Ranks and Ratings in the WRENS in WW2

[Magdalen]

Here is the extract from her record card that says more or less the same.  The rest of the stuff we have is more or less blank.

Meg

[HMac]

Hi Meg,
Sorry for the late reply.
Looking at the original it looks like she does join up as a Wren Steward. I have trawled all of my sources and I cannot find a specific reference to HGR so I am guessing here that it means higher [unspecialised] rate and of course happy to be corrected.
Wrens joining on general duties or unspecialised would go on to an unspecialised rate and would progress depending on successful completion of training and recommendation. 
It would appear she changes categories to communications and specialises in teleprinter operations. Normally, on completion of training, she would be put on the lower specialised rate of pay and after three months and a recommendation she would move to the higher specialised rate of pay.
Regards
Hugh

[Magdalen]

Thanks very much Hugh.  Part of me is glad you were unable to help as I looked everywhere I could think of and I am a professional researcher so have pretty good research strategies to call on.  I think you are most probably correct and as it is of no great importance other than personal interest for my husband I am happy that we have all tried our best.
Meg

[Dulaigh]

Perhaps the R is  for Radio. The G was for general duties (in the military GD). So she upgraded from G to HS .  Radio may have involved morse code or teleprinter...

[Magdalen]

Thanks, we'll add it to the possibilities.  We know she was a teleprinter operator towards the end of her service.

Meg

[HMac]

Perhaps the R is  for Radio. The G was for general duties (in the military GD). So she upgraded from G to HS .  Radio may have involved morse code or teleprinter...

In the service record: the Wrens skill for example, Wren G or Wren S or Wren T/P or whatever and next to it there should be a notation as to which part of the pay grade they are on such as LSR or HSR. There was a requirement to do this on service records from 1943.
So it is important to be able to distinguish between the skill and the rate of pay. The Communications branch during WW2 had many skills such as W/T, V/S, T/P and others. You did not get a Wren HS - there was no such branch.

Regards
Hugh

[Magdalen]

Thanks for the clarification.  Meg