women was employed was carried on under the personal management of Mrs.
Leach, who has been identified throughout with the movement. She is now
in control of the great organisation of women cooks for the Army which
has grown out of this tentative beginning.
[Illustration:
MRS. LEACH
_To face page 122_ ]
After a six months’ trial the success of the experiment was assured,
and not only had vast savings of food been made, but these were
combined with marked improvement in the standard of camp cookery.
As a result of this initial success, by February, 1916, the Women’s
Legion was asked to extend its work, and in the course of the year that
followed the number of women employed in military cooking rose from the
original hundred to over 7000. When it is realised that the cooking for
1000 men has to be done by a staff of only thirteen or fourteen women,
including, besides actual cooks, kitchen helpers and waitresses, it
will be readily admitted that their work is of an arduous nature. A
difficulty might have been expected in finding a sufficient number of
suitable women to respond to the ever-increasing demand. On the only
occasion, however, when an advertisement was published asking for the
services of 1000 women to undertake this hard and not particularly
well-paid work, no less than 28,000 applications were received. This
fact alone is a remarkable testimony to the patriotic way in which
women have come forward during the war to offer to their country the
services for which their particular training has fitted them.
The rapid development of this great organisation owes much to the
powers of judgment, tact, and management displayed by Mrs. Leach, for
even in war conditions it is always hard to introduce innovations
without friction. Mrs. Leach has been helped in her work by her
sister, Mrs. Long, who has been responsible for much of the detailed
administrative organisation. A large part of the office work, taking
up of references and arrangements of posting, has been carried out by
Mrs. Long, who has also supervised the issue of uniforms. Mrs. Leach
has been personally responsible throughout for the engagement of most
of the cooks, and for their distribution. She inspects the cooking
staffs from time to time, and all decisions for promotion go through
her hands. A cook joining a camp staff in a subordinate position may
rapidly rise to a post of head cook, one of considerable responsibility
in these days. For, not only is the economical use of the country’s
food supplies a matter of national urgency, but the good or bad feeding
of the individual soldier is admitted by all authorities to have a
strongly marked effect on his fighting power and efficiency.
The satisfactory reports on the women cooks from officers’ and men’s
messes throughout the country prove how well the work has been done.
But the clearest tribute of success came when in February, 1917, this
branch of the Women’s Legion, which had worked hitherto as a private
organisation in co-operation with the War Office, became incorporated
actually in the Army as part of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. The
value of Mrs. Leach’s work was fully recognised, and she was asked
to continue the management of the department under the new system.
She is the first, however, to ascribe the real success of the work
to the _esprit de corps_, the loyalty, and the patriotism of the
women themselves, who have shown their capacity to carry on women’s
most time-honoured household duty under unexpected and increasingly
important conditions.
[Illustration:
MRS. GRAHAM JONES
_Bassano_
_To face page 125_ ]
XXIV
MRS. GRAHAM JONES
The work of Mrs. Graham Jones, in charge of a Women’s V.A.D. Motor
Ambulance unit in France, is remarkable in that this unit was the
first of its kind, and as a result of this successful experiment the
employment of women as motor ambulance drivers for the British Army
has been widely extended. Undoubtedly this success was mainly due to
Mrs. Graham Jones herself, and her good organisation and control of
the contingent. Her record is typical of thousands of English girls of
education and refinement who have come forward and given their services
for work hitherto considered men’s work, living hard lives under the
strict Army discipline enforced for all workers in France.
In April, 1916, the British Red Cross Society organised this motor
unit to take over the entire work of a big base hospital in Northern
France. Mrs. Graham Jones, who was given the command, had had over six
years’ experience of motor driving, and had already driven an ambulance
during the early part of the war. Working under her were thirteen girl
drivers. The unit was attached to a hospital of 1300 beds, twenty miles
away from the port to and from which the patients had to be conveyed.
