Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps
“It is finished, and I have proved to them all that women can be as good as, or better than men.”
Florence Violet McKenzie OBE, 1982.
2 days before she passed away, aged 91.
Mrs Mac at her wireless equipment, c.1920s. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. 
Mrs Mac with her husband Cecil Roland McKenzie c.1930. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. 
The Wireless Shop, Royal Arcade, Sydney. c.1922. Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. 
The rooms of the Electrical Association for Women, c.1936. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. 
Florence Violet McKenzie with overseas naval personnel, c.1953. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. 
Florence Violet McKenzie in her Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps uniform, c.1939. Source: Wikimedia Commons / Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps. Public domain. 
Mrs Ella Partridge, Commandant of the Wagga Wagga branch of the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps, from October 1941. Source: Archives Outside blog, NSW State Archives and Records, citing CSU Regional Archives. 
Mrs Ella Partridge leading WESC members marching in Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga, 1945. Source: Archives Outside blog, NSW State Archives and Records, citing CSU Regional Archives.
The Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps (WESC) trained women in Morse code across Australia during World War II, and Wagga Wagga had its very own branch.
This is only tangentially related to 38 Morrow St, but I thought it was such an interesting story I’ve collated some info on it anyways. I’m sure many of the ladies who lived at 38 Morrow St would have been involved with the WESC and I hope to find out more!
The origins of the WESC are fascinating. I stumbled across the amazing Florence Violet Mackenzie (nee Wallace) in my research, and wanted to share a little more about her too, as well as a timeline of significant women in the WESC. Florence was:
- Probably the first woman in Australia to receive a Diploma of Electrical Engineering (1923)
- First female certificated radio telegraphist in Australia
- First woman to hold an amateur wireless licence (1924)
- The only female electrical engineer in New South Wales at the time she formed the WESC
- Ran the WESC entirely on a voluntary basis, with all courses free of charge
- Around 3,000 women and 12,000 men trained at Mrs Mac’s school, and every single one of them did it for free
- Placed fourteen women with the Naval Board to form the nucleus of the WRANS, a service she effectively created through persistence rather than invitation
In 1950 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her work with the WESC. Read more about her legacy in this lovely tribute here
Source: Nelmes, Michael. ‘McKenzie, Florence Violet (1890-1982),’ Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, 2012.
Local history — Wagga Wagga
Women of the WESC — Wagga Wagga
A history of the women who formed and led the Wagga Wagga branch of the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps (WESC) during World War II, culminating in the opening of the Service Women’s Hostel at 38 Morrow Street on 3 April 1943. Research drawn from Charles Sturt University Regional Archives and the Archives Outside blog.
National context — 1939
Florence Violet McKenzie
Founder, Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps — Sydney
Known as “Mrs Mac,” McKenzie formed the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps early in 1939 with her husband, offering free courses in Morse code and signalling to women. By 1924 she had become Australia’s first female certificated radio telegraphist and the first woman in the country to hold an amateur wireless licence. By the time war broke out she had already trained nearly a thousand women in signalling subjects.
WESC — National expansion
Volunteer signallers, Australia-wide
As war was declared, the WESC expanded rapidly beyond Sydney. The corps trained women in Morse code telegraphy, visual signalling, and wireless communications. Regional branches began forming across NSW.
Wagga Wagga branch — 1940
Mrs E Scott
Founding Commandant, WESC Wagga Wagga Branch
The Wagga Wagga branch of the WESC was formed in June 1940 under Mrs E Scott, of the Australian Hotel, as Commandant, with around 40 enthusiastic women joining from the start. After three and a half months’ training, recruits were required to pass the 10 words-per-minute “C” grade test before being admitted as members, earning the right to wear the distinctive forest green uniform designed by Mrs McKenzie.
