WAC (I)s IN SKINS
By
Maj. Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd)
During
World War II, the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (India)) was formed in order relieve
soldiers employed in static establishments for combat duties. Comprising mostly
British, Indian, Anglo-Indian, Malay and Burmese women, the WAC (I) were used
in administrative offices, depots, officers shops and telephone exchanges.
Towards the end of the war, Major General ‘Tiger’ Curtis was posted as the
Commander, Lucknow District. In view of
the extremely hot weather he issued orders that all ranks would wear ‘skins’ in
his command. (Skins consisted of shorts, worn without a shirt or vest. Badges
of rank were worn on an arm band).
The
order was passed down the line, including the Signals units, which were
responsible for manning the telephone exchanges, where a large number of WAC
(I)’s were employed. Soon, there were
complaints that the girls were feeling uncomfortable with ‘topless’ men sitting
next to them. However, matters came to a head when the Junior Commander of the
WAC (I) in Allahabad telephoned the Senior Commander at Lucknow to inform her
that some of the girls had begun obeying the order to wear ‘skins’!
10
Mar 2010
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