08/03/2025
Celebrating with a ✨ spotlight on Ena Forster – An outstanding career in Army Music 🎶
Born in Sussex, Ena dedicated her life to music and service. A talented oboe player from childhood, she joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) Band in 1971, where she started off playing cymbals in the marching band.
Ena’s musical ability saw her gain a place at Kneller Hall in the only the second year that women were permitted to study there. She excelled, winning three major awards:
🏅 Cousins Memorial Medal – Best instrumentalist of the year
🏅 Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Medal – Runner-up for best all-round pupil
🏅 First Prize for Harmony
Her success continued as she returned to Kneller Hall in 1981 for the prestigious Bandmasters Course, graduating in 1983 with the Director’s Prize for Conducting and runner-up for the highest marks in the Ministry of Defence exams.
In 1984, Ena became Director of Music for the WRAC Band, leading them on tours across the UK and abroad, including Hong Kong, Cyprus, and Jersey. She received the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1987 and, in 1988, became the first female Director of Music to achieve her PSM.
After the WRAC Band was disbanded in 1992, Ena transitioned to a new career in army administration, where she became a highly respected member of staff. She retired in 1998 and continued sharing her love of music through church performances and community concerts.
Following Ena’s passing in March 2018, her family kindly donated many items from her army music career to the museum. We are proud to preserve her legacy and hope to share her story—and the story of the WRAC Band—more fully in the future.
🎺🎼 🎺🎼
Women's Royal Army Corps Association
Army Museums Network
The Royal Corps of Army Music
