Evelyn May Cridlan facts for kids

Evelyn May Cridlan (born December 24, 1889 – died March 31, 1961) was a brave British nurse and ambulance driver. She served during the First World War. She earned the Military Medal in 1918 for her amazing work in France. Evelyn was part of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY). She was praised for safely taking wounded soldiers to the hospital during a bombing raid. She was also one of the first women to join the Women's Engineering Society. Later, she became the first woman elected to the Military Medalist's League.

Evelyn's Early Life

A group of FANY members with the ambulances in Calais, January 1917.

Evelyn May Cridlan was born in Paddington, London, on December 24, 1889. She was the youngest of five children. Her father was a successful butcher. He hired a special teacher, called a governess, to teach his children at home.

Evelyn enjoyed hobbies like carving wood and binding books. She even bound a special copy of the FANY Corps history. This book was given to Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone. Princess Alice later became the first leader of the FANY Corps.

Driving Ambulances in War

When the First World War started, Evelyn wanted to help right away. She tried to join as an ambulance driver. She loved her country and was very interested in machines and engineering. However, she didn't have enough experience driving large vehicles.

So, Evelyn decided to get that experience. She worked as a delivery driver for a big department store in London called Gorringes. By 1917, she had enough skills. She was then sent to Calais, France, as part of a FANY unit. Her job was to move injured soldiers between airfields, train stations, and hospitals.

Awards for Bravery

Military Medal

The Military Medal

Evelyn Cridlan received the Military Medal in September 1918. This award was for her brave actions during an air raid. The raid happened at a very important airfield near Boulogne-sur-Mer in France. This airfield was used to bring in new planes and fix damaged military aircraft.

During the raid, many bombs were dropped. Planes were also shot at from the air. Many aircraft were burned or damaged. Sadly, many air force members were killed. Evelyn found this night very upsetting. She later said she would never see a harvest moon again without remembering the terrible things she saw.

Evelyn received her medal at Buckingham Palace on March 29, 1919. Two other nurses and FANY members, Mary D. Marshall and Christina M. Calder Urquhart, also received their awards that day. After the ceremony, they all attended an event hosted by Queen Alexandra at Marlborough House.

After the War

After the war, Evelyn Cridlan became an early member of the Women's Engineering Society. She went to meetings, wrote articles, and spoke about her experiences. She shared how she drove heavy vehicles for the FANY during both wartime and peacetime.

She stayed involved with the FANY for over twenty years. She took part in their yearly training camps. These camps taught members about motor mechanics and advanced driving skills. Evelyn worked in many different parts of the FANY. But she was most interested in the mechanical side of things.

In December 1939, she was the Records Officer for FANY Headquarters. She also helped connect with their Kenya Group, who were serving in East Africa. During the Second World War, she worked as a staff officer in their London headquarters. When the building was bombed, she was key in finding new offices near St Paul's Cathedral.

Evelyn May Cridlan passed away on March 31, 1961.