Four: Chief Wren Sarah L. A. Hale, Women’s Royal Naval Service, whose long service spanned the Second World War to The Troubles in Northern Ireland

Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (30446 S. L. A. Hale CWren WRNS); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue (30446 S. L. A. Hale. Ch.Wren. H.M.S. Sea Eagle.) minor contact marks, good very fine (4) £160-£200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Norman Gooding Collection.

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Christie’s, March 1990.

Sarah L. A. Hale enlisted in the Women’s Royal Naval Service in November 1941, just two years after the first female students were admitted to the Royal Naval College. Over 8,000 women - known as ‘Wrens’ - were trained at Queen Anne Court and Devonport House during the Second World War, with roles including Radio Operators, Meteorologists and Bomb Markers. In 1944, at the service’s height, 74,000 women were involved in over 200 different roles.