February 28, 2025|Uncategorized

“Put that light out: The Searchlight Girls of WW2″ – Dr Imogen Corrigan

Wickham History Society’s first talk of 2025 was a virtual one. Imogen Corrigan joined 78 of us from Kent on January 28th to talk about the role of women in the armed forces in the twentieth century and particularly the all female 93rd (Searchlight) Regiment Royal Artillery.

Imogen speaks from great experience as she, possibly uniquely, is from the third generation of women in her family who have served in the the armed forces – joining her grandmother who served in WW1 and her mother. Imogen served in the WRAC, reaching the rank of Major.

The 93rd Searchlight Regiment was formed in 1942, after great reluctance but as a result of the over riding need to release men for service overseas. It was itself a front line role however as searchlights were targeted by enemy bombers and fighters, and the units were often unpopular with local civilians as a result.

By the end of the war 1,500 women were serving in searchlight units and General Pile the (male) commanding officer advocated strongly for them – even suggesting equal pay and more practical uniforms, both suggestions condemned as revolutionary by the Ministry of Defence.

There has never been another all female regiment but the roles available for women in the armed forces have expanded enormously – a debt owed at least in part to the women of the 93rd Regiment.