of a uniform with royal blue lace.
  • The Admiralty disbanded the service on October 1 1919, but the ladies had made a great impression in their short existence. During that period the service had lost 23 women.
  • In 1939 Mrs Vera Laughton Mathews became Director of WRNS for the Second World War. It became evident that a Benevolent Trust would be required, not only to help in cases of hardship during the war, but also to help ex-Wrens returning to civilian life after demobilisation. A draft constitution was circulated in 1941.
  • The inaugural meeting of the Trust took place on Saturday 25th April 1942. HM The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother agreed to become patron of the Trust and HRH the Duchess of Kent, Princess Marina (right) was elected President.
  • By 1944 74,000 women were undertaking a variety of 200 different jobs. During the war the service lost 303 women.
  • Problems were experienced in the early days due to the rapid growth of the service and the constant move of personnel. Typical requests for assistance were from those with homes damaged by fire, billeting fees for evacuated children, medical expenses and unpaid leave to care for sick relatives and younger siblings.
  • As a testament to the valuable service performed by the women’s service, it was made a permanent service on 1st February 1949. Service was voluntary, and it maintained its own discipline.
  • The Trust saw a marked increase in grants for children’s education and school care to help single mothers. Concern was expressed over the increase in HP debts.
  • The WRNS BT was granted a Royal Charter in 1950 by the King and in 1951 interest free loans for house purchase were introduced.
  • During the 1960s large numbers of ex-Wrens reached retirement age. There was an increase in help for divorced and deserted wives with young families. In 1967 HRH Princess Marina died.
  •  In 1972 the Royal Charter was amended and Command Committees were abolished in 1974. HRH The Princess Royal became Commandant of the WRNS in 1974 and accepted the invitation to become President Of The Trust.
  • The service was bought into line with the Navy itself and made subject to the Naval Discipline Act in 1977.
  • During this period state benefits improved, typical requests for help were for; house repairs, rent, rates, TV rental, fuel and furniture.
  • The 1980s saw an increase in applications from overseas members and from single parent families. Typical requests now included help with, nursing home fees, disability aids, furniture and house removals. The first lifeline alarm was given in 1985.
  • 1990 saw the first women serve on board ship in a trial period. During this period grants increased in value, more help with debt was requested although it was hoped that the newly formed CSA would be of some help.
  • The WRNS was integrated into the RN and was disbanded as a separate service in 1993; women were fully integrated into the Navy, with the exception of the submarine service.
  • Since 2000 the Trust has seen an increase in demand for help towards the cost of local authority and private residential care. Many applicants have approached the Trust for a contribution to their top up fees for care home costs or assistance with the costs of temporary and permanent care which is to be provided in their own home. The Trust will also supplement the States allowance to meet an applicant’s personal needs where applicable.
  • HRH The Princess Royal agreed to become Patron of the WRNS BT in 2002 after the death of HM The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
  • In 2009 the regular General Amenities Grant replaced seasonal amenity grants to become a flexible grant awarded on a sliding scale and capped at £600 per annum. It is typically paid in two equal instalments in April and October.
  • In October 2010, the members of the WRNS BT agreed a proposal to allow the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity to nominate a representative to sit on the WRNS BT Central Committee. This positive decision will ensure the continuing health of the Trust in the years ahead.
  • In 2010, The Trustees appointed an Actuary to review the size of the current former members WRNS population, to determine mortality rates for that population, and the amount of funds required to cover applications from former Wrens for the next 50 years. The resulting “Actuarial Review” report allowed the Trustees to make plans for the grants programme, funding and future staffing requirements.
  • The main age group of applicants were of pensionable age, with medical aids forming the largest proportion of grants expenditure after annuity and amenity grants.
  • Measures were introduced by the Trust to help applicants in their 50s who are unable to work, are below state pensionable age and who do not qualify for the minimum income guarantee.
  • The Overseas Grant was introduced on 1 January 2011 to support former Wrens who live overseas and is paid quarterly.
  •  On 25th April 2012, the Trust celebrated its 70th Anniversary and launched a book about its work entitled “70 Years of Trust”.
  • During 2014 all regular weekly grants were reviewed. The Weekly Maintenance Grant, the Weekly Support Supplement together with the Overseas Grant now constitute Regular Charitable Payments within our portfolio and are reviewed annually.
  • In 2016 The maximum amount for a “One off” grant was increased to £4k. Over the previous 7 years the Trust spent £82k on funeral costs. An average priced funeral had jumped from £2.5k to nearly £4k.
  • During 2017, the Trust (together with the Association of Wrens, the Dauntless Association and the RN) celebrated the centenary of the formation of the WRNS via the WRNS100 Project. The Project had three aims of education, celebration and commemoration. It also recognised the supporting role given by the WRNS to the naval service, acknowledging the transition made by women from the separate WRNS into the RN in 1993. As well as remembering the contribution of women in peace and war, the Centenary was a chance to celebrate the growing opportunities for women in today’s RN.
  • Over 280 events took place across the world and a new memorial to all naval servicewomen was dedicated. The year concluded, with a reception at the Houses of Parliament. £40,000 was raised for the Trust, the Associations and the RNRMC.

