WOMAN'S WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 109, 25 January 1918, Page 2

WOMAN'S WORLD.

MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM FAR AND NEAR

(By Imoqbh.)

WOMEN IN THE MILITARY MACHINE .'CONVOYING BRITISH WOUNDED. ; Truly, women's work in war-time has >!been no child's play (states a writer :n ( "The Queen"). The First Aid Nursing jiYeomanry Corps, in particular, liave "a tglorious record of ..achievement in ilso. . way of conquering difficulties and on- ! during hardships. It was on January ! 1, 1916, that the men drivers of the 5'8.R.0.5. convoy at Calaias wore replaced ljy I'.A.N.Y. drivers, who have since then been entirely responsible for this 'work; in fact/ the F.A.N.Y. was the first women's corps to be officially entrusted with the convoying of British Wounded in the zone of armies. The approximate number of cases carried during the year is 18,081 stretcher cases, '46,621 sitting cases, and 30,000 in, sisters' and convalescent cars.

At Hoogstadt, in July, 1916, tlia 'P.A.N.Y. established the first convoy )of women drivers, only four miles behind the firing-line.' In January, 1917,' „,another ambulance convoy of six lo : eight cars was started at Binson, driven 'of course by F.A.N.Y.'women drivers. All the units wero organised by Instructor Roughall, who has been offered the role of Leopold 11, in recognition of her services for tho Belgians; sho has worked hard for them since-the-out-break of the war. The F.A.N.Y. has a fleet of motor, ambulances, which for many months ■proceeded ■to the front'with clothing ,and comforts for the soldiers, and carried wounded from the advanced dressing stations to the nearest - hospitals. Several members have worked at regk mental aid posts behind the first line of trenches on tho Yser, helping the battalion doctors to cope with rushes "f bounded. The P.A.N.Y. motor kitchen did excellent work in providing soup and coffee for the wounded. For-some time it was attached to the 7th (Belgian) Regiment of Artillery, and did all the cooking for about 300 men, some two miles behind the firing-line; this with a woman cook and a woman chauffeur—Miss Lewis and Miss Hutchinson respectively. During a gas attask these brave women rendered great service, and saved the lives of some of the gassed Canadians. The members of the P.A.N.Y. convoy have their own camp, with barrac"; messroom, cookhouse, and space for packing cars.... Each member has ber own cubicle, lighted with electricity and warmed by central heating. At first the housing accommodation was not all that could be desired, hut during tho last few months many improvements have been made. The rations supplisd are excellent, and there is an old orderly, known as "Poppa," who mothers all the chauffeuses! On nightswben.there are late runs he sleeps in the kitchen, bo as to give the drivers hot coffe.3 .■when they return. Members of the F.A.N.Y. Corps must .be twenty-three years of age, and must ibe interviewed by the O.C.at the headquarters. Members serve on four ■months' probation, and at the end of that time are eligible for permanent of the corps. They must be experienced drivers and able to do running repairs. The uniform consists of a ■coat and. skirt of khaki gabardine, small ■khaki cap, and the Red Cross worn on the left sleeve.