Mechanised Transport Corps
Encyclopedia
The Mechanised Transport Corps (MTC), sometimes erroneously called the Motor Transport Corps, was a British
women's organisation that existed during the Second World War. It was a civilian uniformed organisation which provided drivers for government departments and other agencies. Among other roles, members drove staff car
s, including for foreign dignitaries whose drivers were not used to driving on British roads, and ambulance
s in the Blitz
.
The MTC was founded in 1939 by Mrs G. M. Cooke CBE as a women's voluntary civilian organisation. It was eventually recognised by the Ministry of War Transport and its members were conscripted and received pay.
Women who served with the MTC were awarded one MBE
, two BEMs
, nine Croix de Guerre
, ten Medailles Coloniale, a Certificate for Gallantry, and mentions in despatches.
The best-known members were the women who volunteered to drive ambulances in France and became known as the "Spearettes". Their endeavours were held in high esteem and it is said that "petulant General de Gaulle
peremptorily ordered the Hospital to be disbanded because the crowds at the Paris Victory Parade dared to cheer: 'Vive Spears!'"
Groups from the MTC drove ambulances and other transport in Syria
, Egypt
and Palestine
, as well as driving SOE
agents to airfields to board the planes that would parachute them into occupied France.
A notable MTC driver was Kay Summersby
, General Eisenhower's
driver, who subsequently claimed that she had had an affair with him.
Despite the appearance of the character Samantha Stewart in the television series Foyle's War
there is no evidence that any MTC member was ever seconded to a police force.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
women's organisation that existed during the Second World War. It was a civilian uniformed organisation which provided drivers for government departments and other agencies. Among other roles, members drove staff car
Staff car
A staff car is a vehicle used by a senior military officer, and is part of their country's white fleet. The term is most often used in relation to the United Kingdom where they were first used in quantity during World War I, examples being the Vauxhall D-type and Crossley 20/25.Staff cars are...
s, including for foreign dignitaries whose drivers were not used to driving on British roads, and ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
s in the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
.
The MTC was founded in 1939 by Mrs G. M. Cooke CBE as a women's voluntary civilian organisation. It was eventually recognised by the Ministry of War Transport and its members were conscripted and received pay.
Women who served with the MTC were awarded one MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, two BEMs
British Empire Medal
The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
, nine Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, ten Medailles Coloniale, a Certificate for Gallantry, and mentions in despatches.
The best-known members were the women who volunteered to drive ambulances in France and became known as the "Spearettes". Their endeavours were held in high esteem and it is said that "petulant General de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
peremptorily ordered the Hospital to be disbanded because the crowds at the Paris Victory Parade dared to cheer: 'Vive Spears!'"
Groups from the MTC drove ambulances and other transport in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, as well as driving SOE
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
agents to airfields to board the planes that would parachute them into occupied France.
A notable MTC driver was Kay Summersby
Kay Summersby
Kay Summersby was a member of the British Mechanised Transport Corps during World War II, who served as chauffeur to Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force Dwight D. Eisenhower, later as his secretary and, it is alleged, his mistress.-Biography:Summersby was born Kathleen Helen...
, General Eisenhower's
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
driver, who subsequently claimed that she had had an affair with him.
Despite the appearance of the character Samantha Stewart in the television series Foyle's War
Foyle's War
Foyle's War is a British detective drama television series set during World War II, created by screenwriter and author Anthony Horowitz, and was commissioned by ITV after the long-running series Inspector Morse came to an end in 2000. It has aired on ITV since 2002...
there is no evidence that any MTC member was ever seconded to a police force.