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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: hardygeranium on Sunday 07 January 18 20:36 GMT (UK)
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Can someone help me? What medals would a waaf who had served in ww1 be entitled to? My research seems to indicate that she would have received the victory medal and the British war medal but my ex-army boyfriend thinks she would not have the victory medal. I am a re-enactor so it is important I get it right.
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Welcome to rootschat hardygeranium.
Can you clarify your post:
Is you enquiry about a waaf serving in ww2 who may have served in the wraf or some other womens unit in ww1?
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I cannot answer the question, only add that the WAAF was not established until 1939.
It was the WRAF that was established on the 1 April 1918, so I assume it was this the poster was referring to.
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Yes, that is exactly it. My understanding is that women of the WAAC and WRNS were given the opportunity to join the WRAF when the RAF were formed in WW1 and that these women were encouraged to reenlist in the WAAF in WW2 despite their age. It is one of these women that I want to portray hence needing to know the exact medals they would have been awarded at the end of WW1.
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Sorry, I didn't notice you are new, I should have added Welcome to Rootschat.
If you are asking about someone who was serving after 1920, her records will still be with the MOD, they are not in line.
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"It is one of these women that I want to portray".
Therefore not an actual person, so records don't apply.
Giggsy
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Both the WW1 Victory Medal and British War Medal could be awarded to women if they met the award criteria.
Google each medal, the award criteria is in Wikipedia.
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I have done but it is not clear unfortunately.
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The Imperial War Museum explanation is perhaps clearer?
http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/first-world-war-service-medals
The essential difference between the British War and the Victory is that the British War Medal could be awarded for service overseas without entering a theatre of war. The Victory medal denotes both overseas and theatre of war so if you wear the two medals you are portraying someone who meets those two criteria.
MaxD
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In theory a women may have been awarded both WW1 medals and then served later as a WAAF in WW2, but is there any historical record of this actually occurring. A lot less women served overseas in WW1 than stayed in the home front. Of the fewer women who served overseas in WW1, did any of them join the WAAF in WW2?
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Tonepad makes a very good point. While I have no knowledge one way or another I found this which gives me pause:
https://thedebrief.co.uk/news/real-life/story-british-woman-fight-world-wars-pretty-incredible/
I'd certainly suggest trying to find a definitive answer before wearing the medals.
MaxD
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Unless or until someone comes up with the name(s) of a woman or women who precisely fit your criteria, my inclination is to go with probability.
Would a woman serving abroad have been entitled to receive medals? Yes - the British War Medal and the Victory Medal (terms and conditions apply!)
Was the Victory Medal issued as often as the British War Medal? Definitely not (see previous posts and links)
Did people who served in WW1 also serve in WW2? - Yes, many people.
A woman who served in WW1 may well have been entitled to the BWM and might possibly have been entitled to the VM (depending on where she served).
If you wear only the BWM (blue, black, white, orange) ribbon I think you are on safe ground.
Philip
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Eminently sensible suggestion from Philip.
MaxD