The History and Meaning of The Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) Cap Badge
Introduction
The Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) was formed in 1949 as the successor to the Auxiliary Territorial Service and remained the principal corps for women in the British Army until 1992. Its cap badge centres on a lioness rampant within an open laurel wreath, surmounted by the Royal Crown.
The lioness rampant is the defining feature of the badge. The National Army Museum records it as the only example of a lioness appearing on an Army badge; the laurel wreath and crown were retained from the Auxiliary Territorial Service badge to show continuity with the WRAC's predecessor.
| Women's Royal Army Corps | Details |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 February 1949 |
| Disbanded | 6 April 1992 |
| Predecessor | Auxiliary Territorial Service |
| Motto | Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re |
| Principal Device | Lioness Rampant |
| Unique Feature | The National Army Museum records it as the only lioness on an Army badge |
| Crown Versions | King's Crown (Tudor Crown) & Queen's Crown (St Edward's Crown) |
Choose Your Women's Royal Army Corps Cap Badge or Display Frame
Who Were the Women's Royal Army Corps?
The Women's Royal Army Corps — universally known as the WRAC — was the principal corps for women in the British Army from its formation in 1949 until its disbandment in 1992. Constituted by Royal Warrant, the corps drew on a tradition of women's military service stretching back to the First World War, and its members served across every corner of the globe during its 43 years of existence.
The WRAC built on the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) of 1917 and the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) of the Second World War. During 1990–92, women serving on long-term attachment to other arms and corps were progressively transferred into those organisations. When the WRAC finally disbanded in 1992, its remaining personnel — largely in pay and personnel work — moved into the newly formed Adjutant General's Corps. This ended the Army's separate women's corps, although restrictions on the roles open to women remained for many years.
What Does the WRAC Cap Badge Represent?
The badge consists of three principal elements: the lioness rampant, open laurel wreath and Royal Crown. The lioness differentiates the WRAC badge from the more common male lion used elsewhere in British military heraldry.
Origins: Women in the British Army
The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and QMAAC (1917–1921)
The formal recruitment of women for service with the British Army in a non-nursing capacity began in 1917, during the Great War. The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was formed to release men from administrative and support roles for front-line service. Members served in France with the British Expeditionary Force, undertaking work as clerks, cooks, drivers and telephonists.
Queen Mary became Patron and the organisation was retitled Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC). Three members received the Military Medal during the First World War. The QMAAC was disbanded in 1921.
The Auxiliary Territorial Service (1938–1949)
The approach of another European conflict prompted the re-establishment of a women's corps. The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) was established on 9 September 1938 under the provisions of the Auxiliary Forces Act 1938, with Royal approval during the reign of King George VI. When war came, the ATS expanded rapidly to meet the demands of a global conflict.
Around 250,000 women served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War. They served in most of the overseas theatres of operation as well as in the defence of the United Kingdom, playing a particularly significant role in Anti-Aircraft Command, where ATS women operated the instruments and predictors that directed anti-aircraft fire against enemy aircraft — working in close coordination with the Royal Artillery batteries they supported. They also served as drivers, orderlies, storewomen and cooks across every theatre of the war.
Among the best-known ATS members was Princess Elizabeth — later Queen Elizabeth II — who joined in February 1945 as a second subaltern and trained as a driver and mechanic. She became the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member.
By the end of the Second World War it was widely acknowledged that women would be a valuable asset to a peacetime army. Women continued to serve on emergency engagements in the ATS whilst plans were formulated for a permanent regular women's corps.
The Formation of the Women's Royal Army Corps (1949)
In 1948, Secretary of State for War Emmanuel Shinwell submitted proposals to the Crown for a permanent women's corps for the Regular and Territorial Armies. The Women's Royal Army Corps came into being on 1 February 1949, absorbing the remaining ATS personnel. Its creation also marked the first time women in the Army were subject to all sections of the Army Act.
Dame Mary Tyrwhitt DBE TD was appointed the first Director of the WRAC, providing the corps with distinguished and experienced leadership from its earliest days.
The WRAC was initially organised into battalions and companies, later into independent companies and platoons, and gradually became integrated with their employing military units. The Corps Charter stated that it was 'to provide replacements for officers and men in such employment as may be specified by the Army Council from time to time.' Women served in over 40 different trades in 20 different Arms and Corps, demonstrating the breadth and versatility of women's contribution to the British Army.
Royal Patronage and Senior Appointments
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who had been Commandant in Chief of the ATS since 1940, became Commandant in Chief of the WRAC in 1949, providing the corps with the highest level of royal support from its inception.
