Service with the Army, by Chief Controller Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan (Ex Library Book)

Published by Hutchinson & Co, 168 pages. Small Hardback with Dust Jacket - c.12.5cm by 19cm (A3BWSO)

From the front inside fly leaf: The author describes how the man-power problem of 1916 led to the decision to employ uniformed and disciplined women in replacement of soldiers on the Lines of Communication of the British Armies in France and to the formation of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, which later was honoured by the name of Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. She was placed in com­mand of the 10,000 women who served overseas and tells the story of their problems and their achievements and of the exten­sion of the corps to home ser­vice. After dealing with the training experiments of the inter­vening years the book goes on to describe the early development of the Auxiliary Territorial Ser­vice. The author was a member of the original advisory council and joined the new service on the day of its announcement. She served first as Commandant of the School of Instruction for Officers, later as Director at the War Office, and carries the his­ tory of the A.T.S. up to the moment when it attained mili­tary status. The concluding chapters discuss the conditions under which women can most effectively be employed with the Army and the possibilities of a permanent service.

The condition of the book is generally a little poor, but is perfect as a reading copy or reference for study. The dust jacket is split into two pieces along the left hand edge, and is very tatty and worn, with lots of tears and splits (the front cover is completely detached from the remainder of the the jacket), as well as small pieces missing along the edges. Inside, the spine is intact and all pages are intact and bound. There are library labels on the inside front cover and first page, and small library stamps on the title page and some other pages.