The Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women’s branch of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy.
First formed in 1917 for the First World War, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in 1939 at the beginning of the Second World War, remaining active until integrated into the Royal Navy in 1993. When first formed the WRNS included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics,
WRNS officers wore the same rank insignia as their male equivalents, but in blue instead of gold. The “curls” atop officers’ rank stripes were diamond-shaped instead of circular on WRNS uniforms.
(Image courtesy of IWM.)