during 1915 and 1916, with world war i in progress, olave assisted directly with the war effort in france. robert had seen the usefulness of the ymca's recreational huts for the soldiers and persuaded the mercers' company (of which he had been master in 1912) to pay for such a hut at val-de-lievres, calais. it was to be staffed by adults connected with scouting. olave was one of the team of five men and three women that staffed the hut at the start. she persuaded her mother to look after the children for the time she would be away.