VOLUNTEER SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 5

VOLUNTEER SERVICE

WOMEN IN TRAINING RUNNING LORRY CONVOYS Women who would drive lorries and ambulances if any emergency arose are being trained in secret in many parts of Britain, states an English paper., After nightfall they drive without lights on enclosed roads in municipal and private parks. This fact was revealed in London recently by the Dowager Lady Reading, head of the Women's Voluntary Services. On moonless nights, said Lady Heading, the women drivers are sent oft 30 at a time to drive about in convoy form without lights and with gas masks on. They drive for about three miles and then, at a signal from a whistle, they stop and reverse for aho.it a quarter of a mile, still in the dark and in convoy form. Hundreds of women enrolled in the Women's Voluntary Services have been going through this training since last summer. Near London the women are being trained on a private road, used for driving tuition, at Croydon, Surrey, while Reading Council has given others the use of the public park after the gates are closed, and in Leicester the public park has also been used. The women operate as a volunteer transport unit working under emergency conditions. A headquarters is set lip and report messengers bring details of imaginary bomb explosions, while women drive off in their cars to supposed casualties. They drive without lights to get accustomed to blackout conditions and so far there have been no accidents. The women drive at their own risk and sign a form to this effect before undertaking the training.