Guiding Memories | "The G.I.S. and Me" Page 6

"The G.I.S. and Me"

Page 6

"The G.I.S. and Me" Page 2 "The G.I.S. and Me" Page 3
"The G.I.S. and Me" Page 4 "The G.I.S. and Me" Page 5
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"The G.I.S. and Me" Page 8 "The G.I.S. and Me" Page 9
"The G.I.S. and Me" Page 10 "The G.I.S. and Me" Page 11

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We have darned ladders and made gloves, ironed and knitted and delivered the meat, and last but not least, one of our Company Leaders types and delivers the Parish Council Notices.

Can we do anything for you?

We are at your service!

Good luck to the G.I.S.

By the time the war was over in Europe, I was able to organise things, and as soon as I was free, I went off to London to see if there was anything I could do at this late hour?

This started it all for me- my adventure had begun.

"Could you go to France in the near future" asked Miss Lawson in the office, "and take one of two lorries full of supplies, medical and otherwise to the Guides there?"

This was my first hurdle! Although I felt I could tackle the transportation, my French was only schoolgirl standard, and bad at that! I thought frantically, and got out of it by suggesting Alicia Wilson as co-driver. I knew she was dying to volunteer but like me had family reasons for not doing so. She was fluent in French and German, and might manage a short period. She did and was a great success, and on returning found that her family things had straightened out too, and she also went into training. She afterwards joined a team, and was chosen to act as guide and chauffeuse to Countess Reventlow when she toured the teams in Germany - a wonderful experience.

Having done a good deal of camping and organising in our day to day Guide work, we were able to skip some of the training process which speeded things up. It was not long before I received an order to "report two days hence to Guide Headquarters, Gerrards Cross at 2pm". I was to bring with me a ruck-sack and hard tack for a day, and be prepared to stay for a week! Another hurdle! What was 'hard tack', and for which day?! I filled a small tin with 'nourishment'. It wasn't easy in those days, but luckily I found some dried bananas- this was a real bonus, and I passed with flying colours!

I arrived at the Guide Hut at 2pm, and met Miss Stewart Brown and Miss Cobham, the trainers, with about 15 other Guiders. After a cup of tea, we were sent off to the local butcher to learn how to cut up an ox. A few days before, news had come in from a team in Germany who had been given an ox, and were struggling to cope with it! If only they had learned during their training, it would have helped!! Their D.P.s (Displaced Persons) relished it anyway! I personally never had to cope- good food rationing was well on it's way by the time I arrived in Germany.

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