Women Drivers Deliver Military Vehicles
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DESPITE the calling up of the younger men for military service, in most places women drivers have, so far, been seen only on the smallest types of van. Nevertheless, at many commercial-vehicle factories up and down the country, girls who arrive to collect vehicles are quite a familiar sight.
A batch of military vehicles is already for despatch. Shortly before the appointed time a large camouflaged coach drives into the factory yard and from it files a number of girls dressed in the neat kljaki uniform of the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In charge of an officer, or N.C.O., the girls take their places in the driving seats and soon the convoy is on its way, probably to cover 200 miles before stopping for the night.
These girl convoy drivers tackle anything from light cars up to the heavy military vehicles of the 3-ton class, and a section leader (the equivalent of a sergeant) told a representative of The Commercial Motor that she was quite surprised to find that the ease of control of the heavier machines compares favourably with many private cars.
Before they join the. A.T.S. as drivers, the girls must hold licences and possess actual driving experience. They are given a preliminary test and, after passing out, are sent to a training establishment, where they learn how to handle all kinds of machine.
In their own buses, or sometimes by train, they travel to the factories where new vehicles are awaiting delivery to the Army. After taking charge of them the convoy proceeds to an ordnance depot, where the machines are equipped with all their military essentials, and later they carry on to the receiving units. Their journeys take them from one end of the country to the other, and they may spend five days on a trip.
Billets are arranged by the military authorities and civil police. Following breakfast each morning, there is a parade at which the girls receive their allowances for food and refreshment during the day. Driving actually starts in the region of 7.30 a.m., and there is a break for refreshments at 11 o'clock, then an hour's halt at mid-day. The day's trip is expected to finish at about 6 p.m„ by which time 200 miles will have been covered.
The whole of the time the coach follows, carrying emergency equipment. It takes the girls on their outward journey to collect the machines and it is by this means that they return to their headquarters when their job has been completed.