Dec. 2023 Militaria & Collectibles Auction
Lot 389:
Description
WWI Era USN Navy Female Chief Yeoman Framed Photo. Approximate size is 12 x 10 inches in this professionally framed photo. We are unable to see the reverse of this photo due to it being professionally framed. Beautiful display piece. Information found on the internet: The Yeomen (F), or "Yeomanettes" as they were popularly known, primarily served in secretarial and clerical positions, though some were translators, draftsmen, fingerprint experts, ship camouflage designers and recruiting agents. Five went to France with Naval hospital units and a modest number of others were stationed in Puerto Rico, Guam, Hawaii and the Panama Canal Zone. However, the great majority were assigned duties at Naval installations in the Continental United States, frequently near their homes, processing the great volume of paperwork generated by the war effort. Yeomen (F), all of whom held enlisted ranks, continued in service during the first months of the post-war Naval reductions. Their numbers declined steadily, reaching just under four thousand by the end of July 1919, when they were all released from active duty. Yeomen (F) were continued on inactive reserve status, receiving modest Retainer Pay, until the end of their four-year enlistments, at which point all women except Navy nurses disappeared from the uniformed Navy until 1942. Many honorably discharged Yeomen (F) were appointed to Civil Service positions in the same Navy Yards and Stations where they had served in wartime. Entitled to veterans’ preference for Government employment, they provided a strong female presence in the Navy’s civilian staff through the decades after World War I.
Condition: See Description for Condition Report.
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