Souvenir felt naval pennant - Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS)

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Screencraft

c. 1941

Overview

Triangular souvenir naval pennant in horizontal orientation made from a dark blue felt base with printed white and red detailing.
The graphics and text on the pennant are screen-printed using oil-based paint or thick lacquer ink.
The wide end of the pennant has two white fabric ties attached to the edge for hanging.
On the left is a traditional central anchor wrapped in rope (fouled anchor) surmounted by a red and white King's Crown, all enclosed within a white circular rope border.
To the right of this are the letters 'W • R • A • N • S •' tapering in size down toward the point.
The reverse is plain, except for the maker's tag which reads 'Screencraft 49 LITTLE LATROBE ST. MELBOURNE FJ6510' in red ink on a cream background.

Historical information

The Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) was established in April 1941 as the women's branch of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to alleviate manpower shortages during World War Two. Over 3,000 women served as telegraphists, coders, intelligence analysts, drivers, cooks, and mechanics, though they were restricted to shore-based duties and non-combat roles.
The service was disbanded in 1948, but was re-formed in 1951 to meet escalating Cold War manpower demands. The WRANS became a permanent, non-seagoing part of the RAN in December 1959, but by1984–1985, WRANS personnel were fully integrated and absorbed directly into the mainstream structure of the Royal Australian Navy.

Felt naval pennants were highly popular wartime souvenirs throughout the British Commonwealth—most notably across New Zealand and Australia - during and post WWII.
They were frequently purchased by service members, merchant mariners, or civilians as patriotic keepsakes, homefront memorabilia, or gifts for family members to commemorate maritime service.
This example is a generic Women's Royal Australian Navy Service pennant which doesn't feature the name of an individual ship or shore establishment. Due to the presence of the King's Crown, it is likely to be WWII era, or at least pre-1952, when Queen Elizabeth II became the reigning monarch.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW01119

Item type

Collectibles

Ephemera

Pennants

Souvenirs

Themes

Defence > Navy

Social History

Material