Around a year ago now I was contacted by someone who was looking into the story behind a lady who served in the American Ambulance. Sadly I couldn't provide any service records however I was sent these two lovely photos. One Shows Bette in her MTC uniform with American Ambulance arm badge clearly on display,Continue reading "Bette Starr"

By the end of the war, the American Ambulance were headquartered at 44 Lower Belgrave Street, SW1 however for most of it, their headquarters was 9 Grosvenor Gardens, SW1. We'd long wondered what the links to these buildings were but now we’ve found one, as to why they were headquartered  at 9 Grosvenor Gardens. InContinue reading "The link between the American Ambulance and firefighting"

We’ve been lucky enough to track down more items from the collection of Miss M B Wilford. In this lot we got some photographs (two of which we don’t have copies of) a copy of the MTC rules and regulations 1943, also is Miss Wilford’s sam browne belt. We’ve also got from her our firstContinue reading "More from Miss Wilford"

While in Leeds we snapped some photos of St John’s Church. This is where Leeds Driver Ruth Davies got married in 1943, most of the members of Leeds who were able to were there and in fact the church is only a 5 min walk from where their station was. Ruth married Surgeon Lieutenant CommanderContinue reading "An American Ambulance marriage in Leeds"

This is the last of our posts with our “Leeds Then and Now” series. We look at a visit from John G Winant, American Ambassador who visited the Leeds station in we believe 1942. They paraded outside Leeds Civic hall with an impressive lineup of vehicles.

No.26 & 27 Knightsbridge is the former site of Alexandra Hotel. On the night of 10th May 1941, a single high explosive bomb tore through the roof of the hotel, detonating in the foyer. While we may never know quite how, Officer Ensign Marjorie Stewart Butler was killed in this attack at this site. FromContinue reading "Then and now – Alexandra Hotel, London"

We recently bought this wonderful group of American Ambulance items. These belonged to a Miss M B Wilford, it appears that it was found by a house clearance company and unfortunately there appears to have been more which has been split (I know at least three people have some items belonging to Miss Wilford now)Continue reading "Miss M B Wilford"

To continue on our series of re created photos from Leeds we need to go back to 1945. It's  late October / early November and The War is over! Up and down the country surplus American Ambulance vehicles are being donated to hospitals in the communities they served. Betty Bacon's ambulance went to the LeedsContinue reading "Then and now – Leeds"

This post focusses on the "Wings for Victory" parade. In 1943  the wings for victory campaign was launched and was designed to raise funds for new aircraft for the RAF. Wings for Victory week was 26th June - 3rd July 1943 in Leeds, on the 29th of June there was a parade which the AmericanContinue reading "Then and now – Leeds"

We recently got this great photo which clearly shows the links between the American Ambulance and the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry or as they were known WW2 the Women's Transport Service. The paper with the photo titled "Meeting the Enemy" which was passed by the British Censor on 23/11/1940 reads "London, England - Girl membersContinue reading "Face to face with danger"