Dedicated to the Womens Royal Naval Service, and the Wrens who served in it.
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To the lovely lady who visited today and showed us this picture of her mum when she was in the Wrens (whose birthday it is today) - we aren’t sure if you meant to leave this photo behind, but we found it on one of our beds. She’s currently safe in the hands of the Wrens section of the museum.
If you’d like to come and collect her just let us know, but know that she is safe!
Many thanks to the family of Mary Bageley Williams, who visited us earlier this week and left us a plethora of fascinating personal documents and photographs dating back to 1941.
Mary worked here at Western Approaches from its first week of opening in February 1941, working first as a teleprinter operator, and later as a writer. In letters she wrote during her time at Western Approaches she details her accommodation, her first look around the headquarters, spending the night in the sleeping quarters (now home to our Wrens Museum!) and the visits of some famous names - plus, the final day of Admiral Sir Percy Noble being in charge of the command (or "Uncle Percy" as he is referred to here) before his move to Washington.
So many women who served in the Wrens have such interesting stories to tell, and it always holds a special place in our hearts to learn more about the women who served at WAHQ.
We are hoping to display these items in the future in a rotating exhibitions space.
To the Wrens who follow this page - do you have a favourite story from your time in the service? Pop it in the comments, or send us a message, as we'd love to hear your stories!
We are recruiting!
Are you organized, self motivated and up for getting involved in all of our exciting projects? Then this Office Manager/PA role could be for you.
The role will be based in Birkenhead and you will be needed to travel to Liverpool and Chester.
The important bit - 25K pa ft – to include pension. FT hours 9-5 5 days a week (can offer flexibility).
Main responsibility of the role
- To manage the Director’s diary/meeting & travel arrangements. Greet visitors and assist with making them comfortable.
- To attend meetings with the Director as required to take actions and filter through the business.
- To manage the Director’s emails and responses.
- To assist with admin requirements/project managing across the business.
- To be the central booking hub for the business and deal with enquiries.
- To be the company ‘go-to’ for admin support/organisation needs.
- To gather and analyse data.
- To be discreet and to protect private information/plans.
- To manage communications in relation to social media and review responses.
CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES
- To ensure the Director’s diary is organised and managed.
- To ensure all correspondence is up-to-date.
- To represent the business on behalf of the team in a professional manner.
- To ensure the Senior team is supported with admin requirements.
- To ensure the launch of events/projects is delivered as the client expects.
- To manage the venue diaries, take school bookings.
- To deal with invoicing/bookkeeping.
- To ensure offices are comfortable and set up.
- To create reports, gather data.
KEY SKILLS
- To be confident with word/excel/office admin packages and any software used by the business such as quickbooks.
- To be well-organised and a self-starter.
- To be ambitious and confident in their ability.
- To be able to work on projects on own and where needed, take the lead.
To enquire or apply with a cv and cover letter – email [email protected]
22nd August - save the date and book your tickets below!
We're proud to host Patricia Owtram, a WWII Wren who intercepted top-secret German messages! Join us on August 22nd at 11 am to hear her incredible story firsthand and get your book signed! Don't miss this chance at Western Approaches. Tickets are free with an entry permit - To find out more and book your ticket visit our website - https://ow.ly/EJ5V50PvKb1
📣 Calling all schools! Explore history like never before with a tour at Western Approaches HQ this September to October. Don't miss this incredible opportunity for an immersive learning experience! Book your tour online with a card today! http://ow.ly/reE450OFpGq
🎟️👉
The Wrens Museum is officially open!
While it has been open to the public for a while, The Wrens Museum had its official opening on Friday to coincide with the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, by none other than HRH The Princess Royal, Chief Commandant of women in the Royal Navy.
Located within Western Approaches Museum and included in the museum entry price, The Wrens Museum tells the story of WRNS from its inception in 1917 to women in the Royal Navy today.
From breaking barriers in the First World War to serving with pride in the Royal Navy today, the evolution of Women's Royal Naval Service uniforms is a testament to the strength and dedication of women in service.
