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