"GRAND JOB"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1941, Page 9

"GRAND JOB"

A WELLINGTON GIRL

AMBULANCE DRIVING

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON. March 10

A NeAv Zealand girl avlio has had considerable experience of driving an ambulance in London is Miss Lorna Luke, of Wellington, a grand-daughter of the late Sir John Luke. For 15 months after the outbreak of war she' Avas attached to the London County Council and served with its corps throughout the worst months of the "blitz." Since January she has been attached to the American Ambulance (Great Britain), and is the only NeAv Zealander in its personnel.

Miss Luke reached England four months before the Avar began Avith the intention of travelling on the Continent. Immediately on its outbreak she volunteered for ambulance work. She is now second in command of a unit of tho American Ambulance. The equipment is provided by Americans, including the vehicles and the medical stores, and the personnel j.s British. The unit dovetails in Avith the British corps, both in tho towns and counties.

Part, of the service is to dri\'e a small operating theatre to any bombed area where there haA re been casualties, so that the best possible treatment may be given before the patients are sent on to hospitals.

Recently Miss Luke's unit missed being AViped out. by minutes. A Nazi raider dropped two bombs, and the ambulance avhs called out. It was obliged to Avait. for one of its members. Although irritating at the time, this was fortunate, for the Nazi returned lo drop a third bomb on the spot to which the "theatre" (or "box") had been ordered.

Another part of the service is to drive patients from London hospitals to iheir receiA'ing Ava.rds in the country. The practice is to treat serious cases in London until they can be moved, and this Avork frequently takes Miss Luke some miles out. of toAvn tAvo to three times weekly.

Miss Luke's comment on her Avork Avas: "It's a grand job."