GERTRUDE BELL’S ACTIVITY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Abstract

The article examines famous English traveler, mountaineer, author, archaeologist Gertrude Bell’s activity during World War I. The most remarkable period of her career is associated with the Great War, which had an irreversible impact on all spheres of human development, particularly the position of women.

This work distinguishes two following periods in Gertrude Bell’s activity during World War I: 1) 1914–1915 – volunteering at the Red Cross; 2) 1915–1918 – working in the Middle East, obtaining an officer rank.

It is established that in September 1914, Bell gave multiple speeches in North Yorkshire, encouraging men to join the army. During November 1914, she resided at Lord Onslow’s estate in Clandon Park, Surrey, which housed a military hospital, and served as a hospital clerk.

This article analyzes Bell’s activity at the Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry department in Boulogne since November 1914. There, Bell established the new service and introduced the new effective data system on dead, wounded and missing soldiers. Miss Bell also proposed a new, more compassionate template for ’telegrams of fear’. Gertrude’s classification of inquiries was used at Paris and London departments. Bell initiated a ’watch list’ to facilitate the exchange of information on hospitalized.

The second period in Gertrude Bell’s activity during World War I is associated with her return to the Middle East. At the Arab Bureau, she compiled geographical and political guides and maps, advised on the culture and religion of local tribes, prepared reports on the ’Arab question’, and was a mediator between the Arab sheikhs and the British government. Bell became the first woman officer in the history of British Intelligence, officially – a second-rank staff officer. Therefore, the Great War was a significant period in the life of Gertrude Bell. Her activity aimed to adjust the system for War victims accounting at the Red Cross, overcome conflicts in the Middle East and support newly emerging states.

Keywords: Gertrude Bell, World War I, Red Cross, T.E. Lawrence, Middle East.