The ambulance cars were big and powerful, and the girls had entire
charge of them, not only for driving but for cleaning and all except
heavy repairs. Mrs. Graham Jones, writing of the work, says: “It
included the unloading of hospital trains at our station, the transport
of patients to the hospital ships, to convalescent camps, or to the
base headquarters for return to duty; the conveyance of mails and
stores, personnel, etc. It was always full of interest, but required at
the same time careful driving and a steady, reliable head. The roads
through the various camps were so new and so narrow, and the obstacles
one met on them so varied in the way of teams of mules, Army lorries,
marching platoons, or steam rollers, that there could be no relaxation
of concentration.”
When the heavy fighting on the Somme began, the hospital increased its
accommodation, and the demand on motor transport was so continuous that
the drivers were obliged to work in shifts of eight hours on and four
hours off, to enable the work to be carried on night and day. During
the rush the girls were driving as much as one hundred and thirty miles
a day, but the care of the cars was never neglected, and it was the
duty of the off-going driver always to leave her car ready for the road.
A V.A.D. officer inspecting the unit reported as follows: “At 5.30 a.m.
we were awakened by an orderly reporting that a train would be in the
local station in five minutes. In ten minutes the members were pouring
out of the house to fetch their cars from the garage, and were at the
station before unloading had begun. They drove very carefully, and we
heard nothing but praise of them on all sides.”
It needs little imagination to realise the demands such work makes both
on mind and body; for a girl must have her full share of self-control
and nerve to be able to drive a load of wounded men across twenty
miles of difficult road at night as well as by day, when she knows
what an error in driving might mean to them, and that the slightest
want of care on her part might cause them unnecessary suffering. After
the patients are safely deposited comes the hard work of cleaning and
keeping the cars in order--a vital necessity for motor ambulances, for
wounded men must not run the risk of delays on the road.
In January, 1917, Mrs. Graham Jones was mentioned in despatches for
her devoted service and the success with which she had run her unit
during many months. Not the least important of the principles which
she instilled into her fellow-workers was strict and unquestioning
obedience to Army discipline. She quickly realised that, in order to
be of real help, one must fit into one’s place in the great machine.
It is because women have learnt during the war how important this
question of discipline is, that they are being employed for the first
time, and in ever-growing numbers, on active service. Nurses who,
throughout their training, have always worked under strict rules adapt
themselves naturally to war conditions, but for women who have never
been accustomed to a disciplined life unquestioning obedience is far
harder. Writing of women’s service in France, Mrs. Graham Jones says:
“It is not that women would be afraid of danger: it is that after one
has worked on active service for some time one feels so much that one
wants to do work only where the work is wanted, one just wants to help
in ever so small a way just where the help is needed, and in no case
where extra trouble or responsibility is thrown on those in authority.”
This is surely the essence of helpfulness, and this is the spirit in
which Mrs. Graham Jones and many others like her are working for their
country to-day.
[Illustration:
A MOTOR AMBULANCE DRIVER
_To face page 128_ ]
XXV
MISS GERTRUDE SHAW
When in the spring of 1915 the cry for “shells and more shells” was
answered by an almost miraculous development of munition factories, it
was hardly contemplated what an immense share women would be able to
take in the production of the output. It soon became apparent, however,
that the national reserve of labour lay with them. In their tens of
thousands women answered the appeal; in many cases leaving their homes
to settle in munition areas where population was already congested,
or where housing accommodation was on the smallest scale. To maintain
the efficiency of these new industrial workers, it was clear that
steps must be taken to secure suitable provision for food and shelter.
The problem, indeed, soon became acute in some centres, and wide
experiments for the protection of the women workers were made. That the
results have been so good is due to the exertion of certain individual
women of forceful character and of organising genius, and of these Miss
Gertrude Shaw is an outstanding figure.
