THE IRISH DIVISION.

DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR: MISS KATHARINE PENROSE.

At the first glance at the map, the Irish Division looks from point of view of mere acreage, to be second only in size and importance to the Scottish Division. This, however, is not the case.

At its zenith the number of members compared with a moderate-sized sub-division in England, and its sub-divisions are few, but they are widely scattered.

These consist of Buncrana on Lough Swilly, Belfast and Larne in County Antrim in the North, Kingstown and Dublin in the Midlands, and Queenstown in the South, with a very poor train service between the different points.

Therefore when I was given leave by the Commander-in-Chief to establish my Divisional Headquarters at the base most convenient to myself. I chose Kingstown as being the most central. Here I was within easy reach of the Headquarters of the Ministry of Labour and Q.M.A.A.C. in Dublin and could get to any of the other bases in six hours and to London in 10 hours.

I am very fortunate in having all my sub-divisions situated on the coast. The beauties of Dublin Bay, Lough Swilly (the Lake of Shadows), and Queenstown Harbour are famous; perhaps Larne is not so well known except to those who have crossed by Larne and Stranraer to Scotland, but it would be hard to beat a view that includes the Mull of Cantyre, Ailsa Craig, and the high land off Portpatrick.

Submarines were often very active in the narrow channel between Ireland and Scotland owing to the fact that it commanded the entrances to the Clyde and Mersey. Larne, an important anti-submarine base, was my largest sub-division in point of numbers as substitution had been very fully carried out, some time before the advent of the W.R.N.S. Many women were employed as clerks, messengers, storekeepers, net mine workers, and on work connected with depth charges, hydrophones, etc. They also helped to unload the ships, and when work was slack they built a landing-stage. They were all 'immobiles', and a very fine type of girl.

In addition to the Deputy Principal, there was also a staff of coding Assistant Principals and one Assistant Principal in charge of confidential books, who all did excellent work.

In Buncrana clerical workers, both mobile and immobile, are employed, also a staff of cooks and domestic workers in connection with the naval barracks. There is therefore a W.R.N.S. Hostel, the only one in Ireland. It can only accommodate 21 ratings and an officer, and it is not the most conveniently planned building or in any way ideal, but for a long time it was a whole Naboth's Vineyard, full of sour grapes for the Deputy Principal, Queenstown, where the housing problem was extremely acute, and a hostel could not be obtained.

 Lough Swilly provides excellent anchorage for battleships and cruisers, consequently many interesting and famous vessels have been seen there from time to time, and the naval authorities have been most kind in arranging that the Members, W.R.N.S., should see any vessel of special interest.

Delightful picnics have been held at different points round the Lough, and there have been pleasant dances arranged between the Naval Barracks and W.R.N.S. Hostel.

A large staff of coding Assistant Principals were employed in the base, in addition to the Deputy Principal in charge of the sub-division.

Queenstown contains the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Coast of Ireland, and until the armistice was full of American sloops and destroyers, and the town full of their crews.

Queenstown can now boast a club room situated in the grounds of Admiralty House, and in the same building as the W.R.N.S. office. It is charmingly furnished and those ratings who live too far from home to return there at dinner time can make themselves tea or cocoa and bring their own food and have it in comfort. Books and a gramophone, etc., have been provided by the Rest and Recreation fund, which has proved itself a fairy godmother on many occasions.

Kingstown and Dublin form one sub-division, and the Assistant Principal, who acts as my secretary, combines the necessary administrative duties with her other work. Assistant Principals are also employed on coding and other secretarial work.

The sinking of the mail Steamer Leinster by torpedo in October, 1918, cast a gloom over the whole of Ireland, and many terrible and heartrending scenes were seen in Kingstown as the survivors and victims were landed.

I am proud to be able to record the assistance rendered by the members of the W.R.N.S. during those trying hours. Many of them had friends on board, some of whom were lost, and the anxieties of the Deputy Principal, who was acting for me at the time, were much increased by the knowledge that three recently enrolled ratings had been placed on board that morning, en route for England to begin work.

Two of these were mercifully saved, and to the best of my knowledge are at this moment serving in England. The third, Josephine Carr, was never seen again. She had the melancholy distinction of being the first "Wren" to lose her life on service. With the exception of the Leinster disaster, the members of the W.R.N.S. have not been called upon for similar help.

I had the interesting experience of seeing the crew of a captured German submarine being marched through the streets of one of the bases, en route for England and prison. I subsequently came upon them after they had had an interview with the crew of a ship which they had just torpedoed. They looked rather sorry for themselves.

Full advantage was taken of the presence in our harbours recently of captured German submarines, and the Hyderabad, a very perfect type of mystery ship. I paid a visit to the latter when she was lying in one of the Dublin basins and was accompanied by two of the Assistant Principals from Kingstown. Our presence on board caused no little excitement among the crews assembled on the quay side, and I understand we were put down as "the female crew of the mystery ship."

The gaping curiosity of the people in the streets were very trying at first, and many were the wild shots we overheard as to our identity and calling. One old man, in perfect good faith, still calls us the "Sparrows."

We have been treated with courtesy and kindliness everywhere. Doubts were felt at first as to the reception that would be accorded to our uniform by the people of the country, but beyond being boohed upon one or two occasions by Sinn Fein processions, no contretemps have been experienced, and I think I may safely say that we have made no enemies, and not a few friends.

KATHARINE PENROSE