British ATS Search Light Crew - 3 Figures & Spotters Chair

This set comprises of 3 ATS Searchlight Crew with optional heads and the Spotters Chair. The reclining spotter figure wears the distinctive "Wooly Bear" overcoat. The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938, initially as a women's voluntary service and continued until 1949, when it was merged into the Women's Royal Army Corps. In December 1941, the National Service Act called up unmarried women between 20 and 30 to join one of the auxiliary services. These were the ATS, the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and the Women's Transport Service. Although barred from serving in battle, due to shortages of men, the ATS, and members of the other women's voluntary services, took over many support tasks including radar operators and forming part of anti-aircraft gun crews. From July 1942 members of the ATS began to replace male personnel in searchlight regiments and from the 26th Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery, became the first 'Mixed' regiment, with seven Troops of ATS women posted to it, By August 1943 most searchlight and anti-aircraft regiments comprised of mainly ATS crew which in turn freed more men to join Infantry units. In total this service suffered 717 casualties during World War II.