Trained from the outset of her life for the teaching profession, Miss
Shaw rose to a headmistress-ship of a higher-grade girl’s school
at Leeds, and proceeded in 1913 to fill the post of responsible
mistress at the Women’s Institute, Woolwich. Besides her literary
and scientific qualifications, Miss Shaw had specialised in several
domestic subjects, including laundry and cookery; she had also obtained
the Royal Sanitary Institute’s certificates as school nurse and health
visitor. She was thus fully equipped for the task when the sudden war
demand arose at Woolwich for the safeguarding of the health of women
munition workers.
The first necessity was the provision of adequate meals in the vicinity
of the works. This demand was at once met by voluntary effort, and it
was under the leadership of Lady Henry Grosvenor that Miss Shaw entered
the service of the Y.M.C.A. as superior of canteens. She was thus “in
at the birth” of the first canteen for girl munition workers at the
Arsenal, and subsequently became responsible for the staff, catering,
and equipment of four mess-rooms.
The success of these canteens soon led to Miss Shaw’s appointment to
a wider sphere as lady superintendent of the newly erected Government
colony at Coventry. This scheme embraces the housing and feeding of
some 6000 girls and women, drawn from every part of the United Kingdom.
A group of hostels has been built, each housing 100 girls, and each
is under the direction of a competent matron. As lady superintendent
Miss Shaw undertook the task of selection of all the matrons and
their assistants, of the canteen managers and their subordinates; in
all, a staff of some 300 persons. It must be recalled that in the
organisation of the colony there was no precedent from which to take
example, so each problem had to be met and solved as it arose. Miss
Shaw’s experience and tact has stood her in good stead, and it may be
stated without qualification that the colony has been an unexampled
success. There have inevitably been difficulties as to the housing of
girls from such different localities and varied stations in life that
their habits, manners, speech at first presented awkward barriers; but
the girls have been met in a spirit of confidence to which they could
not fail to respond. Any religious problems have been entirely overcome
by the careful selection of resident workers who represent the various
denominations.
The canteen attached to the colony, where the girls from all the
hostels take their meals, is a further triumph of far-sighted
organisation. Lady cooks have been put in charge and labour-saving
appliances introduced. It is no uncommon occurrence in the canteen to
serve 2500 hungry workers with a hot meal within seven minutes of the
sounding of the factory “buzzer” for the cessation of work.
In addition to this huge task, Miss Shaw has initiated many schemes
for the recreation and education of her boarders. Classes in hospital
work, fire drill, singing, dancing, and gymnastic exercises have been
started, and are now most popular; occasional fancy-dress balls are
encouraged, and games are taught. The result of these efforts is seen
in the spirit of happiness pervading the colony and in the efficiency
of the women workers in this group of factories, which surpasses the
dreams of an optimist.
Miss Shaw, however, could not be spared to watch the results of her
labour in Coventry, for, when she had established the colony in working
order, her organising capacity was requisitioned for a still larger
task. She is now inspecting and advising on canteens and hostels for
the Ministry of Munitions all over the United Kingdom.
XXVI
MRS. HARLEY
Mrs. Harley, sister of Field-Marshal Viscount French, commenced her
nursing service at the beginning of the war, and was still carrying on
fine work for the sick and suffering when she met her death in their
cause on March 7, 1917. The shell which burst near Monastir has robbed
the world of a noble and heroic lady.
In 1914 Mrs. Harley went to France as administrator of the first unit
sent out by the Scottish Women’s Hospitals. She proceeded to establish
a wonderful hospital in the historical Abbaye de Royaumont--“one of
the most beautiful haunts of ancient peace in the world.” Under the
direction of Dr. Frances Ivens, this hospital to-day is one of the
finest and most complete in France, an important feature being the
possession of a perfect X-ray installation, specially chosen by Madame
Curie.
The work of the first Scottish unit was so successful that the French
Government soon asked for a second, and Mrs. Harley took over the
administration, and went to Troyes to start a hospital there in May,
1915. This hospital was known as the “Girton and Newnham Unit,” the
past and present students of those colleges having raised a large sum
towards the equipment. The first hospital under canvas to be used by
the French, it received General Joffre’s sanction as a French military
hospital.
