PREFACE
These accounts of the work of some British women during the war have been collected, not with any attempt at even outlining the scope of women’s achievement, but simply as pictures, showing the influence which women in varied spheres have exercised in the course of the war. Some of those whose records follow are women who, by force of character and personality, would always have stood apart, even in the limited opportunities of peace time. Others are taken rather as types of workers, representing many hundreds who are serving the country in similar ways. The selection has seemed at times invidious; but it is easy to realise that when the numbers of workers are so immense in each of the fields of activity mentioned in the book, no complete record of individual effort can be attempted.
The object in writing of the experiences of particular workers is to present a more vivid story than a merely general description could convey. True understanding of our women’s war work can come only from personal experience or through the power of a keen imagination. Those who have no other opportunities can appreciate that work by visualising the measure of endurance, patience, determination, and unflinching courage demanded for the successful performance of the tasks which women have undertaken. If any of these chapters succeed in creating a living atmosphere in which readers picture themselves working under similar conditions in similar fields of labour, the primary object of the book will have been fulfilled. Much will be written hereafter on every form of women’s service touched on in these little accounts. They claim only to be windows through which may be seen that wide vista which has for its foreground the fulfilment of the great tasks of the war, and for its background a limitless horizon of potential effort.
B. McL.
CONTENTS
| I. DR. GARRETT ANDERSON, C.B.E., AND DR. FLORA MURRAY, C.B.E. | |
| PAGE | |
| The first women doctors to manage a Military Hospital under the War Office. This hospital is entirely staffed by women | [13] |
| II. LADY PAGET, G.B.E. | |
| Lady Paget took a hospital unit to Serbia when the typhus epidemic was raging there. She remained at Uskub with her staff after the invasion of Serbia, continuing her work during enemy occupation | [17] |
| III. MISS LILIAN BARKER, C.B.E., AND MISS MABEL COTTERELL | |
| Two outstanding Welfare Workers under the Ministry of Munitions. Miss Barker is Lady Superintendent at Woolwich, and Miss Cotterell at Gretna | [21] |
| IV. MISS C. E. MATHESON AND THE VILLAGE LAND WORKERS | |
| Miss Matheson has been working on the land for over two years, and has specialised in work with live stock | [26] |
| V. DR. ELSIE INGLIS | |
| The founder of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals. Dr. Inglis has worked in Serbia, where she was taken prisoner. She is now serving in Rumania | [31] |
| VI. MISS SPROT, THE MISSES PLAYFAIR, AND LADY BADEN-POWELL | |
| Outstanding workers in the Y.M.C.A. Canteens in France. Lady Baden-Powell has started Boy Scout and Girl Guide Canteens | [36] |
| VII. MISS AGNES BORTHWICK | |
| Miss Borthwick is Works Manager in a big filling factory under the Ministry of Munitions. She is the first woman to hold this position in a Government factory | [41] |
| VIII. MRS. ST. CLAIR STOBART | |
| Mrs. Stobart was with hospital units in Brussels, Antwerp, Cherbourg, and finally in Serbia, where, attached to the Serbian army with a field ambulance column, she accompanied the army in its heroic retreat | [44] |
| IX. MISS E. G. BATHER AND MISS DOROTHY RAVENSCROFT | |
| Two workers in charge of Remount Depôts for the War Office | [49] |
| X. MISS EDITH STONEY AND DR. FLORENCE STONEY | |
| Two X-ray specialists. Miss Stoney is working X-rays in a hospital in Salonika; Dr. Stoney is in a military hospital in London | [53] |
