NAM.1998-01-56-1

Memoir, Emmy Gaunt, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps or Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps: ‘Recollections of the Great War’, written April 1940. Associated with World War One (1914-1918). Women in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service enlisted the same as the men and given regimental number. Emmy Gaunt enlisted at Leeds early 1917. Medically examined, fit for service, inoculated and vaccinated. Told to report to the Connaught Club London, a gentleman’s club commandeered by the military authorities as training depot for women. Takes Oath of Allegiance, is sworn in and issued with uniform. Uniform made of khaki gabardine in the coat frock style, and tailored knickers with large pockets to hold pay book and Id papers. Brown felt hat with badge. March to Hyde Park and learn ‘forming fours.’ Proceed to Victoria Station, and take Continental Boat Train to Folkestone. Then to Boulogne, the first khaki clad women destined for the ‘duration.’ Corps composed of officers and rank and file - called ‘Workers’, the equivalent of a Private. Relieved men of non-combatant duties at such places as Base HQ, Supply and Transport, and Central Records Office. The Women’s Army or WAKS did the domestic work and wore different coloured shoulder straps. Accommodated at the Hotel du Commerce in Rue Thiers. Mis Parker was Administratrix at one point, niece of Lord Kitchener. Population of Boulogne about 52,000, market held each week. Lady Baden Powell visited asking if any Girl Guides present. Australian soldiers there called ‘Diggers.’ First American troops arrived the “Doughboys.’ Whitsuntide 1918, on standby as Germans were making for the Channel Ports and girls may be returned to London. However, enemy driven back. Comradeship between men and women, mentions St Martins Camp called ‘One blanket Hill.’ Entertainment with Harry Lauder. After 12 months joins the American Expeditionary Forces and proceeds to Le Havre. Takes train to Rouen, Paris then Tours. Some girls sent to a rest camp after constant bombing. Red Cross hospital bombed at Etaples and Abbeville, and 500 WAACS killed. See civilian refugees. Description of Tours, the Chateau and Wallis Simpson. HQ housed all the AEF records, then moves inland to Bourges with description of town. Occupies house Caserne Carnot, old French barracks made of stone, used by Napoleon. Every American soldier had index card recording wounded, hospital etc. The office divided into: Post Office, Card Index, Correspondence, Welfare etc. Inspected by General Pershing. Found it hard adapting to ways of Americans, rather than French. Entertained by authoress Mrs Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Description of cathedral at Bourges. Soldiers allowed to walk through private park of the chateau at Fouchcourt. Leave granted every six months, Le Havre to Southampton. Boards the hospital boat the ‘Panama’ with 500 wounded. Arrives in London, member of Green Cross offers help. Voluntary war workers offer food and drink. Visits Paris after Armistice, visits opera. Visits Reims, badly bombed, Americans in lorries, dead German soldier, and returns to Bourges. On termination of old contract returns to old office, takes tour of battlefields. War work ends, returns to Connaught Club and is demobilised.

World War One (1914-1918)