Women and War
International
Nursing Day was mark-ed on 12 May. It’s a day celebrated around the world to
mark the contributions that nurses make to society. 12 May is the day that Florence
Nightingale (left) was born, she’s remembered for her nursing during the
Crimean War.
In this centenary anniversary of remembrance of those who fought
and died during the First World War, I would like to look at the important
roles that women had during the duration of both conflicts. They fought on the
land, at sea, and in the air and I will be looking at the different aspects of
the military services – I will be looking at the women from Swansea.
Land
During
1907 the full title of First Aid Nursing Yeomanry or for
short FANY was established by Captain Edward Baker.
At the same time of the Women’s Suffragettes movement, where women were
achieving their rights to be able to vote, finally succeeding in 1918. FANYs
were the first-aid link between front lines and the field hospitals. Each woman
was not only trained in First Aid but was also trained in signalling and
drilling in cavalry movements. The uniform eventually consisted of khaki tunic,
riding skirt and later a khaki soft cap.
During the First World War, 57,000 women served. They drove
ambulances instead of horse drawn vehicles, and they ran casualty clearing
stations and hospitals for both the Belgian and French armies – the British
Army wanted nothing of them.
In early
1917, the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps was formed, and by March,
14 cooks and waitresses were sent to the front, where they were to cook in the
hospitals and camps. It was later organised into four sections: Cookery,
Mechanical, Clerical and Miscellaneous. There were no ranks; women were either
controllers and administrators or workers. Using women to do non-combative work
both at home and at the front line freed up more men for military service. By
April 1918, W.A.A.C changed its name to Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary
Corps, with Her Majesty, Queen Mary, as the
Commander-in-Chief.
The first
woman from Swansea is Ada Lesser, who was a worker with
the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps, died on the 4
December 1918 at the Women’s Hospital, Cholderton, Wiltshire, from influenza.
Her body was returned to be buried in the family plot located in Danygraig
Cemetery. Ada Doris Maud Radcliffe, was born in 1878, in Nova
Scotia, daughter of James and Leila Radcliffe. The first record of Ada is from the 1881 Canadian Census – the family
finally settled in Swansea. During 1899 Ada married Arthur Charles Lesser and she is then mentioned in the
1901 and 1911 censuses. Ada’s grave gives
her age as 36 even though her death certificate says that she was 40! Sadly
records of Q.M.A.A.C. were destroyed during the Second World War.
Women during the First World War were often employed at the
munition factories. Swansea cenotaph lists 12 munitions workers.
During the
Second World War, women played an important role in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, where 640,000 women saw
service during the conflict. Also women worked on the land, as Land Girls.
SEA
Women who
saw action at sea were known as Wrens. The Women’s Royal Naval Service was established during
1917. From its set up, to the armistice of 1918 there were 5,000 members of
which there were 500 officers. During the inter war years, the WRNS was
disbanded. At the outset of the Second World War, it was revived with the
slogan “Join the Wrens – and free a man for the fleet”. The
roles that women carried out included; cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists,
radar plotters, weapons analysts, range asses-sors, electricians, and air
mechanics – by 1944 there were 75,000 women on active service. Also during the
conflict, women were allowed to fly transport planes. The rank of Wren was the
same as an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy. Uniforms that were worn during the
Second World War consisted of a double-breasted jacket and skirt.
The next woman
from Swansea is 22 year old Irene Marion Roberts,
Leading Wren, who lived at West Cross. Sadly she died in February 1947, from
Pulmonary Tuberculosis. She served ‘on board’ H.M.S Excellent the
shore establishment based at Whale Island, Portsmouth. She is buried at
Oystermouth Cemetery.
AIR
The Royal
Air Force was formed in 1918, at the same time as the Women’s Royal Air Force was established, providing
female mechanics during the duration of the First World War. The WRAF was
disbanded in 1920.
During the
Second World War, the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force was
formed, incorporating the 48 RAF companies of the Auxiliary Territorial
Service. Even though, women didn’t serve as aircrew there were 168 pilots
limited to the Air Transport Auxiliary. Their
duties included piloting planes, Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancaster bombers
from factories to RAF airfields, also piloting air ambulances. Women played an
important role in the radar stations.
The final
woman from Swansea is of 21 year old Amy Leigh, Leading
Aircraftwoman, who lived at Parkmill, Gower. She died October 1945, from an
epileptiform fit. She was based at R.A.F. Fairwood. She was the daughter, of Robert and Annie Leigh from
Burnley, Lancashire. She is buried at St. Hilary’s Churchyard, Killay.
Records dating from the Second World War can be applied for from
the various military services, they are now open as the records of the First
World War are.
Whitehall,
London, is the site of the Monument to the Women of World
War II; it was unveiled on 9 July 2005. Betty Boothroyd
dedicated the memorial stating ‘……to all women who served our
country and to the cause of freedom, in uniform and on the home front’
Let’s remember those women also in this centenary year of
remembrance. If there are any readers who like to share any stories please feel
free to drop me a line.
ED’s NOTE
My mother
served in the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service). This was the women’s
branch of the British Army during the Second World War. She was delighted when
the monument to the Women of World II was placed in Whitehall and was
invited to the unveiling ceremony. I had the pleasure of accompanying her on
that day and remember being very proud to be part of it.
Copyright – The Bay
Magazine – July 2018
Comments
Post a Comment