Vera Laughton Mathews expanded the WRNS workforce

Dame Vera Laughton Mathews brought extensive organizational experience to the Women's Royal Naval Service. She was the daughter of naval historian Sir John Knox Laughton, after whom King's College London's chair of naval history is named. Her work with the Girl Guides, Sea Rangers, women's political groups, and professional associations gave her broad experience of organizing women. She defended the welfare and status of Wrens while pressing for their employment in more shore and support roles, including work connected with Bletchley Park. Expanding those roles released more men for fighting duties and made personnel leadership outside the commissioned male officer corps central to naval mobilization.