The Camp Fire Girls on the Field of Honor

In Short

This novel follows a dedicated unit of Camp Fire Girls who travel to France during the First World War to establish a community farm and school for local children in a ruined village near the Aisne. As they attempt to bring stability to a war-torn landscape, they contend with physical danger, the strict oversight of a formidable chaperone, and the moral complexities of aiding a wounded soldier. It remains a notable example of early twentieth-century juvenile fiction, blending the era's emphasis on organized youth service with a sincere, if idealized, portrayal of the conflict’s human cost.

The Story

The narrative begins in New York, where Mrs. Burton—a leader of the Sunrise Camp Fire unit—prepares to take her group to France. She is joined by her aunt, Miss Patricia Lord, a stern, domineering, and highly capable woman whose presence initially alienates the girls but soon becomes their bedrock of support. Upon arriving in France, the group establishes a base in a partially ruined farmhouse, renting it from an agent who represents a missing French family. They immediately set to work, utilizing their practical skills to organize a school for local children and cultivate the land with a tractor, embodying the spirit of self-reliance central to the Camp Fire movement.

The relative peace of their mission is disrupted when Sally Ashton, one of the girls, decides to explore the ruins of a nearby chateau. There, she discovers a wounded French officer, Lieutenant Robert Fleury. Despite her natural desire to avoid complications or romance, Sally finds herself compelled by duty and compassion to provide the soldier with food and care, maintaining his presence as a secret from her companions and the formidable Miss Patricia. This act of covert nursing places a significant emotional burden on Sally, who struggles with the guilt of her deception and the fear of discovery.

The tension mounts as the girls navigate the challenges of life near the front lines. The group’s dynamics are tested when Mrs. Burton departs on a mission to southern France, leaving the girls and Miss Patricia to hold the farm alone. As the threat of a German offensive looms, the community bonds strengthen through shared work. Eventually, the truth of the soldier's presence is revealed. Rather than delivering a harsh punishment, Miss Patricia takes charge of the situation, providing the officer with shelter and medical care while simultaneously maintaining a protective, if gruff, boundary between him and the impressionable girls.

As the narrative concludes, the reality of the war encroaches upon their idyllic project. Lieutenant Fleury recovers sufficiently to return to his regiment, warning the group that they may soon be in the path of a major German drive. Despite the danger, the girls remain committed to their work, refusing to abandon the community they have served. The book ends on a note of resilient hope: the girls have matured through their service, and their connection to the French people—and to the soldiers fighting for the Allied cause—is cemented by their shared sacrifice and unwavering commitment to stay at their posts.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The story opens in Washington Square, where the meticulous preparations for the journey to France are finalized. Tensions between the youthful idealism of the Camp Fire unit and the pragmatic, overbearing nature of Miss Patricia are established immediately as the group sets sail.

Establishing the base Upon reaching France, the group successfully secures a farmhouse, which serves as both their home and a symbol of their commitment to rebuilding. They quickly integrate themselves into the local community, setting up a school and farm that provide much-needed support to the villagers.

The accidental discovery Sally Ashton’s routine exploration of a ruined chateau leads to the discovery of a wounded soldier. This event shifts the tone of the book from a mission of service to a tense, secret-laden narrative of individual responsibility and moral conflict.

The web of secrets Sally struggles to balance her daily duties with the dangerous task of caring for the officer, resulting in internal turmoil and strained relationships with her sister and friends. The arrival of external visitors and the departure of Mrs. Burton heighten the sense of isolation and imminent danger.

The truth revealed The discovery of Lieutenant Fleury forces a confrontation, leading to a surprising display of protective wisdom from Miss Patricia. The officer's eventual recovery and his subsequent departure for the front lines shift the focus toward the inevitable, larger conflict approaching the farmhouse.

The final resolve The book concludes with the girls standing firm in their mission despite the clear warnings of a looming offensive. Their transformation from sheltered American youth to active participants in the wartime effort is complete, leaving them ready to face whatever the future holds.

The People

Mrs. Burton is the warm, well-meaning leader of the unit who hopes to guide her girls through a significant humanitarian experience. Her greatest obstacle is her own tendency toward being flustered, which is constantly challenged by her aunt’s dominance. She matures into a more confident, albeit still gentle, organizer.

Miss Patricia Lord is the book's moral anchor and most complex figure. She is abrasive, traditional, and protective, acting as the group’s de facto commander. While she appears rigid and cold, her actions reveal a deep-seated kindness and a pragmatic understanding of the sacrifices required by the war.

Sally Ashton serves as the primary protagonist of the internal conflict. Initially a girl who prefers comfort and avoids trouble, she is thrust into an "accidental adventure" that demands courage and deception. Her growth is marked by the transition from a passive, home-staying type to a woman capable of making grave, independent decisions.

Lieutenant Robert Fleury is the wounded French officer who represents the human face of the war for the girls. He is grave, grateful, and aware of the danger he brings to those who harbor him. His interaction with Sally serves to highlight her growth in maturity and empathy.

In Its Own Voice

"I have been so nervous over the prospect of looking after my group of Camp Fire girls in France that I have wanted to run away and hide where no one could ever discover me."

Mrs. Burton confesses her profound anxiety regarding her responsibility for the young women in her care.

"The better furniture of the farmhouse had been hacked into bits of wood by the German soldiers and was fit only for burning."

This observation captures the stark, immediate reality of the ruin the girls inherit upon their arrival in France.

"I do not believe we will consent to leave our farm house and to give up our work unless the war comes almost to our very door."

Sally asserts her newfound resolve and commitment to the humanitarian cause at the end of the narrative.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book explores the tension between traditional expectations of "feminine" behavior and the harsh, practical demands of a global war. The story argues that true wisdom and courage are not the exclusive domain of the adventurous, but can be found in the "childish spirits" of those who, like Sally, unexpectedly rise to meet great responsibility. It is a meditation on the nature of duty, suggesting that service is most meaningful when it involves personal sacrifice and the willingness to stand one’s ground. Underpinning the plot is the belief that moral integrity is tested not in the safety of home, but in the vulnerability of the "field of honor," where empathy and action must collide to sustain those suffering in the wake of destruction.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical fiction that focuses on the domestic and social history of the First World War will find this a compelling, if idealized, look at the period. It captures the specific, earnest tone of 1918, where the "Camp Fire" ethos of wood-gathering and service was applied with total sincerity to the devastation of Europe. The prose is warm and clear, though modern readers should be prepared for the period’s rigid social conventions and the occasional, jarringly direct, and sometimes brusque attitudes held by the older characters.

The book is particularly valuable for those interested in the role of women and girls in the Great War, specifically how the era attempted to reconcile the "feminine" ideal with the necessary independence required by wartime labor. While the pacing is occasionally stalled by lengthy descriptions of the girls' daily organizational struggles, the central thread of Sally’s secret encounter with the wounded officer provides a welcome touch of suspense. What lingers is the portrait of Miss Patricia—a character who is at once deeply frustrating and unexpectedly heroic—and the overall sense of a generation of young women attempting to build a small, meaningful order within a world that had been violently rendered chaotic. It is a gentle, earnest read that serves as a time capsule of a specific American response to the tragedy of the European front.