Billy Rough learns about one Wren’s life-changing experiences on HMS Unicorn
During WW II, HMS Unicorn was home to over 1,500 Wrens. Billy Rough shares the story of one of these remarkable women.
IT may be the oldest ship in Scotland, but during World WarII, HMS Unicorn in Dundee was better known as a training centre for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves.
An important part of the ship’s story is that of the many women who trained on board as the Women’s Royal Naval Service, more commonly known as Wrens.
As the Unicorn celebrates its 197th birthday this year, we look back at the life of one very adventurous Unicorn Wren.
Sheila Mills enlisted in 1940 at the age of eighteen. Her letters from the period, published as a book by her daughter, Vicky Unwin, “Love And War In The WRNS”, provide a fascinating insight into life as a Wren.
“My mother was born in Norfolk to her mother, Grace,, , and father,, , Findlay.y y
“Grace was a dreadful snob! Findlay was a gentle Scotsman from Rhynie in Aberdeenshire, but my mother did not have a particularly happy home life,” Vicky explains.
“She was a clever girl and did very well at college, so when she was twenty, she joined up.
“She really hadn’t seen much of life, but she had an incredible sense of fun. She just wanted to have a good time.
“Apart from the fact that they couldn’t write home about what they did in the war, she could write about lipstick and coats and evening dresses. She was a party girl, really.
“I think one of the things that’s so interesting about World War Two is that, for some women like my mother, who came from a village in Norfolk, it was absolutelyy y life changing.
“It was a real way to better yourself. I think a lo ot o of them really did want to travel the world, so she oined the Wrens with a passport to adventure.” Over 1,500 Wrens trained on the Unicorn, including Sheila, spending six months in the city as part of their training.
Tasks included squad drill practice several times a week, as well as lessons in rifle shooting.
Wrens also had the opportunity to specialise in wireless telegraphy, a valuable skill in wartime.
“Mother learned how to manage people, she learned to be brave, and I think she learned to be a sophisticated woman.
“She also learned compassion, as I’m sure she did see some terrible things,” Vicky adds.
“It gave her a further yearning for adventure, because she did travel, across into Palestine and to Syria, also Lebanon, by herself, which was pretty amazing.
“By the time she got to Germany she was still only twenty-four and had done all those things.”
By 1944, the Wrens had over 70,000 members and their contribution was vital to the eventual victory.
In 1944 Sheila was in Suez as Principal Cypher Officer, an important role in the war effort.
She finished her service in 1946, completing secretarial work in Kiel, Germany.
“Mother was so adventurous and really pushed the boundaries. She was a good and fair person. She actually came out of all of that a very changed person.
“She went in wet behind the ears and green, and within a year of joining she had transformed into a rather sophisticated young woman who was also very independent.”
Today, Wrens serve in many different aspects of the Royal Navy, where the actions of these brave women continue to serve their country and will for ever be embedded in history.
“Mother’s big regret in life was not having gone to university, but you know, in a sense, the Wrens was her university.
“It gave her a degree in life, in a funny sort of way, because it gave her all these amazing opportunities.”