AN EXHIBITION celebrating the contribution of women who worked in the naval services will be open in Hampshire next year.

‘Pioneers to Professionals: Women and the Royal Navy’ exhibition will tell the untold stories of servicewomen dating back to more than 250 years, when women’s contribution were unspoken, disguised and unofficial.

The exhibition will open in February on the 100th anniversary of the Woman’s Royal Naval Service’s (WRNS) formation.

Within two years there were 7,000 women in the WRN working as cooks and stewards, despatch riders, sail makers and in intelligence.

The working women whose motto was ‘Never at Sea’ directly confronted gender equality issues that still profoundly affect us today.

WRNS was disbanded in 1993 and the 4,535 women working under the service – commonly referred to as wrens – were integrated fully into the Royal Navy and able to serve on HM ships at sea, at all ranks and rates.

The work of the WRN has since allowed women to flourish in the naval services and their contribution can be felt in our freedom today.

Now the exhibition taking place at The National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth aims to highlight women’s involvement and impact in both world wars, the Cold War, integration of the WRNS with the Royal Navy and the continued efforts of female personnel today.

The exhibition will illustrate the role of women in the navy.

The objects will range from a rare First World War Ratings uniform to an oboe owned by a member of the Royal Marine Band Service. A naval officer’s maternity dress will also be showcased to highlight the difficulties wrens had to face.

Exhibition curator Victoria Ingles said “Historically the work of naval women was rarely recorded and often overlooked, yet thousands have actively contributed to worldwide naval operations over centuries.

“During this time women have undertaken a huge range of jobs and have often confounded expectations about what they could do and this exhibition seeks to bring some of these inspirational stories to attention.

“We are also keen to highlight the everyday experience of naval women past and present and are encouraging visitors to contribute their own stories helping us to fully reflect the scale and significance of women’s work within the navy.”

The gallery was inspired after the discovery of a 1974 time capsule buried at the naval air station containing everyday items of a working women in the service the showcase was created, the showcase was created.

The capsule contents included badges, clothing and official documents.

The year long exhibition opens on February 18.

There will also be a special event on March 8 to mark International Women’s Day.