Lincoln
Woman's Motor Corps, Consisting of Eight Squads
Made Splendid Record Achievement During World War.
Top row, left to
right -- Miss Ona Huff, Miss Frances Lonsdale, Mrs. R. C. H.
Bell, Mrs. S. K. Kier, Mrs. C. E. Matson, Miss Gladys
Wilkinson, Miss Marie Reichenbach, Miss Peckam, Miss Maurine
Wengert, Mrs. Josephine Burkett Farquhar.
Middle row, left
to right -- Miss Bobette Weil, Miss Edna Fitzsimmons, Miss
Olive Frey, Miss Leonore Burkett, Mrs. Fred Whitemore, Mrs. E.
W. Elwell, Mrs. Leon Crandall, Mrs. Fenton B. Fleming, Mrs. L.
D. Geiger.
Bottom row, left
to right -- Mrs. Lala Mitchell Young, Miss Georgie Tuttle,
Miss Gladys Lord, Miss Olive Wallace, Miss Lorraine Bratt,
Miss Helene Mitchell, Mrs. Carl Weil, Mrs. P. H. Cooper, Miss
Doris Gratz, Miss Leilabeth Farrell, Mrs. P. C. Weston.
(Reprint from
the Lincoln Daily Star, Sunday, March 23, 1919)
| EARLY
in the spring of 1918, the Motor Corps division of the
National League for Woman's Service became fully
organized in Lincoln for undertaking the service which
it has since been performing. Before that time, under
the leadership of Miss Rose Carson, a small group of
women, who owned cars, had been driving for the league,
and had taken a course in motor mechanics at the State
Farm under Professor Seton. When Miss Carson gave up the
leadership of this group it was taken over by Miss
Helene Mitchell, who was made a captain.
Many members of the
original section remained in the corps and within a few
weeks the number was increased to about twenty. These
women began to drill under the supervision of, then,
Lieut. Daniel B. Miller, in charge of the University S.
A. T. C. The number was added to until, at the end of
the summer, there were four squads of eight members.
Captain Mitchell appointed officers at once, including:
First Lieutenant Weil and Second Lieutenants Whitemore
and Burkett having charge.
Later Sergeant Bobette
Weil, Corporal Kier, Lorraine Bratt, Marie Reichenbach,
Leilabeth Farrell, were named non-commissioned officers.
During the first months the work grew rapidly, and
increased its service, not only for the league, but for
the Red Cross and the United States army. With the work
came the formal recognition of the League Corps in every
city, by the United States surgeon general. The Motor
Corps of the N. L. W. S. were appointed official drivers
for the government.
In July the Lincoln
branch went into uniform, which was worn during all
active service. This service included the: entire
driving for the Red Cross, furnishing of cars for army
officers' duty, transportation of S. A. T. C. men,
transportation of nurses serving at army hospitals
during the influenza epidemic, and allied duties, and
the Salvage. Members of the corps furnished their own
cars for these purposes, their own gasoline and all
expenses. For three weeks, during the autumn, members
were on duty
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or
subject to call for twenty-four hours a day, and served
at least nineteen hours. The Red Cross offered the use
of its headquarters to the corps, and regular shifts
were maintained from that time on at headquarters.
Previously the squads were so divided that drivers were
on duty during a stated number of days, and subject to
any assignment. The records show how faithfully they
complied. The total number of miles driven from August
to November is approximately 6,000 with 2,000 hours
service. These records do not show the work previous to
this time, and they" cannot possibly show the
effort that was made by each individual member.
Drill continued
throughout this time, under the direction of Sergeant
Woolrey of the S. A. T. C., after the transfer of
Captain Miller. In January the corps was dismissed from
active service, but it still retains its organization
under the same group of officers, and answers emergency
calls. It meets quarterly and will continue indefinitely
as an organization. It is now planned to hold a short
camp in the late spring, but this plan is not definitely
decided upon.
Special recognition has been given the Lincoln branch by
different officers in charge of the army organization
here, of which it is justly proud.
The total membership
consists of the following persons: Captain Helene
Mitchell; First Lieutenant Mrs. Carl Weil; Second
Lieutenants, Mrs. Whitemore, Lenore Burkett; Sergeant
Bobette Weil; Corporals, Mrs. S. K. Kier, Lorraine
Bratt, Marie Reichenbach, Leilabeth Farrell ; Privates,
Mrs. E. W. Elwell, W. R. C. Bell, Raymond Farquhar, Leon
Crandall, P. P. Weston. F. B. Fleming, Nasson Young,
Phil Cooper, C. E. Matson, Lon Geiger, Misses Georgia
Tuttle, Olive Wallace, Edna Fitzsimmons, Olive Frey,
Doris Gratz, Ona Huff, Lonsdale Peckam, Maurine Wengert,
Gladys Lord, Gladys Wilkinson, Helen Kearney. Former
members of the corps included Mrs. E. C. Folsom, F. C.
Beaumont, Thomas Burtch, E. M. Cramb, Burnham Campbell,
Miss Eunice Chapin.
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