WOMEN IN THE ARMY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2714, 8 March 1916, Page 2

WOMEN IN THE ARMY

CLERKS, COOKS, AND ORDERLIES FEWER SCRUBBING-BRUSH SOLDIERS Women arc now taking their mli place in the Army work of England says the "Daily Jlail." Lady London derry and the Legion of Women havi been allowed to supply nooks to man; camps, and the use of women cooks i; spreading. Ji'or its own military hos pitnis the Army authorities could not a first be persuaded to use women ai cooks, ward ordprlies, scrubbers, am cleaners. During the first year of win every duty except that of nursing wa: performed in the military hospitals men. Strong young soldiers could hi seen scrubbing antl cooking while the armies were calling for men in tin field. Since August last the Army medica authorities have been moved to admi file uses of women. Skilled womei have been supplied by the Voluntary Aid Detachment Committee of the Brit isli lied Cross and Order of St. John Other women have been employee through the Labour Bureau. At tin present moment there are in the Armj hospitals women working in the foliotving capacities, all of whom have dis placed men:— Dispensers ~ 93 Head clerks 20 Clerks ...'. 485 Head cooks '4C> Cooks 329 Cleaners, 964 X-ray operators, housemaids, and other services 191 Total ! 2,128 At the 3rd London General Hospital,' Wandsworth, women do all the worh except the cooking. At Millbank wo men cooks are employed. In additiol! to the women nameii above, some SGOO women orderlies havn been appointed to do men's work in thu Army hospital wards under the direction of the nurses. These figures are exclusive of women employed iu voluntary liospituls not directly under Army medical control. Voluntary hospitals recognised the value of woman's ivortiroin the first. There will be many more openings for women in .the Army I'ay and Record Offices and in the Army Postui Departments when the."War Office relaxes its rules sufficiently to admit them to these departments. Tlie Voluntary Aid Detachment Committee-, Devonshire House, looks forward to the day when capable women will, bo allowed to release all the young men in non-combatant branches of Army work, including the drivers of ambulances. During the iirst week of the New Year the Wav Office circularised all gen* orals commanding home districts, calling their attention to tbo work women can do in hospitals and the rates of pay suitable for them. While at present no more women are required by ihe Voluntary Aid Detachment Committee, there is therefore every prospect of fresh openings in the near future. ■ Six months' training will qualify a woman for position as dispenser. Women who have been employed in training cooks, arc readily accepted as head cooks for military hospitals.