Her Royal Highness Princess Mary, The Princess Royal, who had been Controller Commandant of the ATS, became Controller Commandant of the WRAC in the honorary rank of Major General. Following the death of The Princess Royal in 1965, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent became Controller Commandant in the rank of Honorary Major General in 1967.
In March 1950, Field Marshal Sir William Slim announced the move from the inherited ATS officer titles — including subaltern, junior commander, senior commander and controller — to standard Army rank titles. National Army Museum material dates the full alignment of WRAC ranks with the rest of the Army to 1952.
Key Dates: A Timeline of the WRAC
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1917 | Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) formed; later retitled Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC). |
| 1921 | QMAAC disbanded following the end of the First World War. |
| 1938 | Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) established on 9 September under the Auxiliary Forces Act 1938. |
| 1939–1945 | More than 250,000 women serve in the ATS during the Second World War, at home and in overseas theatres. |
| 1945 | Princess Elizabeth joins the ATS in February and trains as a driver and mechanic. |
| 1949 | Women's Royal Army Corps constituted by Royal Warrant on 1 February; Dame Mary Tyrwhitt appointed first Director. |
| 1949–1952 | King's Crown (Tudor Crown) version of the cap badge worn during the reign of King George VI. |
| 1950–1952 | Move from WRAC's inherited officer titles to standard Army ranks is announced in 1950 and completed by 1952. |
| c.1953 | WRAC badges using the Elizabeth II crown pattern are in use as military insignia changes to the new reign. |
| 1965 | Death of HRH Princess Mary, The Princess Royal. |
| 1967 | HRH The Duchess of Kent appointed Controller Commandant. |
| 1990 | WRAC officers permanently employed with other Corps transferred to those Corps (1 October). |
| 1992 | WRAC disbanded on 6 April; members integrated into the Adjutant General's Corps and wider British Army. |
The WRAC Cap Badge: Design and Elements
The Women's Royal Army Corps cap badge consists of a lioness rampant within an open laurel wreath, surmounted by the Royal Crown. The National Army Museum's sealed-pattern records explain the design directly: the wreath and crown were retained from the ATS badge to show continuity, while the lioness symbolised women's service.
A Unique Piece of British Military Heraldry
The National Army Museum identifies the WRAC badge as the only example of a lioness appearing on an Army badge. This makes the central device genuinely unusual within British Army insignia.
The Lioness Rampant
At the centre is an uncrowned lioness rampant. The National Army Museum records the lioness as symbolic of the service of women.
The Laurel Wreath
The lioness is framed by an open laurel wreath. Rather than being a new WRAC symbol, the wreath was retained from the Auxiliary Territorial Service badge as a deliberate link with the corps' predecessor.
The Royal Crown
The Royal Crown also came from the ATS badge and was retained for continuity. George VI examples use the Tudor Crown. Elizabeth II examples use St Edward's Crown; National Army Museum collections include WRAC cap badges dated to about 1953. Crown form is a useful broad dating feature, but construction, fittings and provenance should also be considered.
Operational Service: WRAC Worldwide
Members of the WRAC served on operations across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East throughout the corps' existence.
Early Post-War Operations
WRAC members served during the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960), in Kenya in 1954, during the EOKA campaign in Cyprus (1955–1959), during the Singapore riots in 1957, in Aden from 1961 to 1968, during the Coup d'État in Ghana in 1966, and during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
Northern Ireland: Operation Banner
WRAC personnel served in Northern Ireland during Operation Banner in a range of Army appointments until the corps' disbandment in 1992.
The Falkland Islands
On 1 August 1983, the first draft of 20 WRAC servicewomen arrived in Port Stanley as part of the permanent Falklands garrison.
The Gulf War: Operation GRANBY (1990–1991)
Over 200 WRAC personnel deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Operation GRANBY — the largest operational deployment of WRAC personnel since the Second World War — serving as staff officers, clerks, communications operators, drivers, intelligence analysts, medical assistants, military policewomen, and postal and courier operators.
Iraq: Operation HAVEN (1991)
One officer and three servicewomen of the WRAC, attached to 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, took part in Operation HAVEN providing security and humanitarian support in northern Iraq.
Disbandment of the Corps (1990–1992)
WRAC officers permanently employed with other corps transferred to those corps on 1 October 1990, and similarly employed servicewomen followed a year later. The WRAC formally disbanded on 6 April 1992. Much of the remaining corps, particularly its pay and personnel element, entered the new Adjutant General's Corps, while other women transferred to the arms and corps in which they served.
