Racing driver, suffragette, war hero.

Racing driver, suffragette, war hero.

Muriel Annie Thompson MM, Order of Leopold II, Belgium, Croix de Guerre, France.

Muriel was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in June 1875. She was one of eight siblings.

Her father was a wealthy ship owner and marine architect.

She grew up and was educated in London. She attended Blackheath high school and then Hackney College.

She became interested in cars at an early age and was taught to drive the family car.

She was a pioneer for female motor racing and won the first ladies race at the famous Brooklands circuit in July 1908.

She was hired as a chauffeur by the Women’s Social and Political Union. 

In 1909 she drove Emmeline Pankhurst, the head of the suffragette movement on her national tour.

Determined to play her part in the war effort in January 1915 she joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry to drive ambulances.

She was deployed to Belgium on 8th February 1915.

At that stage of the war the British authorities refused to use the F.A.N.Y and so the corps worked with the Belgian Army.

For her actions evacuating wounded Belgian soldiers under fire near Dixmude she was awarded the chevalier of the order of Leopold II. King Albert of Belgium presented her with the medal on 29th March 1915.

Early in 1916 the British Army changed their stance and began using the F.A.N.Y to help with the evacuation of the wounded.

Muriel was mentioned in dispatches on 9th April 1917. 

On 1st January 1918 she was appointed as Commanding Officer of the new joint First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and Voluntary Aid Detachment convoy based at St Omer.

In the spring of 1918 the Germans launched a series of massive offensives. The British army was driven back sustaining heavy casualties. Throughout this period the St Omer convoy worked day and night under heavy bombardment evacuating the wounded.

During the night of 18th / 19th May 1918 a series of air raids caused much damage and inflicted casualties. The women under Muriel’s command performed magnificently, refusing to take shelter and evacuating wounded men as bombs fell close by.

For their actions that night 16 of the St Omer convoy women were awarded the Military Medal, Muriel was one of the.

The citation published in the London Gazette read as follows:-

“For conspicuous devotion to duty during a hostile air raid. All these lady drivers were out with their cars during the raid, picking up and in every way assisting the wounded and injured. They showed great bravery and coolness, and were an example to all ranks”.

She was also awarded to Croix de Guerre by the French for what she did that night.

She returned to London on 2nd September 1918 exhausted after nearly four years of continuous service.

After a few weeks recuperation she joined the Women's Royal Air Force as a recruiting officer. 

She never married.

Muriel Thompson died on 3rd March 1939.