N.Z. CORONATION CONTINGENT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26944, 21 January 1953, Page 2

N.Z. CORONATION CONTINGENT

FORMER WRENS NOT . TO BE INCLUDED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 20. Members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service who served in the 193945 war are not eligible for selection for the former services’ section of the New Zealand Coronation contingent. And they are not happy about it, as former women members of the Air Force and Army are eligible for selection. The former services’ section will have 40 members, and two will be women. These two places will allow representation of Waaf and Waac units, but not the Wrens. The section drawn from serving men and women allows for representation of all three women’s services. None of the 600 young women who served in the Wrens during the war went overseas. Most were probably eager to do so, but the Navy Board decided against it as a matter of policy. Waafs and Waacs served in many different theatres during the war and these qualify for inclusign in the contingent. The secretary of the New Zealand Services’ Association (Mr S. J. Harrison) said today that directions from the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald) stated that those eligible for inclusion in the former services’ section must have hSd war service (Korean service being counted) or regular force or territorial service.

“The Wrens will be represented in the New Zealand Coronation contingent by one at present serving,” said Mr Macdonald when the protest was referred to him last night. “Only those who served overseas can be considered for the former services’ group.”