Give to gain!
On International Women’s Day celebrated sculptor Amy Goodman commences the first ever statue of a Wren, as part of a new monument to the RNVR and Coastal Forces.
On International Women’s Day, March 8, the Coastal Forces Heritage Trust celebrates the incredible bravery and extraordinary services of the Coastal Forces women – the Wrens – many of whom are unsung heroes of two world wars. Formed in 1917 during WWI, their services will be honoured as part of a new monument to the RNVR and Coastal Forces set to be unveiled in the Portsmouth Historic Quarter in May 2027. The monument, by celebrated female sculptor Amy Goodman, will portray a Wren who will be signalling to a nearby Motor Gunboat with two figures on the bow, one of whom is the most highly decorated Royal Navy Volunteer Reservist, Lieutenant Commander Robert Hichens DSODSC* RNVR.
Amy Goodman, whose notable works of females include statues of Queen Elizabeth II and a bronze bust of Florence Nightingale, comments, “In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, I will start the process of creating the first ever statue of a Wren, based on a hugely inspiring woman and former Wren, Eve Branson. It is incredible to think we are celebrating over a century of women in the Coastal Forces, and their extraordinary journey since WW1 to the current day where we have several female admirals and many women in other senior command roles.”
Amy is modelling the Wren, who will represent all Wrens, on Eve Branson, who established the Eve Branson Foundation, based in Morocco, which supports the lives of women and young girls in the Atlas Mountains. Eve’s daughter Vanessa says “Mum continued the war-time spirit throughout her long life. Making light of deprivation or discomfort and turning any mishap into an awfully big adventure. We were blessed having her in our lives…she was just such fun.” Eve was an active member of the Coastal Forces veterans’ community and in later life was involved in the restoration of MTB 71, now in the Night Hunters museum in Gosport, included in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard ticket.
In WWI there were a limited number of Wrens (around 7000) in roles such as clerks and typists, drivers, cooks, basic technical assistants; in WW2 there were over 70,000 Wrens who became essential to naval operations, carrying out highly skilled tasks such as servicing torpedoes and acting as shore-based signallers. Today women are fully integrated into the Royal Navy and we have four female admirals – with the senior serving woman being Admiral Jude Terry CB OBE – and many women serving in senior command positions, including Captain Claire Thompson OBE RN as captain of the aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Admiral Jude says, “As the senior serving woman in the Royal Navy, I am forever grateful for the courage and commitment shown by our predecessors during the world wars and every day since. Women have always been involved in the Coastal Forces community and the inclusion of a member of the WRNS, based on the truly inspirational signaller Eve Branson, in the Coastal Forces Monument demonstrates this crucial role. I have seen our Services change remarkably in my 28-year career, and women continue to play a critical role in delivering security and safety of the UK and its people. Giving to the Service of our country through a career in the Armed Forces provides huge gains – personally and professionally”.
Janet Crabtree, Chairman of the Association of Wrens said, “The Wren in the Coastal Forces and RNVR monument will help educate new generations about the important contribution of members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service to the war effort, both WWI and WWII, and how pivotal that era was to the emancipation and equality of women, culminating in Wrens serving at sea from October 1990.”
Her comments are particularly relevant to Lt Kate Winter RN, whose Grandfather Bob Winter RNVR was captain of a Coastal Forces Motor Launch in WW2 laying mines along the French coast. He was Mentioned in Dispatches for his bravery and dedication. Kate now serves in HMS Dauntless which is affiliated to the Association of Wrens, given their link to the previous HMS Dauntless, the WRNS’ new-entry training establishment from 1945-1981. Kate says “I didn’t know my grandfather but I think he would have been amazed and incredibly proud if he had known I would become a RN engineer, posted to an Air-Defence Destroyer during an Indo-Pacific deployment and maintaining its operational capabilities over 40,000 nautical miles. I’m grateful to all the women who blazed a trail for my generation and made it possible for us to serve in the RN the way we do today’.
