“A complete unit with sixteen to twenty motor ambulances, organised, worked, and driven by women, will next month be added to the British Army.

“The women will drive their own cars and look after them in every way.  One single male mechanic, and that is all, is to be attached to the whole unit.  These ambulances may of course be summoned from their camp to hurry over any type of winter-worn road to the neighbourhood of the firing line.

“What strength, endurance, and pluck such work demands from women can easily be understood by anyone who has ever tried to swing a car in cold weather or repair it by the roadside.

“It is a very notable fact that for the first time under official recognition women have been allowed to share in what may be called a male department of warfare.

“The Nursing Yeomanry have just extracted this recognition from the War Office and deserve every compliment that can be paid them; and the success is worth some emphasis as one of a series of victories for women workers and organisations, at the top of which is, of course, the Voluntary Aid Detachment.

“The actual work of these Yeomen nurses, who rode horseback to the dressing stations when no other means of conveyance were available, has been in progress in France and Belgium almost since war was declared.  Most of their work has been done in the face of every kind of discouragement, but they were never dismayed.  Their khaki uniforms on more than one occasion in Ghent made German sentries jump.” (Mrs. MacDougal arranging for F.A.N.Y. work[11] with the Belgians in September, 1914).

“This feat of the ’Yeowomen’—­who have struggled against a certain amount of ridicule in England since they started a horse ambulance and camp some six or seven years ago—­is worth emphasis because it is only one instance, striking but by no means unique, of the complete triumph of women workers during the past few months!”

* * * * *

The next question was to decide who would go to the new English Convoy, and two or three left for England to become proficient in motor mechanics and driving.

I was naturally anxious after a year with the Allies, to work for the British, but as I could not be spared from housekeeping to go to England I was dubious as to whether I could pass the test or not.  Though I had come out originally with the idea of being a chauffeur, I had only done odd work from time to time at Lamarck.  “Uncle,” however, was very hopeful and persuaded me to take the test in France before my leave was due.  Accordingly, I went round to the English Mechanical Transport in the town for the exam., the same test as the men went through.  I felt distinctly like the opera lady at the concert.  It was a very greasy day and the road which we took was bordered on one side by a canal and on the other by a deep and muddy ditch.  As we came to a cross road the A.S.C.  Lieutenant