Description
Object description
British store woman served with Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in GB and Queen Mary Camp, Calais, France, 1917-1918; NCO served as clerk with Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps in Queen Alexandra Camp, Calais, France, 1918-1919
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1893-1917: family; education. Recollections of enlistment and training as store woman with Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in GB, 1917: background to enlistment; attitude of employer and family to enlistment; public attitude towards women in uniform; incidents illustrating attitude of military towards Women's Army Auxiliary Corps personnel; voluntary canteen work prior to enlistment.
REEL 2 Continues: learning about formation of corps prior to enlistment; signing up and types of occupations available; medical and selection interview; origins of recruits; training at St Leonards-on-Sea; rules and regulations; posting to France; uniform.
REEL 3 Continues: making modifications to uniform; hairstyles. Recollections of period as store woman with Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in Queen Mary Camp, Calais, France, 1917-1918: journey to France, 1917; arrival at Boulogne; move to Calais; description of Queen Mary Camp at Calais including accommodation and living conditions; daily routine; rations.
REEL 4 Continues: duties as store woman; relations with male colleagues; off duty activities; question of fraternisation with male officers; arrival of American servicemen; facilities at YWCA canteen; social life.
REEL 5 Continues: German air raids. Recollections of period as NCO clerk with Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps in Queen Alexandra Camp, Calais, France, 1918-1919: transfer from job as store woman to clerk; duties as clerk; move to Queen Alexandra Camp; censorship of letters; memories of Zeebrugge Raid, 4/1918; leave in GB; taking part in amateur dramatic entertainment.
REEL 6 Continues: Armistice Day and celebrations, 11/11/1918; preparations for evacuation of camp during German offensive, 3/1918; visit to battlefields after Armistice; influenza epidemic, 1918; participation in Peace Procession; modifications to uniform.
REEL 7 Continues: morale amongst troops awaiting demobilisation; soldiers' strike in camp.