Our Sisters Also Served and Died – Wrens lost due to war action in WW2

From the Naval History Net site I have extracted this list of members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service who were killed by war action in WW2 (not including those who died due to illness or road accidents). Despite the WRNS motto “Never at sea” in fact quite a lot of women were lost at sea on their way to overseas postings. Such women would have been selected for overseas service as the very best in both competence and conduct, so their loss was especially tragic.

Many Wrens served in technical roles, as they would continue to do after the war and do today in the fully integrated Royal Navy.

HMS Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, 10 Wrens killed.

SS Aguila, 19 August 1941. 21 wrens lost when the ship was sunk due to enemy action. There is a memorial in Scarborough. All the chief Wrens are pictured here.

HMS Minos, 13 January 1942, bombing of a Lowestoft cafe popular with local Wrens led to several deaths.

HMS Midge, 18^th March 1943, bombing of the Wrens hostel in Great Yarmouth resulted in 8 deaths.

SS Khedive Ismail, 12 February 1944 was sunk due to enemy action, resulting in the single worst loss of servicewomen: 19 WRNS, 53 nursing sisters and their matron, as well as nine members of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.

6 Wrens died due to various air crashes. Although women did not serve as pilots in the Fleet Air Arm, those who worked as air radio mechanics did fly on short flights to test the equipment.

Full list

DOI died of injuries. DOW died of wounds. DOWS died on war service. MPD missing presumed dead. MPK missing presumed killed.

