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Utah Historical Quarterly
official participant for only nineteen months. World War II, on the other hand, lasted more than twice as long for Americans, and, moreover, strained the nation's resources almost to the limit Addidonally, Rosie the Riveter and uniformed WACs and WAVEs provided highly visible and enduring symbols of women at war With the exception of the martyred British nurse Edith Cavell, most of the women directly involved in World War I had their "hour upon the stage and then [were] heard no more." Still, after almost three-quarters of a century one can state with confidence that their activities did "signify" something. This paper examines those Utah women who opted during World War I for direct participation with the military or with civilian organizations that took them to the battlefront Two Utah women drove ambulances or other vehicles in France during the war. Elizabeth (Betty) McCune donned overalls in the summer of 1917 to learn auto mechanics and repair in the shop of Charles A. Quigley, 33 Exchange Place, Salt Lake City. She had mastered the workings of her new Chandler by mid-July and reportedly sailed with it for France on the Rochambeau on November 5. In addition to her vehicle, which she was required to provide and maintain, McCune was responsible for her living expenses and supplied her own clothing. Her driving attire consisted of "a very soft leather suit of trousers and coat with high boots to the knees . . . . [a] waist with long sleeves . . . heavy woolen underwear. . . . [a] driving coat. . . [of| rubber • waterproof on the outside with leather on the i n s i d e . . . . a soft woolen inner c o a t . . . . long woolen stockings.... [and] a woolen knit helmet... to wear under her other caps." Most women ambulance drivers in Europe worked through private organizations created by wealthy, socially prominent American and British women who wanted a more active and direct role in the war. These groups provided individusd members with an umbrella organization and the documents necessary to enter the war zone and serve EUzabeth McCune. ""^^^ ^ military unit in the field. Relief Society Magazine Since each woman was required to photograph. be self-supporting for the most
