THE WOMEN'S ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 151, 23 December 1938, Page 14

THE WOMEN'S ARMY

RECRUITING IN LONDON

NON-COMBATANT DUTIES

The Auxiliary Territorial Service for Women is growing steadily, states the London "Times." The idea of being trained and ready to help the country in an emergency has appealed to the best type of woman. The younger women are willingly giving their leisure to making themselves efficient; and the older women, some of whom saw service in the Great War, are helping tp train the younger ones.

The County of London has made good progress in recruiting. Lady Violet Astor, who is Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service for the county, explained the position v as regards enrolment to a number of woman members of the Press at the Duke of York's Headquarters, Chelsea. The War Office, she said, gave the numbers needed for the County of London at about 2500; and of these; though recruiting only began on Sep-i

tember 28, more than half had already been enrolled. MANX APFUCANTS. The idea had been thought of, Lady Violet Astor said, last summer, but had been hurried up and put into operation when the! crisis came. So many women had been anxious to enrol that if they had taken everybody who had offered themselves they would already have had their ranks entirely filled; Only those could be absorbed into the Service who had the necessary qualifications. The object of the Auxiliary Territorial Service is to perform various non-combatant duties with the military forces in the event of a national emergency. As part of its peace-time training it will assist the Services by performing these duties as and where it is practical to do so. Members of the A.T.S. are enrolled for motor driving, clerical work, and general duties (cooking, duty as orderlies, and storekeeping). Tnose for general service must be within the ages of 18 and 43 years, and those for local service must be between the ages of 18 and 50 years. All personnel must be medically fit and must be at least sft 2in in height Almost all the motor drivers needed for the County of London have been enrolled. Women who are qualified as clerks will be trained in the routine of Army clerical work, and qualified cooks will be taught the ways of cooking in the Army. Two references are required for character and efficiency, and the standard of the Service is a high one. OUTFIT GRANT. Details of the uniforms have already been published. No uniforms for the volunteers (as the rank and file are called) will be ready till after Christmas, but the company commanders have been requested by the War Office to wear uniform when on duty. Officers will be given an outfit grant of £16, and uniform will be issued free to volunteers. A badge for wear when not in uniform will beS issued to all members. About 40 companies of the A.T.S. will be raised in the County of London, each company consisting of 55 or 24 women. All the companies cannot be completed till sufficient officers have been trained. Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan is the Chief Commandant of Instruction, and looks after the training of the officers. A week's course was held recently. Personality and a gift of leadership are among the qualities required in those who are to be officers. The ranks in the A.T.S. are controller (equivalent to colonel); chief commandant (lieu-tenant-colonel) ; senior commandant (major); company commander (captain); deputy company commander (lieutenant); company assistant (second lieutenant); senior leader (company sergeant-major); section leader (sergeant); assistant section leader (corporal); and volunteer (private). SERVICE IN EMERGENCY. Those who desire tp serve can obtain a notice paper from any Territorial drill hall, from the secretary of a Territorial Army and Air Force Association, or from the Under-Secretary o£ State, the War Office, Whitehall S.W.I. As soon as an applicant's offer of service is accepted, she will be required to complete an enrolment form which will include an undertaking to serve in a national emergency when called , upon to do so.

In a new leaflet which has just been prepared, it is stated that the A.T.S. is being raised in companies through Territorial Army and Air Force Associations. Normally, these companies will be affiliated for their training in peace to local Territorial Army units. The majority o£ personnel are required to enrol for general service within the United Kingdom or oversea,! if it is necessary. Certain companies, however, are only required for local service, which members will be able to render while living at their own homes. Service in a national emergency will involve whole-time duty. Officers will enrol for an indefinite period. Members will be enrolled initially for a.. period of four years, which they can subsequently attend! for one, two, three, or four years at a time, if approved.

Training will consist of attendance at a minimum number of ten drills in each year and at camp for a period of not less than eight days and not more than fifteen days in alternate

years. The A.T.S. will attend camp in organised companies, under their own officers. GRANTS FOR CAMP. Emoluments at rates to be settled later will be issued to all personnel of the A.T.S. when called upon to serve during a national emergency; free rations and accommodation will also be provided where necessary. In peace, grants will be issued at the following rates:—For attendance at camp, officers, eight days, £1; 15 days, £2. Members, eight days, 10s; 15 days, 20s. A grant of 10s towards travelling expenses, etc., will be made to all personnel who attend at least ten drills during the year. For training in camp, rations or ration allowance and camp equipment will be provided, and conveyance to and from camp will be paid for.

In the case of disabilities which occur during periods of approved training, vice, a woman who is sent to her home certified as unable to follow her normal civil occupation may be granted a gratuity at the rate of 3s 6d a day.