Collecting the WRAC Cap Badge
WRAC badges are encountered in both George VI and Elizabeth II crown forms. Crown style is useful for broad dating, but it should be read alongside material, construction, fittings and provenance.
George VI Badges — 1949–1952
The original WRAC pattern used the Tudor Crown of George VI. National Army Museum examples from this short period show gilding metal or gilt with a contrasting white-metal or silver lioness, depending on rank and pattern.
Elizabeth II Badges — c.1953–1992
Elizabeth II examples use St Edward's Crown and form the longer-lived WRAC pattern. Materials and construction vary across the period, including traditional metal and later anodised aluminium examples.
Fixing Methods and Physical Variations
WRAC badges occur with different reverse fittings, including lugs and sliders. Fittings can help with attribution, but repairs and replacement fittings are possible, so they should not be used as a dating or authenticity test on their own.
Officers' Badges
Officers' patterns are known in silver and gilt and can differ in finish and construction from other-ranks examples. National Army Museum collections include both officer and other-ranks patterns from the corps' early years.
Recognised Manufacturers and Maker's Marks
Maker's marks may assist attribution where present, but they should be considered with the badge's die detail, construction and fittings. A maker's name by itself is not proof of age or authenticity.
Provenance and Authenticity
Service records, photographs or named documentation can provide useful provenance. For uncertain examples, comparison with museum collections and documented sealed patterns is more reliable than wear or appearance alone.
Displaying the WRAC Cap Badge
Original badges should be displayed in a stable environment away from direct sunlight, using inert and non-abrasive mounting materials. Precision Military Emblems produces a dedicated WRAC heritage display frame for presenting the emblem alongside medals and service photographs.
Why the WRAC Cap Badge Matters Today
For historical study, the badge links the WRAC with the longer development of women's service in the Army from the First World War through the ATS and into the late twentieth century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three elements of the WRAC cap badge?
A lioness rampant at the centre, an open laurel wreath framing the lioness, and a Royal Crown surmounting the whole design.
Why does the WRAC badge feature a lioness rather than a lion?
The National Army Museum records the lioness as symbolic of women's service and identifies the WRAC device as the only example of a lioness appearing on an Army badge.
What was the predecessor to the WRAC?
The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), established 1938, in which around 250,000 women served during the Second World War. The ATS itself succeeded the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), later the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC), formed 1917 and disbanded 1921.
What is the WRAC motto?
Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re — Gentle in manner, resolute in deed.
What is the difference between the King's Crown and Queen's Crown versions?
George VI badges of 1949–52 use the Tudor Crown. Elizabeth II examples use St Edward's Crown; National Army Museum collections show the revised pattern in use by about 1953. The change should be treated as a period transition rather than an exact accession-day switch.
When was the WRAC disbanded?
6 April 1992, when it was amalgamated into the Adjutant General's Corps.
Is the WRAC cap badge rare?
The George VI pattern had a much shorter period of issue than the Elizabeth II pattern, so fewer early examples would be expected to survive. Scarcity also varies by rank, construction and provenance.
How can I tell if a WRAC cap badge is genuine?
No single feature proves authenticity. Crown form, die detail, metal, fittings, maker's marks and provenance should be assessed together and compared with documented period or sealed-pattern examples.
Disbandment and Integration into the Wider Army
The WRAC was disbanded in 1992 after a phased transfer of women into the arms and corps in which they served; the remaining pay and personnel element entered the new Adjutant General's Corps. Its badge therefore belongs to a clearly defined period in the history of women's Army service.
Further Reading
For those wishing to explore the history of the Women's Royal Army Corps in greater depth, the following authoritative sources are recommended.
WRAC Association — The official veterans' association for the Women's Royal Army Corps.
National Army Museum Collection — WRAC Cap Badge (Accession 1980-06-95-4)
Officially Licensed Women's Royal Army Corps Emblems & Heritage Displays
Precision Military Emblems holds an official Ministry of Defence licence to produce emblems and heritage displays for the Women's Royal Army Corps. Every product is produced under official MOD licence.
- Women's Royal Army Corps Heritage Emblem — An officially licensed WRAC heritage emblem.
- WRAC Heritage Display Frame — A purpose-built display frame.
These are modern commemorative display pieces rather than original service-issued insignia. Intellectual Property of the Secretary of State for Defence is used under licence.
About Precision Military Emblems
Precision Military Emblems produces officially licensed WRAC display pieces using MOD-approved artwork alongside historical material on the Corps and its insignia.