1. ARMSTRONG, Rosa M, WRNS, WRNS/ 8622, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
2. ASHBURNER, Joan M, Leading Wren, Fleet Air Arm, Radar Duty, 45374, Merlin, 9 June 1944, air crash, killed. Buried Dunfermline Douglas Bank.
3. BACKLER, Gertrude J, WRNS, 85688, Blackcap, 4 May 1944, DOWS
4. BACON, Phyllis, Chief WRNS, WA/WRNS 4715, Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941,MPK
5. BARDEN, Jeanette L, Third Officer WRNS, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Tana, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
6. BARNES, Margaret W, Chief WRNS, 7860, Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
7. BATCHELOR, Margaret (Peggy), Leading Wren, Fleet Air Arm, Radar Duty, died in the same crash as Jean Ashburner, and is buried next to her in Dunfermline Douglas Bank.
8. BENJAMIN, Cecilly M B, Chief WRNS, 6965 (WRNS), Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
9. BENNETT, Joyce M, WRNS, WRNS, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
10. BESSANT, Laura B, Leading WRNS, 10036, Minos, 13 January 1942, bombing, killed
11. BLACK, Mona V, WRNS, WRNS, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
12. BLACKETT, Winnie, WRNS, WRNS, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
13. BLAKE-FORSTER, Cecelia M, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Aguila, steamship, (Cormorant, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
14. BOND, Rosemary F, Leading WRNS, 24350, Kilele, 15 May 1944, DOWS
15. BONSOR, Dorothy, Chief WRNS, 7862 (WRNS), Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
16. BREAKALL, Marie E, WRNS, 39735, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Assegai, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
17. BRITAIN, Constance F, Act/3rd Officer, WRNS, FAA, 754 Sqn, Condor, 30 August 1943, air crash, killed
18. CANNING, Gertrude, WRNS, N/WRNS/33824, Quebec, 30 June 1942, killed
19. CARLYLE, Agnes K, WRNS, 40911 (WRNS), Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Assegai, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
20. CHAPMAN, Joyce M A, WRNS, P/WRNS 11463, Victory, 12 January 1945, DOWS
21. CHAPPE-HALL, Margaret E, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Aguila, steamship, (Cormorant, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
22. COATES, Freda C, Leading WRNS, 3339, Minos, 26 April 1941, killed
23. COLLETT, Phillis A, Petty Officer WRNS, D/WRNS 11235, St Angelo, 30 August 1945, killed
24. COOPER, Madeleine A, Chief WRNS, 6093 (WRNS), Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941,MPK
25. CORBETT, Hilda B, WRNS, 53488 (WRNS), Lanka, 8 March 1945, DOWS
26. CORMACK, Margaret A, WRNS Petty Officer, 32199, Braganza, 7 March 1945, DOWS
27. COULTAS, Jean, WRNS, 72629, Kestrel, 7 July 1944, killed
28. COWLE, Vera M, WRNS Steward, P/WRNS 7232, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
29. CREIGHTON, Ivy W, Leading WRNS, 2719, Europa, 13 January 1942, bombing, killed
30. CROCKER, Eileen R, 2nd Officer, WRNS, Landrail, 1 September 1945, air crash, DOI
31. CROCKFORD, Kitty I, WRNS, 42281, Europa, 12 May 1943, bombing, killed
32. DALTON, Alison S F, Leading WRNS, 25497, Tana, 1 February 1945, DOWS
33. DALTON, Winifred B, WRNS, 42535, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Assegai, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
34. DEAN, Cicely C, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Tana, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
35. DOBSON, Margaret E J, 1st Officer, WRNS, Pyramus, 7 July 1941, air crash, killed
36. DRUMMOND, Anne A, Leading WRNS, 19919, Midge, 18 March 1943, bombing, killed
37. DUNCAN, Joan R, WRNS, N/WRNS 72461, Pembroke III, 18 June 1944, V.1 bombing, killed
38. EVERETT, Lily E, WRNS, N/WRNS 42900, Europa, 12 May 1943, bombing, killed
39. FARMER, Edith A, WRNS, 72463, Pembroke III, 18 June 1944, V.1 bombing, killed
40. FLETCHER, Gladys, Leading WRNS, 9426 (WRNS), Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Tana, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
41. GOMPERS, Pauline M, Petty Officer WRNS, 43752, Condor, 27 July 1945, killed
42. GRANT, Mary, Chief WRNS, P/WRNS 2209, Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
43. GREGORY, Nellie, Leading WRNS, P/WRNS 1940, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
44. HUGHES, Joan M, Leading WRNS, 15809, Midge, 18 March 1943, bombing, killed
45. HUNTER, Ethel M, WRNS, 43624, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Assegai, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
46. JACKSON, Cynthia P M/, Leading WRNS, WA/WRNS 8432, Nile, 12 August 1944, DOW
47. JACKSON, Thelma D T, Third Officer WRNS, FAA, 816 Sqn, Jackdaw, 23 July 1944, air crash (passenger), MPK
48. JAGO-BROWN, Anne E, 2nd Officer, WRNS, Midge, 18 March 1943, bombing, killed
49. JOY, Alilica A B, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Aguila, steamship, (Cormorant, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
50. KILBURN, Aileen M, WRNS, WRNS, Midge, 18 March 1943, bombing, killed
