Women's Sick and Wounded Convoy Corps

Women's Sick and Wounded Convoy Corps (WSWCC) was a British women's medical organization established in 1910 by Mabel St Clair Stobart. The WSWCC would be entirely female. Most of the initial members of the corps came from First Aid Nursing Yeomanry that Stobart took with her after her falling out with the organisation.[1] Initially, fifty women joined the WSWCC. The training regime was a combination of traditional medical training, basic military skills such as signalling, and horseback riding. The WSWCC held its first public demonstration in May 1910. Another training camp was held the next year in 1911.[2]

Women's Sick and Wounded Convoy Corps, 1910

Women's Sick and Wounded Convoy Corps, 1912

The mothers and sisters of the Boy Scouts of England, not to be outdone in the matter of home defence, organised themselves into service companies under strict military orders. It was no idle movement for show or spectacular effect, but the outcome of a serious purpose. In case of war, a well-trained body of women could take the field with twenty-four hours' notice, fully uniformed and equipped for hospital work and campaign hardships. Under the general name of the Women's Sick and Wounded Convoy Corps, the organization was established in 1910, and steadily grew. Riding, camp and hospital cooking, bicycling, home nursing, laundry work, signaling, and stretcher drill were included in the training. Riding drills were held monthly. In the stretcher drill a real person was employed to give practice in lifting a body on and off a stretcher, as well as in binding up wounds. Particular attention was paid to dietary kitchen methods, and the preparation of simple meals for the sick and wounded as a practical consideration. The training in every department was thorough and modern for its time.[3]