| XI. THE BARONESS DE T’SERCLAES AND MISS MAIRI CHISHOLM | |
| These ladies have worked in Belgium since the beginning of the war, and are the only women allowed by the Belgian military authorities to be in the firing line | [59] |
| XII. LADY MARY HAMILTON AND MISS DRUMMOND | |
| Typical workers engaged on skilled processes in munition factories. | [62] |
| XIII. MRS. FURSE, G.B.E., R.R.C., AND LADY PERROTT, R.R.C. | |
| Mrs. Furse’s successful administration of the Women’s Voluntary Aid Detachments has been an important factor in the organisation of their invaluable work. Lady Perrott’s work, both before and during the war, has added greatly to the numbers and the efficiency of the Voluntary Aid Detachments | [67] |
| XIV. COMMANDANT DAMER DAWSON AND MRS. CARDEN | |
| Commandant Damer Dawson has organised the Women Police. Mrs. Carden has helped to organise Women Patrols | [74] |
| XV. MISS LENA ASHWELL, O.B.E. | |
| Miss Ashwell originated the Concert Parties at the front which have had such a stimulating influence. For over two years she has organised, developed, and financed the scheme on an ever-increasing scale | [79] |
| XVI. MISS VIOLETTA THURSTAN | |
| Since August, 1914, Miss Thurstan has been nursing in Belgium and in Russia, where she was wounded in the trenches. She is now Matron at a great Belgian hospital | [85] |
| XVII. H.R.H. PRINCESS BEATRICE, THE HON. LADY LAWLEY, G.B.E., AND THE COUNTESS OF GOSFORD | |
| Workers in the various organisations of hospital supplies and comforts | [90] |
| XVIII. MISS EDITH HOLDEN, R.R.C. | |
| The Matron of a great base hospital | [98] |
| XIX. MRS. GASKELL, C.B.E., AND THE HON. MRS. ANSTRUTHER | |
| The organisers of the War Library and the Camps Library, which supply books to the Army and to the sick and wounded | [103] |
| XX. MISS LILIAN RUSSELL AND MISS ALICE BROWN | |
| Workers for the Y.M.C.A. in France, who are managing hostels for the relations of the wounded | [110] |
| XXI. MISS DOROTHY MATHEWS AND MISS URSULA WINSER | |
| Miss Mathews is a typical agricultural worker, engaged in ploughing and heavy land work. Miss Winser drives an agricultural tractor | [114] |
| XXII. MISS EVELYN LYNE AND MISS MADGE GREG | |
| Two representative Voluntary Aid Detachment workers who have done canteen and rest-station work in France | [118] |
| XXIII. MRS. LEACH | |
| The head of the organisation of Army women-cooks | [122] |
| XXIV. MRS. GRAHAM JONES | |
| A representative V.A.D. worker who has specialised in motor work. She went to France in charge of the first Women’s Motor Ambulance Unit under the British Red Cross Society | [125] |
| XXV. MISS GERTRUDE SHAW | |
| Miss Shaw has specialised in the housing and canteen organisation for the Ministry of Munitions, and is now Chief Inspectress of Hostels and Canteens | [129] |
| XXVI. MRS. HARLEY | |
| Mrs. Harley worked for the Scottish Women’s Hospitals from the outbreak of war, and was killed by a shell at Monastir in March, 1917, while tending Serbian refugees | [132] |
| XXVII. MISS ETHEL ROLFE AND THE WOMEN ACETYLENE WELDERS | |
| Women engaged on a skilled process largely used in aeroplane construction | [136] |
| XXVIII. LADY LUGARD | |
| Lady Lugard helped to organise the War Refugees Committee for the reception and allocation of Belgian refugees | [141] |
| XXIX. MISS CHRISTOBEL ELLIS | |
| The head of the branch of the Women’s Legion which organises women motor-drivers for the Army | [148] |
| XXX. MADAME BRUNOT AND MISS MARION MOLE | |
| These ladies lived in Cambrai under German rule for over two years, and did splendid work for wounded and prisoners | [151] |
| XXXI. SOME ARMY NURSES | |
| Typical examples of nurses in various forms of hospital service | [155] |
WOMEN OF THE WAR
IN THE PATHOLOGY LABORATORY AT THE ENDELL STREET MILITARY HOSPITAL, LONDON
Alfieri