The Wrens Museum boasts a wide display of uniforms throughout the decades, from ratings to officers, specialised uniforms and maternity dress, highlighting the shift in attitudes towards women in the military. Come down to the Wrens Museum to see these uniforms and the stories behind them in all their glory!
The very first birthday cards from The King and The Queen Consort have been delivered to hundreds of people celebrating their 100th and 105th birthdays across the United Kingdom.
Several veterans of the Second World War are recipients of the first birthday cards from Their Majesties, including Glaswegian born Ruth Park-Pearson, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (the WRENS) and now lives in North Yorkshire. Ruth celebrated her birthday on Friday, surrounded by many of her 6 children, 13 grandchildren and 25 grandchildren.
The posting of messages to mark significant birthdays and anniversaries is a tradition that dates back to 1917 and the reign of King George V, when those celebrating their 100th birthday or 60th wedding anniversary were sent a telegram of good wishes from His Majesty.
Today, thousands of birthday and wedding anniversary cards are sent from Buckingham Palace every year to those celebrating their 100th and 105th birthday and every year thereafter, and to those celebrating their 60th , 65th, 70th wedding anniversaries and every year thereafter. During Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, approximately 1.3 million cards were sent to mark birthdays and anniversaries across the UK, the Realms and the Overseas Territories.
The photograph of The King and The Queen Consort that appears on the birthday cards was taken in the summer of 2018.
Meet Mrs Joyce Mary Liddell, an ex-Wren that served at Western Approaches during the Second World War. Joyce was born in Harrogate. The war broke out when she was 20, and she volunteered for a series of driving jobs to help the war effort.
First, she joined the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) driving the ambulances which were big furniture vans. Next she became a VAD (a nurse serving in the Voluntary Aid Detachment) and after a sparse Red Cross training, Joyce was able to serve teas to soldiers convalescing at a rest home in Formby.
She then joined the WRVS (Women’s Royal Voluntary Service) where she was based at the car pool in the Liver Buildings transporting officers to and from the Gladstone Docks using her own car which was a Lancaster. Joyce got rather fed up with this monotonous job and joined the WRNS (Women’s Royal Naval Service).
She became part of the Wren pool of drivers for naval officers. Commander-in-Chief Western Approaches, Admiral Sir Percy Noble, a real gentleman, had his own car with a divider between driver and passengers for privacy. Others were in pool cars and Joyce enjoyed listening to first hand accounts of the progress of war during spring 1943. Joyce was also a driver for Captain ‘Johnny’ Walker.
Joyce, now on a 600cc Ariel provided by the Navy after volunteering to learn to ride on the Army 350cc Norton motor bikes, was responsible for collecting and delivering the ‘Pink List’ (in a sealed envelope) each day which contained the daily disposition of the forces of the whole British Navy. She slept at Derby House when she was on duty. When the destroyers came off convoy they had 3 weeks respite from the Atlantic in dock at Liverpool and Joyce was responsible for collecting the CB’s (Confidential Books) from the Captain at Orell Haye and taking them to HQ at Derby House.
She had one daughter, two grandchildren and four great grandsons (all of whom she met before passing away).
Thank you, Joyce, for your service.
Wishing HRH Anne, the Princess Royal a very Happy Birthday! The Princess Royal was Chief Commandant of the WRNS from 1973 until 1993.
Indian Women at Sea free event on the 6th August 11-3:30pm at Western Approaches HQ, Liverpool.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/indian-women-at-sea-tickets-393043372307
In collaboration with Believe in Me CIC - join us as we discuss and explore how Indian women came to work on naval ships during the Second World War.
Numbers are very limited so book now on the link above if you want to attend!
A new visitor has been sneaking (or rather, squeaking) around Western Approaches!
See if you can spot Admiral Sir Mouse Horton hiding around the bunker on your next visit.
Our free children’s trail is coming along together nicely. It is starting up soon, so don't forget to bring your children these summer holidays for a day of exploring Liverpool’s top secret World War 2 bunker!
Did you know we offer guided tours and a variety of workshops to schools?
