Women in wartime
The call is sounded and women fall in for their service in their country’s corps. Khaki uniform
replaces the peacetime diversity of fashion for in the Auxiliary Territorial Service women
undergo military training and undertake tasks which will relieve men for fighting. This is the
object of women’s enrolment in the services, to enable more men to be spared for the
sterner duties of war.
The British Navy too has its women’s Royal Naval Service and the Women’s Auxiliary Air
force in their sky blue uniforms march behind a band of their own. Then there are women
who actually pilot aeroplanes in wartime. They fly new machines from factory to aerodromes,
so far one of the most adventurous jobs which has so far fallen to the fair sex. But the duties
performed for the competent services of the crown are only the beginning of women’s
contribution in this war. Think of the demands of Civil Defence, for ambulance driving which
apart from running repairs involves a study of map reading as well as the ability to drive clad
in heavy anti-gas clothing.
The organisation of air raid precautions calls for women wardens, women are enrolled in the
Auxiliary Fire Service and thousands are in the picturesque Land Army, on them the country
will rely for a large part of the increased acreage which must be put under the plough. The
skill of these experienced hands will provide the home grown food that the necessities of war
dictate.
Munitions, how can one start to describe the 101 industrial jobs performed by women,
dangerous jobs in many cases. Their part in aircraft manufacture was witnessed by the king
on his tour of the West Country. Indeed, there can be few industries nowadays where
women have no share, while in wartime every industry becomes national in its importance as
trade, commerce and finance are seen as vital factors in the struggle.
To these paid labours we must add the contribution which is purely voluntary and introduce
women’s voluntary services. Chairman of the organisation is Lady Reading. To this group
and to a diverted band of organisers up and down the country goes the credit for a
stupendous feat, that of assembling women’s voluntary work throughout the kingdom in one
concerted drive. For example, the provision of hospital supplies, here in a famous house the
scene of many a ball or magnificent reception society women sew and pack forsaking
fashion for white overalls. A modern machine wielded by expert hand cuts out 60 garments
at a time. Or again at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, the wife of the governor runs a working
party with an old pensioner to fetch and carry for the industrious helpers who are arranged in
the hall with Charles II. Country houses have been turned to similar use, white overall and
headdress representing the distinction between uniform while obliterating all other
distinctions. But it’s also in the smaller homes in the East end of London and the poorer
districts of the big provincial cities that the great bulk of comfort for the troops and supplies
for the hospitals are being patiently turned out.
And don’t let’s forget the youngsters too, cheery young folk who are happily knitting, not
knowing much of what it’s all about except that their fathers, brothers and uncles have gone
away somewhere to fight someone called Hitler. Nursing, from village first aid through all its
most expert phases, women’s unstinted succour is voluntarily given. Here an alarm has
sounded; a village hall is rapidly fitted out as a first aid post and within seven minutes locally
trained volunteers are ready to attend to casualties. On the sea coast it sometimes happens
that a neutral victim of Nazi warfare is wrecked. First aid is at hand for survivors who land
from life boats, first aid and the comfort of warm coverings and hot drinks. Such are the local
services organised up and down the country on a national basis. So that the necessary
proficiency may be obtained, first aid classes are held continually in every small community.
WVS also recruits for the Civil Nursing Reserve, this young lady is going to be a nursing
auxiliary, she attends lectures, she learns to make beds with professional skill, and to apply
stints and bandages. With fellow students she enters the hospital, she learns to wash a
patient in bed, at last her great day comes, an operation, while our young nursing auxiliary
cannot actually assist she prepares and sterilises instruments. In time of war the great
service of nursing is recognised as second only to that of the fighting forces. The work of
healing is carried out in surroundings old and new. Nurses stand by on river steamers ready
to rush the injured out of bombarded cities. Trains too are converted into hospital wards and
a new need has been created by this war for the hospitals deep in the heart of Britain safe
from air raids. Country mansions such as this have been taken over and staffed with
experienced nurses who stand prepared for the dreaded casualties of aerial bombardment.
The biggest feat so far of women’s voluntary work: the evacuation, that stupendous
undertaking of those grave September days being now an accomplished fact, we find
children sampling the adventures of new homes which the hospitality of country people has
provided for them. Some are entertained in big palatial houses with old family servants as
well as great ladies to play with them, to read them stories, and to attend to the babies.
Some are received in more humble, but intimate homes where their host may be an exsoldier or for that matter an ex-sailor of the last war. There are other aspects of evacuation;
winter is more rigorous in the country and we all know what kind of a winter 1939-1940 was.
For the issue of warmer clothes, supply depots are set up in every district. At the same time
they see to it that each child has a gas mask. The small illnesses of childhood are taken care
of by sick bays, often just empty houses converted by the local WVS. Then for the visits of
parents to evacuated youngsters a new idea has been started, the happy little family reunited for the day base their activities on a Sunday club in the reception area where they find
the canteen provided. A similar idea is the communal dining room, where children are
billeted on foster parents who go out to work the mid-day meal is provided for them by
institutions like this and you may note that helpfulness and thoughtfulness are not the
qualities only of those who wait on the children.
Canteens, of course, play a big part in women’s voluntary work. Here’s a mobile unit that
serves the troops in Scotland food as well as literature, the same kind of travelling canteen
as was inspected by the queen in Buckingham Palace Yard. The fountain of inspiration to all
British women, Her Majesty the Queen, with true understanding and deepest unity with the
womanhood of the nation, the Queen keeps close contact with every gallant effort, great and
small, to her countrywomen this is her own tribute. Her Majesty as president is head of this
great voluntary effort that we have described, a democratic organisation without officers,
without ranks, without pay, where every member, whatever her task, wears the same badge
as her queen. Women’s Voluntary Services for Civil Defence.