Victoria Drummond was a military engineer who became the first woman marine engineer in the British Royal Navy and the first woman member of the Institute of Marine Engineers. Throughout her career, Victoria faced prejudice because of her gender. For example, in 1926, she qualified as a second engineer but was only hired as a fifth engineer. Years later, she sat for the Board of Trade examination multiple times to become a Chief Engineer, but the examiners repeatedly failed her because she was a woman.

When the Great Depression hit, Victoria was unable to find any work at sea for 11 years. Finally, a year into World War II, she circumvented the Board of Trade by passing the chief engineer examination for a foreign country. She was able to find work, but in 1942, she could only work as a fifth engineer with the company that hired her.

During a voyage through the Atlantic during the war, she took charge of her ship, dismissing all of the other engineers and making crucial decisions in the engine room. Her actions saved the ship, and she was awarded the Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea and appointed MBE in recognition of her devotion to duty.

After the war, she finally became a second engineer on multiple ships. Then, in 1959, she was given the much-deserved position of chief engineer, which she held until her retirement in 1962 after 40 years at sea.