Don't miss out and book a place for your school now! We're offering a 10% discount on all booking for 2022, just quote 2022 in the notes section of your enquiry.
https://liverpoolwarmuseum.co.uk/visiting/schools/
Introducing Ella & Arthur, our time travelling duo that'll be helping on our free family trail. The brand new trail will be launching soon so keep watching this space for more updates!
Join us for a Summer filled with fun at Western Approaches HQ. Not only do we have our standard fare of activities and games running for the entire School Holidays, we also are proud to introduce our brand new Family Trail!
Join the International Time Travelling Agency today!
Follow a top secret trail around the bunker, make sure to stick to the path though! We don’t want you getting lost in time!
You can also meet our Characters – J A Dempsey our friendly local shopkeeper and Leading Wren Betty Walsh. Maybe even create your own character at our dress-up station!
Entry to the Museum is free for children under 16 and all activities are included. Tickets can be prebooked online , or bought on the day.
We absolutely love seeing stories like this! It just goes to show how far women in the Royal Navy have come - thanks in part to their predecessors the Wrens.
We’re sure no Wren who enlisted in 1917 ever would have dreamed that this would be possible.
Incredible stuff!
https://www.forces.net/services/navy/history-made-women-command-all-four-royal-navys-major-training-bases?fbclid=IwAR0mh2QJvMab2qZEnuW2f_-TGb_WygPgydnZML7Kp5vhWQqv-AzWOi9cxa4
Captain Jo Deakin has taken command of HMS Sultan – the centre's first female commanding officer.
We were incredibly excited 100 year old Lillian Vaughan (nee Smith) to the Wrens Museum today!!! She served between 1940 to 1949 and described the Wrens as one of the best times of her life.
Thank you for visiting Lillian! It was an absolute pleasure to show you around the Wrens Museum.
A little before and after of a section of the Wrens Museum!
Lovely photograph of Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) meeting Wrens during her visit to Western Approaches in November 1942.
Western Approaches HQ (Liverpool) is where the Wrens Museum is located!
We love this video that one of the Western Approaches interns has done about the WRNS.
Don’t think we can get a nicer or better visitor comment than this!!!!
We’re chuffed!!!!!!!
One of our team visited the RAF Museum at Defford whilst on their holidays, and was very pleasantly surprised to see some displays on the WRNS!
RAF Defford was a top secret RAF airfield and research facility during the Second World War. There was never anymore than 25 Wrens based there - they were Radio Mechanics, Drivers and Writers!
Western Approaches and the Wrens Museum have recently acquired a WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Services) uniform.
Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of the United States visited the U.K. in November 1942 specifically to meet the women who were working in Britain. She even visited Western Approaches and was incredibly impressed by the work of the Wrens.
In her radio broadcast she spoke of her visits:
‘Our last stop was Dover. The Mayor met us and showed us the Civilian Defense work. Admiral Sir Henry Pridham-Wippell showed us the Navy's work and we saw the work of the Wrens. Their head is Mrs. Laughton Mathews. Miss Mildred McAfee heads a comparable organization of women in the U.S. Navy (WAVES). Of course, the women here do a greater variety of things than they do at present in the United States, but it is a great satisfaction to see how completely accepted they are by their co-workers and how well they carry their responsibilities.
The women of Britain are helping to win the war, in fact they are a very vital factor in the man power of the nation.’
The work of the WRNS and the other services was vital, and it might not be so far to say that they inspired the formation of the WAVES.
We were very happy to welcome former Wren Jane Evans-Hoon to the Wrens Museum yesterday. Jane has very kindly donated a number of items to us including her service record, a number of photographs, recruitment material and even the bible she was given.
It was wonderful to meet you Jane and we hope you enjoyed your visit!
A Wren showing a Sailor how it’s done!
Such a fantastic photo!
We had a school from Denmark visit Western Approaches today and they were given some free time in the Wrens.
Very pleased to announce that they loved it!!!
We can’t wait to welcome more visitors.
We recently had Richard Murphy get in touch regarding this photograph. He believes that it was taken at HMS Pembroke either 1944/1945. He wants to know if anyone can recognise any of the women in this picture.
Such a good photograph!
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A little before and after of a section of the Wrens Museum!
We love this video that one of the Western Approaches interns has done about the WRNS.
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