A RECORD O WAR SERVICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 44

A RECORD O WAR SERVICE.

ft HUSBAND AND WIFE. With a . war record •of nearly 10 years' service, between them, and each holding the rank of major in.their respective services, the military .careers, of Mr and Mrs E. E. Simeon are surely, 'something unique, even in. these days* of remarkable records. • Mrs Simeon is a native of Dunedin, and is the daughter of the late Mr John Sandland, who .arrived, at these shores in the Thomas and Henry. His death in 1887 was the result'of injuries received while inspecting _a sewer, in company with Messrs Hay (civil engineer) and Mirams (town clerk), when the party was washed some distance through the sewer as the result of an unforeseen thunderstorm. This lady's military career embraced many activities, as the following account will show. Mrs Simeon began her war work in Wellington on the outbreak of war, while her husbadn sailed with the Samoan force. In that city she was on the executives of ' the Wellington Patriotio Society and the Women's National Reserve, the former of which raided the first £IOO,OOO for our wounded. She took charge of the large workrooms in Wellington which supplied clothing to the hospital ship Maheno, and then joined the British Red Cross in 1915. In England she did canteen duty at Enfield, and in October took up service in the 19th General Alexandra Hospital in Egypt, where s'ho stayed for a year. In October. 1916, she was transferred to Bangor, North Wales, and in 1917, sent to France, where she nursed dangerous cerebrospinal cases for four months. For this special work she received the Queen Alexandra certificate. Transferred to a surgical hospital in Rouen, she left the War Office in February, 1918 Mrs Simeon then began a most interesting period of service with, the Women's Royal Air Force, the uniform of which she wears while on furlough to-day. She was first appointed first-class quarter-mistress at the Birmingham depot, the headquarters of the where all the v/ornen recruits 'were received, clothed, drilled, and sent, to the various aerodromes. Seven thousand women were passed through the depot per month. In September, 1918. Mrs Simeon was promoted to captain, and sent to the area depot for Scotland, in Glasgow. She sat as president of the selection boards in nearly every town in that country. These boards dealt first with the women from the moral standpoint before they were passed on to the doctors for medical examination. In March, 1919, Mrs Simeon received her major's crown, and was posted to Oxford an area inspector, with 25 aerodromes, 5000 girls, and 100 officers under her supervision. She travelled over much country by air when it was fine,' and by car at! otlher times.- She was the first New Zealand woman passenger to fly to France, and in September of last year she .flew over the Marrie in a French Bleriot machine as passenger. She returned to her native country in January by the Bremen. Her war decorations are 1914-15 Star and Victory and Allied medals. An account,of the work of the W.R.A.F. was given to a reporter by our visitor. The women, 'besides ordinary domestic duties,- did much, of the skilled mechanical work, such as/acetone welding, the fitting of aero engines,:•-.carpentry, and the "doping" of aeroplane wings. _This last-named work was particularly arduous on account of the poisonous fumes given off by the mixture with which the wings were painted. They were also., employed in such diverse capacities as despatch riders, photographers, meteorological- clerks,; and wireless operators. Previous to 'her departure from England in December Mrs Simeon had i-: an interview with Dame Gwynne Vaughah, who held the rank-of general as commandant of the „ W.R.A.F., and wa3 spoken of by her commander as one of the most valued officers in the force. Mr Simeon became well-known in Dunedin in 1890 in connection with tihe armoury exhibit in the exhibition of that year. In the course of his six years here ho acted as instructor to Dunedin and 1 Port Navals, and also in many of our local schools. After service, with the Samoan Exped rtionary Force he joined tihe Rifle Brigade and went to Egypt. He served with the Ist Battalion against the Senussi in Western Egvot. was promoted to major, and proceeded to France, where he saw over a year's service at such famous fronts as Flerbaix, Armentieres, PloeKstcert. and the Sonrme. At the signing of the arrruViec Major Simeon was on leave, and he returned to New Zealand in April of la. c t vear. Mr'and Mrs Simeon possess a very valuable collection of. photographs, which particularly impress one Avith the war effort of Britain and her dominions, not the least important part of which was performed by the women, as our distinguished lady visitor bears witness.