TRAINED AS V.A.D.

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 57, 5 September 1945, Page 10

TRAINED AS V.A.D.

LADY LOUIS MOUjUTBATTEN RECEIVES HONOUR

The announcement that the King has approved the promotion of Lady Louis Mountbatten to be a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem brings to mind the active part, she has played during the war as head of'the London Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. It is-strange to think of one of the wealthiest, most beautiful, and bestdressed leaders of English society scrubbing floors in a London hospital. That, however, was one of the war jobs undertaken by Lady Louis Mountbatten, who more recently accompanied her husband, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, to India and Burma, when he was appointed Supreme Allied Commander, Southeast Asia Command. .

Lady Louis Mountbatten felt that if she were to take responsibility for London's young trainees during wartime she must train herself as a V.A.D. first. She began her course at a London hospital, being on duty at 8 a.m. daily. She did 100 hours of this. duty.. In her,capacity as odd-job woman- she scrubbed floors, *, was on duty ; in.', the -."theatres : ., and helped to- prepare civilian wounded for treatment.:. When Poplar, an East End borough, appealed .'for 50 V.A.D.S to assist in the air-raid shelters, Lady Louis Mountbatten was one of those who responded. There are very few countries Lady Louis Mountbatten has not visited. In September of 1932 she and the Marchioness of Milford Haven crossed Palestine to Northern Persia, and then journeyed right across the desert to the south. They travelled light, unaccompanied by servants, and used cars, aeroplanes, horses, camels, and donkeys as their means of transport. New Zealand has been included in Lady Louis Mountbatten's itinerary. She paid a short visit to the Dominion some years ago.