JOINING THE ARMY
When she was 16 years old, her parents seized the first opportunity of getting her married. She never knew the man, but luckily they grew very fond of each other, and were very happy. At first they both served in a shop, and thanks to their perseverance and frugality they were soon able to open a small shop of their own, but just as they began to prosper the war broke out, and he was one of the first to be called up. She was very keen on accompanying him as a soldier, but he begged her to stay behind and work for her parents, whom they had been keeping. Time passed, and she got the news that he had been killed in action on May 28, 1915. At once she went to her parents, and said: “I have decided to go to the front, and you will either hear of my death or I shall return to you in honour and glory. I trust in God.” And no persuasions were of any use.
For two years she has lived in the trenches and fought like a man. She has been wounded three times. In her arm, leg, and back. The last injury affected the spine, and left her immovable for two months. In the Lake Naroch battles, there was a time when all the officers were killed and the men lost courage and lay down, frightened to attack. Then she rose up and dashed forward, calling on them to follow her. Everyone obeyed her command, and the trench was captured. She has received two St. George’s Medals and two St. George’s Crosses for various feats of bravery. At the end of the two years she was legally admitted into the 28th Polozk Regiment.
A month ago, she was given leave to go home for a holiday, but when she reached Petrograd she found so much that had to be done for the good of her country, so many men strolling about not doing their duty, that she forgot home, parents, and everything else in life, and set to work for her “Rodina” (birthplace). She was presented to M. Kerensky for her bravery, and after hearing all her experiences the Minister for War asked what wish she would like to have granted. She straightway said: “I want to form a woman’s volunteer battalion, which is to lead men into battle if they will not go of themselves.” The idea was approved by Kerensky, and, with the sanction of the commander-in-chief, the battalion was formed.