The Foundation of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service:1942—Brief notes
It was said that Canada asked the British Admiralty by signal ‘Please send us a Mother Wren”*
and while that communiqué has not surfaced in Archives, we wish to believe that is true.
The following personnel returned to Britain and in 1947 according to the Wren Newsletter ** were:
The British Wrens *1947
Joan Carpenter C.B.E ‘retired May 1946, last appointment Deputy Director Welfare, W.R.N.S HQ.
Secretary. W.R.N.S. Benevolent Fund.
Dorothy Isherwood ‘appointed Commander of British Empire 1947, retired 1946 serving in the Mediterranean as Superintendent to Commander , returned to BBC
June 1943 appointed Acting Captain D/WRCNS replacing Captain Brock.
Doris Taylor ‘after serving W.R.C.N.S.- joined UNRRA retired 1947
Lorna Kellet ‘retired May 1947 Chief Officer Portsmouth, joined BBC
Betty Samuel ‘retired 1946 after serving one year in Australia, Chief Officer on staff- now in Germany with Control Commission
Elizabeth Sturdee mentioned by Isherwood, returned early to be married in UK
Additional Information: The Canadian Wrens :1947
Adelaide Grant Macdonald Sinclair O.B.E., L.LD :
‘ In 1947 Executive Assistant to Deputy Minister of Welfare
Lt Cdr Sinclair became Director and Commander 1943-45 of Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service.
Isobel Janet Macneill: O.B.E., L.L.D. and O.C.
Joined 1942, Lt Cdr 1943, CO of HMCS Conestoga in Galt 1943-45.
‘Only woman in the Canadian Navy to Command a Ship’
Returned briefly in 1954 to RCN.
Honourary Commandant of the WRCNS: 1947
H.R.H. Princess Alice Mary
Original Director of the Women’s Services 1942
Captain Eustache Brock
