Journal of the Company of Military Historians
85
Women’s Motor Corps of America Coat, 1917–1920 Marc W. Sammis
T
he Women’s Motor Corps of America was established between November 1917 and January 1918 as a volunteer organization of women drivers and mechanics. They first had to register with National League for Women’s Service (FIG 1), which was created in January 1917 just prior to the U.S. declaration of war against Germany in April. The organization prepared women for service and was divided into home economics, motor corps, social and welfare divisions, agriculture department, the canteen division, general services and publicity departments, and the overseas relief division.1 The women who joined these organizations were, for the most part, from the upper social classes and felt this as part of their “noblesse oblige” or noble obligation to the war effort. Most were centered in the larger metropolitan areas such as Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and other cities.
FIG 1. Staff of the National League for Women’s Service, Motor Corps. Brooklyn Division, circa 1918. Courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY.
FIG 2. National League for Women’s Service personnel at stretcher training, Fort Totten, NY, circa 1918. Courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY.
The Women’s Motor Corps of America was one of many offshoots of the National League for Women’s Service and was one of the most demanding in terms of applicants. It was also the most militaristic in terms of regimentation. Requirements were: hold a state chauffer’s (driver’s) license and a mechanician’s (mechanic’s) license from an accredited mechanic’s school; take the oath of allegiance; pass a medical examination conducted by an Army doctor; receive a typhoid inoculation; and most importantly, own a car. They then underwent military training for one week to two weeks, which included infantry (close order) drill, practiced marksmanship, attended first aid, stretcher bearing, driving, and mechanics classes to name a few (FIG 2). They would then have weekly classes in those subjects during their term of enlistment. They would pass in review at the end of their training2 (FIG 3). The women were expected to not only drive but also maintain their own or assigned vehicles. Organized into chapters, their purpose was for emergency needs and they worked closely with area hospitals in the United States. Private automobiles were required as the chapters had to wait until ambulances and other trucks were either bought or donated to them (FIGs 4, 5). Their main task was to transport the injured and sick. Chapters near ports also met transports coming back from France and drove the wounded and sick to the hospital with which their particular chapter was associated. They also transported supplies and material for the hospitals and nearby camps. They were continually on call and had to report immediately when summoned. Failure to do so could result in discharge from the organization. The Women’s Motor Corps of America was one of many women’s organizations established during World War I. The exact number of women who joined the motor corps is uncertain but the estimate is between 3,000 and 5,000 (FIG 6). While some members of the Women’s Motor Corps of America went overseas to France during the war, most did not.
FIG 3. Women’s Motor Corps of America on parade, New York City, circa 1918. Courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY.
