The A.T.S. was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on the 9th September 1938, initially as a women's voluntary service and was merged with the Women's Royal Army Corps on 1st February 1949. The A.T.S. had its roots in the women's Auxilliary Army Corps (WAAC), which formed in 1917, as a volunteer service. During the first World War its members served in a number of jobs including clerks, telephonists, cooks and waitresses. The WAAC was disbanded after four years in 1921. Prior to the second World War, the government decided to establish a new Corps for women, and an advisory council, which included members of the Territorial Army, the Women's Transport Service and the Women's Legion. The council decided that the ATS would be attached to the Territorial Army, and the women serving would receive two thirds the pay of male soldiers. All women in the army joined the ATS except for nurses, who joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and medical and dental officers, who were commissioned directly into the Army and held army ranks. Princess Elizabeth joined in the ATS when she turned 18 in 1944, and her father King George, made sure she did not receive any special privileges. She joined the service as a second subalturn and later was promoted to Junior Commander. She began her training as a mechanic, and completed her driving and maintenance course at Aldershot in 1945. When the war in Europe ended in May 1945, Princess Elizabeth, joined the crowds in Trafalgar Square and the Mall in her ATS uniform with her sister Margaret, both being very careful not to be spotted. In later years in an interview with the BBC she said " I remember we were terrified of being recognised so I pulled my uniform cap well down over my eyes". She described the "lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, and all of us were swept along by the tides of happiness and relief. I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life" she recalled. By September 1941, there were 65,000 women in the ATS. These were women between the ages of 17 and 43, but WAAC veterans could not join until they were over 50. By this time their duties had also expanded to orderlies, drivers, postal workers and ammunition inspectors.