Telephone Operators of the AEF -- Roll of Honor - 1919

Front Cover, Roster and Program to Welcome Home Telephone Operators of the A. E. F.

Front Cover, Roster and Program to Welcome Home Telephone Operators of the A. E. F. Associated with the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company of Boston, Massachusetts, 1 October 1919. Recognition for Purposes of VA Benefits, 1977. GGA Image ID # 19a59f10c3

Welcome Home to the Telephone Operators of the A . E . F . by the New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. Boston, Mass. — October 1, 1919

Our Roll of Honor

  1. Melina J. Adam
  2. I. Eulalie Audette
  3. Olive M. Bartlett
  4. Lillian M. Beebe
  5. Mary E. Beehan
  6. Florida Belanger
  7. Albertine M. Belhumeur
  8. Marie L. Beraud
  9. Suzanne Beraud
  10. Christie V. Bickford
  11. Harriet Bixby
  12. Michele F. Blanc
  13. Beatrice P. Bourneuf
  14. Emma M. Brousseau
  15. Estella I. Caron
  16. Dorothy C. Carr
  17. Eugenie Couture
  18. Ruth Coutcrier
  19. Jennie M. Crocker
  20. Jean Cunningham
  21. Jeanne G. Dandeneau
  22. Marie A. Dandeneau
  23. Winifred M. Dwyer
  24. Mabel B. Ellbey
  25. Sarah Fairbrother
  26. Josephine S. Farrell
  27. Sarah A. Fecteau
  28. Marie L. Ford
  29. Mae A. Ganley
  30. Yvonne Gauthier
  31. Lydia Gelinas
  32. Irene Gifford
  33. Lucy Gingras
  34. Winifred Hardy
  35. Irene G. Harrigan
  36. Helen M. Hayes
  37. Martha M. Henshaw
  38. Agnes T. Houley
  39. Elizabeth G. Hunter
  40. Ruth Keeping
  41. Germaine
  42. Lamontagne
  43. Leontine M. Lamoureux
  44. Rose Langelier
  45. Evelyn C. La Riviere
  46. Marie Le Blanc
  47. Aurelie Lucier
  48. Germaine F. Lufberry
  49. A. Maud McMullen
  50. Abbie E. Mitchell
  51. Minerva G. Nadeau
  52. Helen C. Nelson
  53. Olive L. Oatman
  54. Eugenie Racicot
  55. Marie E. Racicot
  56. Alice Raymond
  57. Rosanna Raymond
  58. Minnie R. Richards
  59. Emma Rindeau
  60. Florence A. Roberts
  61. Edith L. Roy
  62. Mary E. Sealey
  63. M. Olive Shaw
  64. Annie F. Shuerin
  65. Nellie F. Snow
  66. Mary A. Steele
  67. Marion C. Swan
  68. Agnes M. Theriault
  69. Ida Trahan
  70. Marie A. Trotier
  71. Stella M. Viau
  72. Isabelle Villiers
  73. Alice Ward
  74. Anna Wilson
  75. Elsie L. Wolloff
  76. Berthe Wuilleumier

To The Telephone Girl, A Poem by Frances A. Johnson.

To The Telephone Girl, A Poem by Frances A. Johnson. Recognition for Purposes of VA Benefits, 1977. GGA Image ID # 19a5a19915

TO THE TELEPHONE GIRL
By Frances A. Johnson

From the cratered Hells of No-Mans Land
To the switchboard where you sit,
There are none who serre so loyally.
We know that you do your “bit.”
For the world's bound round with a copper wire
With you on the outer end.
Each flashing light that you plug in the night
A message of hope you send.


Yon sit all alone at a magic loom
And weave from out the air
The words of faith, of hope, of love,
That go to our boys “out there.”
For the war s not won with bursting shells,
Shrapnel or cannon alone.
You're doing yond part with all your heart,
Little girl of the telephone.

Appreciation and Program Notes

The New England Telephone and Telegraph Company welcomes this opportunity to express its appreciation of the patriotic effort of the young women who, trained under its direction, enrolled as telephone operators for service with the American Expeditionary Forces.

It is not necessary to review in detail what was done by them, or to repeat the various testimonials of efficiency presented by, all branches of the American and French armies. It stands as a part of the military history of the war.

The New England contingent was not only trained in telephone operating by the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, but its members were probably influenced, in some degree at least, by the representations of this Company as to the need of this special service abroad and the patriotic value of volunteer enrollment for it.

One of the first things our American army abroad had to develop was an adequate system of communications. With such a system, the army’s effectiveness was tremendously increased.

Without it, it was difficult, if not practically impossible, to coordinate the various units into an effective fighting force. The telephone dominated all other methods of communication.

Upon it the army chiefs placed their principal reliance not only for service in the lines of communication areas, but also for front line service.

The telephone system, therefore, had to keep pace with the movements of the various army divisions, and in some cases, had to proceed with the advance guard in order to be able to do its full share.

This meant that the American army liad to build up an American telephone system reaching to all parts of France and coordinating with the French and British systems.

The first task was to build this system; the second, to operate it. At first the matter of operation was regarded as a man’s job. This meant that it would take time to train the special force desired and that such a special force would lessen by so much the fighting strength of the army.

Then came the suggestion, at first tentatively and then with growing assurance, that perhaps the operating of these lines might be considered a woman’s job and one for which she would be belter qualified than a man.

The advice of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company wan asked and its opinion was strongly in favor of enrolling women for this work.

It went on record as stating that in its opinion whatever number of women might be required could be obtained by voluntary enrollment and that the work of these women would be better than that of any group of men who would have to be specially trained.

The American Telephone and Telegraph Company presented the proposition to the various companies constituting the so-called Bell family, and we, in our turn, presented it to you.

Your patriotic assumption of this obligation needs no characterization. It is a matter of pride that seventy-five women were enrolled and trained for service with our Company, and that fifty-two actually crossed the ocean and served in France.

The others would have gone, and more if needed, but for the termination of hostilities. Now that all are back home again, this Company desires to express its profound appreciation.

It shares with you the pride of successful achievement and it joins with the rest of the country in expressing to you the country's obligation for the service you rendered in time of need.

The program for October 1 is as follows:

  • 11:00 am: Reception, 50 Oliver Street, Boston
  • 2:00 pm: Matinee Party, Colonial Theatre, "Hitchy-Koo"
  • 7:00 pm: Dinner, Copley-Plaza Hotel

Committee of Arrangements

  • Nellie F. Snow
  • Elizabeth G. Hunter
  • Mary E. Sealey
  • Minerva G. Nadeau
  • Marion C. Swan
  • Estella I. Caron
  • Helen M. Hayes
  • I. Eulalie Audette

[Attachment 14] Welcome Home to the Telephone Operators of the A. E. F. by the New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., Boston, Massachusetts, 1 October 1919, in Hearing before the Committee on Venteran's Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-Fifth Congress, First Session on S. 247, S. 1414, S. 129, and Related Bills, Washington DC: US Government Print Office, 25 May 1977, pp. 334-338.

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