THE centenary of women serving within the Armed Forces has been marked at a poignant Women’s Services Memorial Day ceremony at a museum near York.

The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp was formed in July 1917, introducing women into the Army for the first time, although it was a largely clerical unit.

This was followed in November 1917 by the formation of the Women’s Royal Naval Service and the birth of the ‘Wrens’, as the service is affectionately known.

The service and wreath laying ceremony was held at at the Allied Air Forces Memorial & Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington on Sunday.

The event was intended to pay tribute and fully recognise the role women had played in the defence of the nation from the First World War to the present day, said museum director Ian Reed. “They now take on frontline duties, shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts on the ground, at sea and in the air.,” he said.

“In fact, it is a tribute to the diversity and inclusiveness of all forms of our service community that gender, sexual orientation and ethnic background is no barrier to serving in the defence of the nation.”

The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight showed their support for the ceremony with a flypast by the legendary Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire.

The parade, led by musicians from the Yorkshire Military Band & Corps of Drums, marched through to the Women’s Memorial Garden, where wreaths were laid.

The reformed parade marched back and a salute was taken by the Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, the Hon. Mrs Susan Cunliffe- Lister