Original WW1 era postcard of a group of determined looking women standing next to a sign that says " Women's Legion drivers. " is an abbreviation of Mechanical / Motor Transport. The women are wearing uniform of khaki coat, skirt, cap and fur coat and gloves. On the women's cap and lapel badges are Army Service Corps (ASC) badges. Possibly drivers working with the Royal Flying Corps as they wore their ASC badge on their hat and shoulder. These Women's Legion motor drivers worked directly for the ASC on the home front. Circa 1917 - 1918,
The formation of the Women’s Legion (WL) took place at a meeting held at Londonderry House in July of 1915 “to provide a capable body of women whose services can be offered to the state as may be required, to take the place of men needed in the firing line or in other capacities”. Its founder, Lady Londonderry, had for some time been discontented with what she considered to be an excess of militarism which had been displayed by some of the women’s organisations which had been formed on the outbreak of war, particularly the Women’s Volunteer Reserve (WVR), of which she was Colonel in Chief. She believed that “it was absolutely necessary to re-organise the composition of the WVR. If the movement was really to grow and extend, it must be on less military lines”. As first envisaged, the WL was to be an umbrella organisation and to comprise a number of different sections, of which the WVR was to be the first, plus Canteen, Ambulance and Cookery. After a few months, however, the WVR reverted to its original régime and severed connections. Other sections were formed before the end of the war, including Agricultural and Motor Transport. By far the most important, however, were the two sections which provided womanpower for the British Army, Military Cookery and Motor Transport. The Military Motor Transport section grew out of a plan formed in January 1916 to organise an Ambulance Corps to work with the Red Cross in France. This did not materialise and instead it was found more practical to develop a home service & the WL was approached to help. Miss Christabel Ellis was appointed Commandant and began the collection of experienced women drivers to work for the Army Service Corps(ASC). The first 20 women were supplied in April 1916 and on 30 October 1916 members of the section were given the privilege of wearing ASC badges and buttons on their uniforms. Drivers working with the Royal Flying Corps later wore that badge on their hat and shoulder
Size: 4751px × 7033px
Location: UK
Photo credit: © ThislifeThen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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