51. KIRK, Evelyn M, Leading WRNS, WRNS, Excellent, 27 April 1941, bombing, killed
52. LE PAPA, Olive I F, WRNS, W/4206 (WRCNS), Hochelaga (RCN), 21 April 1944, MPK
53. LIVESEY, Moira I, WRNS, 27237, Shrapnel, 11 September 1944, DOWS
54. MACPHERSON, Florence, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Aguila, steamship, (Cormorant, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
55. MAYES, Betty G, WRNS, 91114, Women’s Royal Naval Service, 1 May 1944, DOWS
56. McBURNEY, Jean, WRNS, R/WRNS 183588, Cochrane II, 19 April 1942, killed
57. McLAREN, Victoria C, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Aguila, steamship, (Cormorant, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
58. MEYNELL, Betty, WRNS, 73009, Kestrel, 7 July 1944, killed
59. MILLER, Kathleen, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Aguila, steamship, (Cormorant, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
60. MILNE HOME, Isabel M, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Aguila, steamship, (Cormorant, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
61. MORRIS, Phyllis O, Leading WRNS, 20665, Lanka, 19 June 1945, DOWS
62. NICKSON, Aileen A B, WRNS, 38215, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Tana, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
63. NORMAN, Mildred G, Chief WRNS, R/3612 (WRNS), Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
64. NORTHFIELD, Beryl M, WRNS, P/WRNS 6198, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
65. NYE, Beatrice M, WRNS, N/WRNS 46151, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Tana, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
66. OGLE, Christine E, 2nd Officer, WRNS, Aguila, steamship, (Cormorant, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
67. PEARSON, Hilda, WRNS, P/WRNS 1304, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
68. PERKINS, Peggy I, Leading WRNS, 60387, Women’s Royal Naval Service, 4 April 1945, DOWS
69. PETT, Olive D, WRNS, 62192, Lynx, 27 June 1943, killed
70. POWELL, Violet B, Leading WRNS, 36051, Midge, 18 March 1943, bombing, killed
71. RAINTON, Muriel A, WRNS, 32115, Midge, 18 March 1943, bombing, killed
72. REDDING, Sybil D, WRNS, P/WRNX 7386, Hornet, 7 March 1941, DOWS
73. REGAN, Ellen E, WRNS, 36839, Midge, 18 March 1943, bombing, killed
74. REITH, Josephine C, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Aguila, steamship, (Cormorant, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
75. REYNOLDS, Norah K, WRNS, P/WRNS 7691, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
76. ROBINSON, Marion C, 3rd Officer, WRNS, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Tana, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
77. SCOTT, Rachel, WRNS, 18543 (WRNS), Odyssey, 27 August 1945, killed
78. SHEPHERD, Elsie E, Chief WRNS, 8870 (WRNS), Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
79. SLAVEN, Catherine J, Chief WRNS, C/9322 (WRNS), Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
80. SMAIL, Heather M, Act/Leading WRNS, 43136, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Assegai, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
81. SMITH, Beatrice M, Chief WRNS, 6116 (WRNS), Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
82. SMITH, Catherine P, WRNS, 40183, Pyramus, 15 February 1943, MPK
83. SQUIRES, Isobel F, Petty Officer WRNS, 68358, Condor, 27 July 1945, killed
84. STAFFORD, Audrey H, WRNS, 60199, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Assegai, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
85. STALLWORTHY, Eileen M, WRNS, 83359, St Angelo, 30 August 1945, killed
86. TANSLEY, Pamela A, Leading WRNS (S), WRNS, FAA, 755/756 Sqn, Kestrel, 7 July 1942, air crash, killed
87. THOMPSON, Margaret M I, WRNS, 10781, Minos, 13 January 1942, bombing, killed
88. TODD, Margaret P, Leading WRNS, 51125, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Assegai, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
89. TURNER, Rita M R, WRNS, WRNS, Midge, 5 April 1943, bombing, DOW
90. VALENTINE, Helen M J, Leading WRNS, 21962, Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Tana, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
91. WALDEN, Elizabeth A, Petty Officer WRNS, 18938, Badger, 5 April 1943, DOWS
92. WARDELL, Dorothy M, WRNS, P/WRNS 6923, Daedalus, 23 November 1940, bombing, killed
93. WATERS, Ellen J, Chief WRNS, C/WRNS 7491, Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
94. WELLS, Rosalie, Chief WRNS (S), R/WRNS 6120, Aguila, steamship, (President II, O/P), 19 August 1941, MPK
95. WHITE, Betty R, WRNS, 36211 (WRNS), Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Tana, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK
96. WHITTALL, Ellen V, Petty Officer WRNS, 1669, Britannia II, 18 September 1942, killed
97. WILKIN, Dorothy, Leading WRNS, 7459, Britannia II, 26 October 1942, killed
98. WYLLIE, Pamela I, Leading WRNS, 47044 (WRNS), Khedive Ismail, steamship, (Assegai, O/P), 12 February 1944, MPK