One-day seminar to reveal 100 years of women in the Royal Navy
To mark the centenary of the formation of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), a one-day conference on Saturday 25 November explores the contribution women have made to the Royal Navy.
In 1917 the WRNS motto was ‘Never at Sea’. Since then much has changed, women are now fully integrated into the Royal Navy and expect the same opportunities as their male counterparts, including service at sea. Less well known is women’s involvement with the Royal Navy before the establishment of the WRNS.
Speakers will examine the impact of women’s early involvement with the Navy before the introduction of uniformed women’s naval services, naval nursing as well as looking some of the key changes to affect the WRNS, in particular, the integration of the WRNS into the Royal Navy.
The packed programme includes cultural historian, Dr Jo Stanley; maritime records specialist at the National Archives; Janet Dempsey and researchers Dr Hannah Roberts and Dr Kath Sherit.
Seminar organiser and curator of the centenary exhibition Pioneers to Professionals: Women and the Royal Navy, Victoria Ingles said: “Our year-long exhibition has really captured the imagination. Historically the work of naval women was rarely recorded and often overlooked, yet thousands have actively contributed to worldwide naval operations over centuries. This seminar will add to everyone’s appreciation of this.”
The seminar takes place on Saturday 25 November in the Princess Royal Gallery, The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Tickets cost £45.
Buy tickets here: http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/pioneers-to-professionals-seminar
Running order
| 10:30 | Registration |
| 10:50 | Welcome
Victoria Ingles, National Museum of the Royal Navy |
| 11:00 | Keynote
Dr Jo Stanley |
| 11:15 | ‘Women on board Royal Navy Ships in the age of sail’
Janet Dempsey, Principal Maritime Records Specialist at the National Archives |
| 12:00-13:15
12:30 |
Lunch
Guided tour of Pioneers to Professionals. Women and the Royal Navy exhibition Victoria Ingles, Curator of ‘Pioneers to Professionals. Women and the Royal Navy’ |
| 13:15 | ‘Sister services but separate: the WRNS contrasted to healers in the VAD, QARNNS and Royal Naval Medical Service.’
Dr Jo Stanley |
| 14:00 | ‘The WRNS formation in 1917 as compared to 1938.’
Dr Hannah Roberts, Independent Researcher |
| 14:45 | Refreshments
Dr Jo Stanley and Dr Hannah Roberts will be signing copies of their newly published books which are available to conference guests at a discounted price. |
| 15:00 | ‘Seagoing in Warships: Reluctant, Bold or Pragmatic Leadership?’
Dr Kath Sherit, Independent Researcher |
| 15:45 | Questions
Closing remarks Victoria Ingles, National Museum of the Royal Navy |
| 16:00 | Finish |
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