The Women's Auxiliary Army Corps was a female auxiliary of the New Zealand Military Forces. Raised during the Second World War under the command of Vida Jowett, most of its personnel served on the Home Front, with several manning coastal and anti-aircraft defences. Many WAACs were sent overseas to serve in Europe and the Middle East, mainly providing medical and welfare services to the troops of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. At its peak, it had a strength of nearly 4,600 serving personnel. After the war, some WAACs served with Jayforce, providing welfare services for the New Zealand troops doing occupation duties in Japan.
In peacetime, WAAC personnel performed catering, clerical, medical, and signaling work. In 1948, it became a regular corps of the New Zealand Army and four years later became the New Zealand Women's Royal Army Corps, upon gaining approval to use the Royal designation. It was disbanded in 1977 when women were allowed to serve with the New Zealand Army alongside men.
Formation
Following the outbreak of the Second World War, it was some time before the potential contribution of women to the war effort was appreciated in New Zealand. It was not until late 1940 that a Women's War Service Auxiliary (WWSA) was formed with the task of co-ordinating the use of women in the war effort. This then led to the formation of female auxiliary services for the branches of the New Zealand Military Forces. This would free up men for active service overseas or for essential industries. The intention to form an auxiliary service for the Army was announced in February 1942 and the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) was officially formed in July, under the command of Vida Jowett. It was planned that the WAAC would have 10,000 personnel.
Recruitment
The WWSA initially screened applicants for the WAAC. However, it ceased to be involved after a few months as there was increasing dissatisfaction with how recruitment was being handled. Instead, applications were made to the National Service Department, responsible for recruitment into the New Zealand Military Forces.
Applicants had to be aged between 18 and 50 to qualify for service on the Home Front and to serve abroad, they had to be between 23 and 40 years old. Some early recruits were civilian employees of the Army who were already performing administrative and catering duties at various facilities around New Zealand. In addition, WWSA volunteers serving in the canteens of the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo, run for personnel of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), became part of the WAAC. These volunteers, the first New Zealand women to serve overseas in aid of the war effort, were known as Tuis. The tui, a native bird of New Zealand, became the emblem of the WAAC.
WAAC personnel were required to serve for the duration of the war and then a 12-month period afterwards, unless discharged prior. From October 1942, following an amendment to the Defence Emergency Regulations 1941, they were subject to many of the laws and regulations that applied to male personnel of the New Zealand Military Forces, but also enjoyed some of the benefits as well.
War service
In New Zealand, WAACs fulfilled a variety of roles, many of which clerical or administrative in nature. Others operated communication equipment and heavy machinery. The success of the equivalent British organisation for women, the Auxiliary Territorial Service, in assuming coastal and anti-aircraft defence duties was noted, and the WAAC performed similar duties in New Zealand.