A Rare Badge of the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps — The Forewoman’s Rose in Wreath

Forewoman in the Great War

Among the most elusive pieces of British First World War uniform insignia is the Forewoman rank badge of the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC). Worn on the right upper sleeve of the service dress jacket, it denoted a woman of supervisory status—roughly comparable to a non-commissioned officer in the regular Army.

Forewoman rank badge front.

Forewoman rank badge reverse.

Badge Design & Details

This hand-embroidered badge shows a rose surrounded by a laurel wreath, worked in beige and light-khaki silk thread on a khaki wool oval. The inner padded. The workmanship and subdued tones followed the understated style of other QMAAC insignia, reflecting both wartime austerity and the Corps’ emphasis on service rather than show.

Role of Forewomen in the QMAAC

The QMAAC (originally formed as the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, WAAC, in 1917) provided vital support in clerical, mechanical, and logistical roles. “Forewomen” supervised sections of workers, maintaining discipline and coordinating duties in camps across Britain and France. Only a small number of embroidered rank badges survive today, making authentic examples highly sought by collectors and historians alike.

Provenance & Comparisons

This particular badge is one of very few documented examples. It corresponds closely to the badges preserved in the National Army Museum collection (Accession 2003-05-93, 2003-05-130, 2003-05-91.) Although here the N.A.M. reference it as Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) rank badge. Jon Mills notes the rank badge in his Badges on Battledress as worn by QMAAC. It is understood the same badges were adopted under the QMAAC designation.

Such badges capture the early evolution of women’s military service—before the Auxiliary Territorial Service and later branches formalised women’s roles in uniform. The Forewoman’s rose-in-wreath stands as a small but powerful emblem of responsibility, leadership, and the quiet professionalism of the QMAAC.

Explore more WW1 women’s corps insignia in our British Uniform Insignia collection.

If you own or have seen a QMAAC Forewoman's rank badge, I’d love to see your photos or discuss variations in the comments.

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References:

• National Army Museum – Accession 2003-05-93, 2003-05-130, 2003-05-91, Forewoman badge, WAAC

• C&T Auctions Militaria Sale, Lot 41, 12/02/19 – Scarce WAAC Forewoman’s Sleeve Badge

• Mills, Jon – Badges on Battledress volume I