HC Deb 13 December 1939 vol 355 cc1221-2W
Miss Wilkinson

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the superintendents, chief officers and first and second officers of the Women's Royal Naval Service, indicating how many of these are the wives or daughters of naval officers?

Mr. Churchill

From the following detailed particulars it will be seen that 48 per cent. of the officers of the W.R.N.S. are the wives, widows or daughters of naval officers. The Admiralty welcome the strong element in the Women's Royal Naval Service of those who have close associations with Royal Navy, both as evidence of the wish of these ladies to serve the State in the capacity which it seems natural for them to adopt, and because there is undoubted advantage to be gained to the Service from the especial ease with which they can assimilate its requirements.

Director—Mrs. V. Laughton Mathews, M.B.E. Wife of civilian and daughter of naval officer.

Deputy Director—Miss E. M. Goodenough. Unmarried daughter of Indian Army officer.

5 Superintendents:

Devonport: Mrs. E. V. Welby. Widow and daughter of naval officer.

Chatham: Miss J. Carpenter. Not wife or daughter of naval officer.

Rosyth: Miss E. Mackenzie-Grieve. Not wife or daughter of naval officer.

Portsmouth: Miss A. Curtis, M.B.E. Not wife or daughter of naval officer.

Officers' Training Course: Mrs. D. Chappé Hall. Not wife or daughter of naval officer.

9 Chief Officers.
Wives or widows of naval officers 2
Daughters of naval officers 1
26 First Officers.
Wives or widows of naval officers 7
Daughters of naval officers 2
191 Second Officers.
Wives or widows of naval officers 67
Daughters of naval officers 31