[Illustration:
MRS. HARLEY
_Bassano_
_To face page 132_ ]
When later in the year the French Expeditionary Force was sent to
Salonika, the military authorities requested that this unit of Scottish
women should go with the expedition, and Mrs. Harley again accompanied
them as administrator. On arrival they were despatched to Gevgheli in
Serbia, but had to retire in the Serbian retreat. They then established
a hospital at Salonika, which is still open.
In July, 1916, Mrs. Harley came to England to take over a flying
column of motor ambulances for service in the Salonika district. She
returned to Serbia accompanied by Dr. Agnes Bennett, who was in charge
of the American unit of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals, equipped with
funds subscribed by supporters in America as a result of Miss Kathleen
Burke’s appeal. Mrs. Harley’s column consisted of a number of light
ambulance lorries and two field kitchens. Its object was to facilitate
the more speedy transport of wounded Serbians, whose sufferings were
greatly increased by the shortage of motor ambulances. The column was
sent to work near the Macedonian front, quite close to the firing-line.
Writing home, Mrs. Harley said: “Now to tell you of our first venture.
A few days ago a British officer, just down from the front, came to
tell me that the wounded Serbs were in great need of nourishment when
they were carried down from the field, and asking if I would take up
my motor kitchen and start a canteen for them. In a few hours all
was arranged, and the next morning I started off.... We are fairly
near the front and in hearing of the guns. It is sad seeing the poor
men struggle in, and it is good to be able to give them some help.”
A little later, Dr. Bennett of the American unit wrote: “We are now
engaged on very difficult work here, getting all the most serious
cases direct from the dressing station; these we bring into hospital
ourselves with the aid of Mrs. Harley’s flying column. This is very
difficult and often very dangerous work, owing to the bad roads and
heavy hill-climbing. Our women chauffeurs have done splendid service,
and Mrs. Harley’s have been equally helpful. We have had a hard day,
and many of the wounded are still lying out on the hillside awaiting
transport, which is very scarce.” It must have been a strange enough
sight in the midst of the lonely, barren mountain country, and along
the rough, precipitous roads, to come upon a van of the Scottish
Women’s Hospitals driven by a sunburnt girl of the unit bringing her
load of Serbian wounded, collected with danger and difficulty, down to
the safety of the hospital.
In January, 1917, Mrs. Harley turned her energies to helping the
population of Serbian civilian refugees at Monastir, who were in dire
need of food and medical assistance. She also established an orphanage
at Monastir, where she collected more than eighty children, and looked
after them at her own expense. It was when engaged on her errand of
mercy that Mrs. Harley met her death. She was wounded in the head by
a shell splinter, during one of the periodical Bulgarian bombardments
of Monastir--an open town--at the moment when she was actually
distributing food to starving Serbians in front of her house.
The touching scenes at Mrs. Harley’s funeral are evidence of the esteem
and gratitude with which she was regarded in Serbia. She was buried at
Salonika with full military honours, and her coffin, covered with the
Union Jack, was followed by a great concourse, which included a large
proportion of Serbians. In the funeral oration pronounced over her
grave, the Serbian Minister of the Interior said: “Noble daughter of a
great nation, though not a sister of ours by birth, still dear to us as
a true sister, your tender soul is followed and ever will be followed
by our fervent prayers, and by the everlasting gratitude of the Serbian
nation. Thanks and glory be to you.” That her spirit and courage live
on is manifest in the declaration by one of her two daughters, both
engaged in hospital work in Serbia, that after her mother’s funeral it
was her intention to return to Monastir to carry on Mrs. Harley’s work.
As a recognition of her services to the French, Mrs. Harley was
decorated by General Sarrail with the “Croix de Guerre with palm
leaves”--one of the highest of French decorations.
