Hello. I am Audrey Martin and I joined the WRNS in 1956 doing my basic training in HMS Dauntless, and Part 2 training at HMS Mercury and HMS Seahawk.. Subsequent to that, I saw service in London (in Whitehall Wireless) and in Malta at Lascaris on the C-in-C's Staff. I also had a spell at RNAS Culdrose at HMS Seahawk and as ships company at HMS Dauntless. Sadly and with much regret, I left the Service in 1960 declared medically unfit.

  The photographs in this album (a lot of them are already embedded in the story) give you an insight into the WRNS which proudly served the Royal Navy in WW1 and then again from 1939 until 1990 when women in the WRNS were transferred into the Royal Navy. I hope you enjoy them.

The WRNS March 'Passing By'

  Clicking on the play button above will enable you to listed to the music composed by Lt Col Sir Vivian Dunn KCVO OBE FRSA RM and was, as the Principal Director of Music for the Royal Marines 1953 - 1968, a prolific composer of songs, marches and musical scores. He was much admired and was the first military musician to b Knighted. He died of lung cancer in 1995 at the age of 87. For the WRNS, as their own personal Ceremonial March music, he composed 'PASSING BY'. Women, post 1990, are now integrated into the Royal Navy and as such use the Ceremonial March Heart of Oak, the words for which were written in the 18th century. They are, to say the very least, sexist for they stress the gender of male implicitly and explicitly throughout. The loss of the intended use of Passing By is rather sad. (If you are using IE11 then you will need to allow Active X).

      

Joining up and Part 1 training.
HMS Dauntless, WRNS New Entry Training Establishment at Burghfield near Reading in Berkshire.

   

   

   

   

Part 2 Training
HMS Mercury, the RN Signal School at Leydene near Petersfield, Hampshire.

   

   

   

   

   

   

First Draft
HMS President, London, working in Whitehall Wireless.

   

  

Second Draft
Lascaris, Malta, on the staff of Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean

      

        

        

        

        

        

        

        

        

        

        

        

        

       

       

    

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