Mairi Chisholm
(1896-1981), Motorcycle ambulance driver, nurse and photographerSitter in 5 portraits
Chisholm joined the Women's Emergency Corps in 1914 with her friend Elsie Knocker. Chisholm was just eighteen and volunteered as a dispatch rider. Both women were recommended for the Flying Ambulance Corps which was formed to move the wounded from the front-line to field hospitals. Realising that many lives could potentially be saved if they administered basic first-aid before transporting the wounded, Chisholm and Knocker set up medical outposts near the front line. Between 1915 and 1917 they were reported to have treated and transported over 1,500 wounded soldiers. Having gained wide press coverage in the British newspapers, the pair returned to England in 1917 to use their fame to raise funds.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.