A 20th army reunion will visit Hampshire next year for the first time.

The Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) will be holding its annual reunion in Southampton in March. 

Barbara Bowers, from Sholing, served in the WRAC Provost from 1971-1992 and rose to a Sergeant Major after 10 years.

Ms Bowers, 62, is now bringing the reunion to Hampshire with the hope of raising any extra funds towards Help for Heroes, the national army charity.

Ms Bowers said: “It will be a lovely event next year. Usually there are around 30 people who come, but this time we’re expecting up to 50.

“It’s never been in Southampton and so this is the first time it’s been to Hampshire, although we have held one in Cyprus, so I have a lot to live up to!

"We usually run one each and this turn it’s fallen to me so I wanted to hold it close to home.”

The reunion will take place at the Holiday Inn, West Quay on March 4, 2017.

The WRAC was formed in February 1949 and for much of its existence, performed administrative and other supporting roles.

Ms Bowers originally trained at Guildford and was part of the WRAC from 1971 before leaving in 1992 when it disbanded.

In 1990, the Army Board decided that those WRAC who were employed with other Corps should be permanently transferred to them on October 1 of that year.

The WRAC then disbanded in April 1992 through the Royal Military Police, Royal Army Education Corps and various other formations.

The 62-year-old rose up to sergeant major in the early 1980’s having served all over the world.

Ms Bowers said: “I’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a lot during my career. It took me to Hong Kong as well as Northern Ireland for parts of it as well.”

Troops were deployed to Northern Ireland during the troubles in 1969 to assist civilian police to maintain order. The WRAC continued to assist until 1992 when the WRAC disbanded.

Funds remaining after the reunion event will be donated to charity, Help for Heroes in aid of their support of British troops.

Ms Bowers, who has lived in Sholing for 12 years said: “We’d really like to donate some money to the charity, they do such important work. 

“The reunion promises to be great fun. When I attended my first one in 2012, I hadn’t seen some of the people there for almost 40 years.

"We are all extremely proud of the work that we did as part of that special group.”