World Wars Day: Juliette Pattinson

Introducing our second speaker to World Wars Day tomorrow: Dr Juliette Pattinson, who is speaking about the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.

The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry is today the only all-female military unit in Britain, all other women’s units having been absorbed into their male counterpart. Formed in 1907, it was one of the earliest women’s organisations to be formed, remains the world’s longest-running organisation for women, was the first quasi-military female force, the first to wear military uniform as well as the first to adopt khaki, was the first to prepare for war service and was a forerunner of the many uniformed women’s organisations that proliferated in the two world wars. With the onslaught of the First World War, during which time a large number of organisations formed to enable women to contribute to the war effort, the FANY was the first women’s military organisation to have a presence in Belgium before it fell, the first to staff a regimental first aid post near the front line, the first women’s ambulance convoy to drive in Northern France for the British Army as well as the Belgian and French armies, the only British unit to be sworn in as soldats of the Belgian army and were the most decorated women’s Corps of the war. As one British soldier noted their acronym stood for ‘First ANYwhere.’ In this talk, Dr Juliette Pattinson will examine the context in which the Corps was formed, its membership and its First World War service.

Juliette is Head of the School of History at the University of Kent. She is the author of a number of books including Behind Enemy Lines (an oral history of SOE agents in Nazi-occupied France) and Men in Reserve (an oral history study of the reserved occupations) and has appeared on British, Australian, Indian and American television and radio.

 

World Wars Day at Newhaven Fort

We’re excited to announce our next event with amazing speakers and best of all – it’s FREE!

Here is the official press release:

World Wars Day at Newhaven Fort

Local charity Sound Architect Creative Media are holding a ‘World Wars Day’ at Newhaven Fort as part of their projects on the First and Second World Wars, thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. “We have been running a number of projects over the commemoration of the Centenary of the First World War” says Susanne Crosby from Sound Architect, “we’re hoping that this free open day will encourage anyone who is interested to come along.”

These projects with children and young people have taken place all over East Sussex, from rural schools on the border of Royal Tunbridge Wells to students from St Catherine’s College in Eastbourne and have been over a wide range of subject matters in the First World War including life on the Home Front, Animals, and ‘The Day Sussex Died’. The current project about the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry spans both conflicts, and there is research being undertaken in Sussex and in Scotland on women who were part of this unique volunteer service which of course still exists today.

“We are excited to have two really engaging and excellent speakers: Chris Kempshall is an expert on the First World War and he’s spoken all over, plus Juliette Pattinson who has just finished major research on the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry” says Susanne. “Plus we will have a preview of our new film on our last project: ‘Crime and Punishment’ and lots of free materials for people.”

The organisers hope that this will encourage people to come along and share what they know, as well as learn more. Susanne says “I really hope that anyone with a family connection to either conflict comes along to share their stories. The centenary of the First World War may be over, and they all should continue to be remembered with honour and respect. This year is of course the 80th anniversary of the start of the Second World War, and we need to keep learning from our nation’s scars, and making sure that the young people growing up learn about it all too.”

World Wars Day is at Newhaven Fort on Friday 26th April between 1.00 and 4.00.

More information – including the times of the speakers – available very soon!