Description:When the town of Namur where the Millicent Sutherland Ambulance Unit was based was invaded and occupied by German troops, Millie returned to England and set about organising a Unit to transport wounded soldiers, founding the Millicent Sutherland Ambulance Car Convoy.
Millicent published her wartime experiences in Belgium in a book entitled ‘Six Weeks at the War’ to raise funds for this Unit. Despite initial reluctance by the Royal Army Medical Corporation, after contacting Winston Churchill who was then 1st Lord of the Admiralty, Millicent was able to cross to Dunkirk with surgeons, nurses, drivers and transport in October 1914.
Millicent contacted Churchill for assistance with her endeavours throughout the First World War. Amongst Millicent’s papers is a letter from Winston Churchill which appears to be in response to a request by her for assistance written in September 1917.
The letter is written from Whitehall Place, the Ministry of Munitions of War and reflects the determination with which Millicent undertook her medical endeavours. Churchill writes: ‘Of course if I see the faintest chance of helping matters in the direction you desire…I shall not fail to seize the occasion. You have played a fine part in this g[rea]t struggle from its earliest days’