Nancy ‘Pat’ Clothier, one of New Zealand’s first Wrens, dies at 106

The Royal New Zealand Navy sadly acknowledges the passing of Nancy ‘Pat’ Clothier at the age of 106.

Nancy was born in Christchurch on 11 April 1920, and in 1942, on her 22nd birthday, the establishment of the WRNZNS was approved by the War Cabinet. She was amongst the first group of women to be enlisted into the WRNZNS and entered service as a probationary Wren at HMNZS Philomel on 15 July 1942 and was issued service number 11.

She would serve as a shorthand typist and then a telegraphist.

She was first based in Wellington at the Naval Office as a typist and was later transferred to the naval radio station in Waiouru as a telegraphist. She was confirmed as an Able Wren and then promoted to Petty Officer Wren.

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With the demobilising of the RNZN she remained in service in the immediate postwar period until her service engagement ended on the 15th April 1946.

She was one of the first and one of the longest serving Wrens in the Second World War.