West Indies Auxiliary Territorial Service office workers, 1943 (c)

Photograph, World War Two, 1943 (c).

Women servicing with the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) were employed in a number of roles, such as clerks, drivers, orderlies and cooks. Many moved on to higher clerical duties as their experience increased. West Indian women already living in Britain worked as nurses and in factories. Back in the West Indies women helped the war effort by working in hospitals and agriculture. However, British acceptance of the United States 'color bar' meant only white West Indian women were recruited to serve in the ATS section attached to the British military mission in Washington.

One of 69 photographs relating to the West Indies Auxiliary Territorial Service, 1943-1947.