View centenary brochure

  • 2017 – 2019 Victory Walk
    In October 2017, Cdr Jane Allen RNR set out from HMS Victory, on her Solo Round Britain Charity Coastal Walk to raise funds for both the Trust and the RNRMC. Despite severe weather (hot and cold), health issues and then a very serious injury which required surgery, she returned to Portsmouth on 6 September 2019, having walked 5,495 miles and raised over £32k for both charities.
  • It was all change at the top during 2018. Chairman – Commander Andrea Crook Royal Navy, handed over the reins to Commander Heather Rimmer Royal Navy and Commander Catherine Jordan Royal Navy took on the role of Vice Chairman.
  • The maximum Regular Charitable Payment for beneficiaries living overseas was increased to £50pw.
  • During 2019, both the Trusts staff commenced part time working and the Grants Committee moved to meeting permanently on a monthly basis, once a robust “Out of Committee” procedure had been tried and tested for urgent casework. The General Amenities Grant was increased to £800pa and the numbers of new applicants for the year was 55, the same as for 2017. Grants towards the increasing costs of care amounted to £73k compared with £26k in 2010.
  • The Trustees commissioned a refresh of their original Actuarial Review to allow them to check for the impact of any external measures, updated mortality rates and to review in line with the Trusts performance over recent years.
  • In 2020 the Trust looks forward to celebrating 100 years since the Association of Wrens and Women of the Royal Naval Services was originally formed.
  • Whilst some of the events due to be held in the first half of 2020 have been postponed due to COVID-19, The Staff and Trustees look forward to celebrating this special year with our sister charity once restrictions are lifted.
  • During the COVID-19 outbreak the staff both worked from home. With the advent of modern technology and the “Out of Committee” procedure, the core business of the Trust continued as normal.
  • During 2021 the Trust continued with a mix of home and office working, whilst ensuring that it was “business as normal” for enquirers and beneficiaries.
  • In May 2022 The Trust celebrated its 70th Anniversary in beautiful surroundings at the Merchant Taylors Hall in London.
  • The Chair, Cdr Heather Rimmer MBE RN, said that delivering 80 years of benevolence to those in need was a significant milestone, and that she considered it a great privilege to stand before those gathered today.  She asked members to reflect on the many ladies who had preceded both her and the current team, and their selfless commitment and contribution over all those years, which had allowed the Trust to evolve and flourish into the modern and relevant organisation that it was today.  She said that if Dame Vera (Laughton     Mathews) was looking down on this event, she hoped that she would be pleased with what had been achieved (and continued to be achieved) by the Trust, following her own eminent personal drive and imagination which had brought the Trust into being in 1942.
  • Mrs Ollie Butler (Trustee) presented her Ode entitled “80 Years of Benevolence” and at the end of the meeting two guest speakers shared their experiences of serving in the RN and the WRNS during the Falklands conflictin1982. https://wrnsbt.org.uk/2022-agm/
  • Looking to the future, work was well underway by the Trust’s Transition Team to determine how the Trust should function in the future to deliver its objectives to the very last eligible beneficiary, which could possibly be another 40-50 years.
  • 2023 was a milestone year for the Trust, as both the Privy Council and the Charity Commission gave consent to the Trustees to put a proposal for the future of benevolence to members. An Extraordinary General Meeting was held on 17 May at Portsmouth and the members present voted unanimously in favour of the WRNS BT becoming a wholly owned subsidiary charity of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC). The proposal cemented a relationship with the RNRMC that began in 2010.
  • At the dawn of 2024, the work of the Trust was passed over to the RNRMC who will provide updates to the WRNS BT Trustees. The Trust remains independent with its own registered charity no, its own investments and finances, a Board and sub committees which comprise of former Wrens. The WRNS BT office at Castaway House closed in February.  The Trustees will hold their first Annual Presentation at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth on 9th May.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy has an extensive WRNS archive, containing material relating to the history of the service from First and Second World Wars as well as the permanent service, including official documents, personal manuscripts, photographs, recordings, uniforms and artefacts.

If you have any material that you think may be of interest to the museum then please do contact them, details can be found on their website. nationalmuseumrn.org, and fleetairarm.com