Wagga WESC members
Signallers — practice rooms, Fitzmaurice Street
As membership grew and proficiency increased, it became necessary to open dedicated practice rooms in Fitzmaurice Street. By January 1941, most members could transmit at 15 words per minute, practicing three to four times a week. Their objective was to reach 25 words per minute as quickly as possible. Drill training was held at St Andrew’s Hall.
1941 — Leadership & public life
Wagga WESC signallers
Instructors — training men awaiting call-up
As WESC women became highly proficient, free training was made available in Morse key and lamp signalling to men waiting for their call-up into the fighting forces.
WESC, WANS and VAD — Wagga
First public march, Wagga Wagga
The Wagga WESC, the Women’s Australian National Service (WANS), and the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) marched together in public for the first time on Anzac Day 1941. The women joined many church parades, sporting events and Anzac Day marches throughout the war.
WESC telegraphists nationally
Formation of the WRANS
In April 1941, McKenzie persuaded the Naval Board in Melbourne to accept fourteen of her operators into the Royal Australian Navy. Those fourteen women formed the nucleus of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS).
Mrs E Partridge
Second Commandant, WESC Wagga Wagga
When Mrs Scott left Wagga in October 1941, Group Leader Mrs E Partridge stepped up to lead the corps. She and her second-in-command, Mrs G Winter, travelled to Sydney to attend lectures at WESC headquarters, bringing the latest Morse code teaching methods back to tutors in Wagga. Card parties and fundraising events were hosted at the Partridge home throughout her tenure.
Mrs G Winter
Second-in-command, WESC Wagga Wagga
Mrs G Winter served alongside Commandant Mrs Partridge, travelling with her to Sydney for advanced training at WESC headquarters so that the latest methods of Morse code teaching and instruction could be passed on to tutors in Wagga on their return.
1942 — Training the forces
WESC Wagga — 2nd birthday
Fundraising & corps celebration
The Wagga WESC celebrated their second birthday in July 1942, marking two years since those first 40 women gathered under Mrs Scott’s command. Funds raised through the corps’ ongoing dances, market days, picture nights and card parties were used to maintain expensive signals equipment or donated to various war projects.
WESC women — Wagga instructresses
Training the RAAF Air Training Corps
Towards the end of 1942, with increasing numbers of their own members enlisting in the WAAAF and Australian Women’s Army Service, the Wagga WESC signallers took on a new and demanding role: training the RAAF Air Training Corps in signals. Instructresses were continually needed as members left for active service.
3 April 1943 — The hostel opens at 38 Morrow Street
Service Women’s Hostel — official opening
Lady Gowrie presiding; Matron Bess Duncanson
On 3 April 1943, Lady Gowrie, wife of the Governor-General, officially opened the Service Women’s Hostel at 38 Morrow Street, Wagga Wagga. Alongside Lord Mayor Alderman RJ Bartley, she took the salute outside the Town Hall as servicewomen from the WAAAF, AWAS and Women’s Land Army marched down Baylis and Fitzmaurice Streets. Matron Bess Duncanson oversaw the hostel’s 30 beds (capacity stretched to 60 in emergencies) at 2s 6d per night. This building, already home to generations of Wagga women, would now shelter the women who served. WESC members, many of whom had trained the forces in this very town, were among those who now had a place to stay.
WAAAF, AWAS & Women’s Land Army
Residents, 38 Morrow Street
Throughout the war years, servicewomen from across Australia passed through 38 Morrow Street under the care of Matron Bess Duncanson.
Legacy — by the numbers
WESC — national legacy
School closed 1955
By August 1945 McKenzie’s school had trained some 12,000 men in Morse code, visual signalling and international code, alongside around 3,000 women, a third of whom joined the forces. In 1950 she was appointed OBE for her work with the WESC. She closed her school in 1955.
Sources: Charles Sturt University Regional Archives (WESC collection; Service Women’s Hostel collection RW1572); Archives Outside, NSW State Archives blog; Nelmes, Michael. ‘McKenzie, Florence Violet (1890-1982),’ Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, 2012.