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5 unusual facts about Auxiliary Territorial Service


Auxiliary Territorial Service

The only holders of chief controller were the first three directors, promoted to the rank on their appointment, and Princess Mary, who held it from 1939 and was appointed the ATS's honorary controller-commandant in August 1941.

Women were barred from serving in battle, but due to shortages of men, ATS members, as well as members of the other women's voluntary services, took over many support tasks, such as radar operators, forming part of the crews of anti-aircraft guns and military police.

Great Ballard School

For a short time it was located at Cordwalles, Camberley, in Surrey, where the Queen had carried out her ATS training till fire forced a temporary return to Stowell Park.

Jean Gilpin

Jean is perhaps best known to British television audiences as Sylvia, a precocious Auxiliary Territorial Service member who attempts unsuccessfully to seduce Private Pike in The Making of Private Pike (first broadcast 9 October 1977) in the final series of Dad's Army.

Jennifer Moyle

Shortly after earning her degree, Moyle entered the Auxiliary Territorial Service.


Joan Bernard

During World War II, she was an officer of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and was instrumental in Britain's defence against V-1 and V-2 rockets.

RAF Boddington

The station was established in 1940 as an army telephone exchange operated by the Auxiliary Territorial Service under the guard of the Gloucestershire Regiment.


see also