Beatrice Enid Bell

Beatrice Enid Bell (25 October 1888 – 9 May 1977) was a New Zealand woman who served in Britain and France in World War I and World War II. In World War I, she was the first member of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS). War service Caroline, Enid and her sister Violet travelled to England in July 1915, and the two sisters began nursing at Cheltenham Hospital. At that time three of their brothers were serving in the forces. Her journey to the WRNS began with being chosen by Dame Katharine Furse, which led to her position at the Admiralty Garage. She wrote about the people she met and places she travelled through, as well as transport challenges she faced whilst in Etaples and the car she had to fix continuously along her journeys.

Biographer Susanne Alway describes Bell's diary entries as "an unvarnished account of the often forgotten support work carried about by civilians on the Western Front." Alway also argues that the descriptions of women in the diary depict them as breaking stereotypes of women at war at that time.

Margaret, Lady Ampthill, who was the Voluntary Aid Detachments Head of Department, once left a note on Bell's Red Cross Card stating about Bell: "Intelligent, capable woman. Very popular".

Bell returned to Britain to serve in World War II as an ambulance driver. Art During her ten year stay in London, Bell lived with her sister Iris Brenda (also known as Mrs Hector Rolleston), and joined the London Auxiliary Ambulance. However, Bell still pursued art at this time. Exhibitions

Later life and death Bell settled in Heretaunga, Wellington after World War II and died in 1977.