XXVII
MISS ETHEL ROLFE AND THE WOMEN ACETYLENE WELDERS
In the autumn of 1915 the organisers of the Women’s Service Bureau,
anxious to assist women who applied to them for help and advice in
obtaining posts under the newly constituted Ministry of Munitions,
immediately sought openings in which educated women with a natural
bent towards machinery and mechanical work could receive instruction
in a skilled process. After consideration, it was decided to arrange a
training in the process of oxy-acetylene welding, a work which seemed
to combine various advantages. It was a skilled process comparatively
new in England, and one which women had hitherto had no opportunity
of learning, and should they be successful in taking up the work,
there would be plenty of scope for them, as the process was being
increasingly used in aeroplane manufacture. For this reason there was
a good chance of its being continued after the war, and not proving a
blind alley like so much present-day work. Accordingly, a small school
was established under an able and experienced metal-worker, Miss F. C.
Woodward.
The process taught is almost entirely used in aeroplane construction,
namely, the welding of sockets and joints, struts, levers, and the
parts of the frame-work.
[Illustration:
ACETYLENE WELDERS
_To face page 137_ ]
Even before the war there had been a shortage of trained welders, and,
with the enormous increase in aeroplane work and the enlistment of so
many skilled mechanics, the demand for such workers was enormously
increased.
The school was opened in September, 1915, and by December the first
girls were sufficiently trained to take posts in a factory, the
controller of which had been interested in the project, and had helped
the school at its start in setting up the necessary plant. The pioneer
women welders have been followed by a steady stream; and such has
been the success of the training that no welder has any difficulty in
obtaining employment as soon as she leaves the school. From this small
training centre alone over 150 welders have already passed into various
works.
The process is generally recognised as the speediest and most effective
way of securing a perfect weld without any deleterious effect upon the
metal, and consists in employing the flame produced by the combustion,
in a suitable blow-pipe, of oxygen and acetylene. The temperature
of the flame at the apex is about 6300 degrees Fahrenheit, and it
is by this means that the metals to be welded together are brought
to a suitable heat. The worker’s eyes have to be protected from the
powerful light by special goggles, and they also have to wear caps
over their hair, and leather aprons. The work is fascinating, even
to the onlooker, and absorbing to anyone with craftsman’s instincts.
It involves considerable responsibility, and the welder needs to be
conscientious and careful in the extreme, as upon the efficiency of her
work, if used for aircraft construction, depends the stability of the
machine and, consequently, the life of the airman.
The women welders have not established their position without
difficulty, faced as they were from the start with the fact that men
engaged on precisely the same work, with no greater output, were yet
receiving considerably higher wages. By first banding themselves
together in a Trade Union, and by bringing the question up for
arbitration as to whether their work was skilled or unskilled--the
decision being given in their favour,--the women welders have achieved
equal recognition with men, and that without having recourse to strikes
and dislocation of national work in war-time.
A typical worker among the learners of this new craft for women is
Miss Ethel Rolfe. One of the first women to enter the school, after
a short course of training she took a post in an aircraft factory,
where she was the only woman welder. She worked with one man welder,
and sometimes when work was slack, owing to the supply of parts being
hung up, she did brazing, which she learnt from the men with whom she
worked. She also did fitting, rather than stand idle; and as much
overtime was being worked, she could help on all three processes when
occasion required.
In December, 1916, after a good deal of practical experience, Miss
Rolfe accepted a post in a Government department. In this capacity she
visited aeroplane works all over the country, spending from three to
ten days in the shops, studying the work done by women, and that done
by men which women might take over. She reported to her department on
the detailed organisation of women’s work, on the methods of training,
and the possibility of further dilution of men’s work in each firm by
the employment of more female labour. To do this she had to inquire
into technical processes, machines, and workshop arrangements. She
specially urged the increased employment of women in fitting and
sheet-metal work, wood-work, and welding, and in some cases on the
erection of aeroplanes and the installation of the engine.