Maud Lilburn MacLellan

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(6 October 1903 – 21 May 1977) was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

commanding officer of the

First Aid Nursing Yeomanry The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps) (FANY (PRVC)) is a British independent all-female registered charity formed in 1907 and active in both nursing and intelligence work during the World Wars. Its members wear a mili ...

(FANY). Whilst being obliged to serve with the ATS during the war she taught the future Queen Elizabeth to drive.

Life

MacLellan was born, one of three children, in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

in 1903. Her parents were Walter and Jane MacLellan. She joined in FANY in 1929 which was a volunteer organisation principally active in wartime. The FANY was led by

Mary Baxter Ellis Mary "Dick" Baxter Ellis CBE (12 November 1892 – 12 April 1968) was a British commanding officer of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, also known as FANY. Life Ellis was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1892. Her mother was Mary Sharpe Taylor and he ...

from 1932 who had led the FANY in Northumberland taking over from

Lilian Franklin Lilian Annie Margueretta Franklin OBE (1882 – 8 January 1955), known as "Boss", was the British commanding officer of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) until 1932. She took the organisation of six volunteers to organise hospitals and nursi ...

OBE.

Princess Elizabeth with the ATS in 1945 by unknown

Helen Gwynne-Vaughan Dame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-Vaughan, (née Fraser; 21 January 1879 – 26 August 1967) was a prominent English botanist and mycologist. During the First World War, she served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and then as Commandant ...

was made Chief Controller of the newly formed

Auxiliary Territorial Service The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS; often pronounced as an acronym) was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938, initially as a women's voluntary service, and existed until 1 Februa ...

(ATS) in 1939. This was a role that Mary Baxter Ellis had turned down, but she agreed however to supply 1500 women to serve with the ATS as long as they could be independent. This was agreed, but Gwynne-Vaughan broke the agreement, and forced the FANY staff to be absorbed. Gwynne-Vaughan held the role to 1941. MacLellan was placed in a difficult position but she opted to join the ATS and lead the 4th Scottish motor company from November 1938. She was described as a good role model, leading by example, when many of the new recruits were unaccustomed to military discipline. In March 1945 she was summoned to a meeting at

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...

where she was told that she was to receive an important visitor. Princess Elizabeth was keen to learn how to drive and the ATS was chosen to supply a three week course which included map reading and mechanics. MacLellan was eventually able to say that she "taught the Queen to Drive". The Princess had called her Ma'am as she was treated as a junior officer getting her knuckles scraped as she completed the mechanics. Ellis retired in 1947 and was succeeded by MacLellan as leader of the FANY. In 1957 she was made an

. MacLellan was invited in 1974 to privately dine with the Queen. MacLellan died in

Helensburgh Helensburgh (; gd, Baile Eilidh) is an affluent coastal town on the north side of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, situated at the mouth of the Gareloch. Historically in Dunbartonshire, it became part of Argyll and Bute following local governm ...

in 1977.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:MacLellan, Maud Scottish nurses 1903 births 1977 deaths Health professionals from Glasgow Auxiliary Territorial Service officers First Aid Nursing Yeomanry people