First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
Encyclopedia
The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps) (FANY (PRVC)) is a British
independent all-female unit and registered charity affiliated to, but not part of, the Territorial Army, formed in 1907 and active in both nursing and intelligence work during the World Wars.
link between the field hospital
s and the front lines, and was given the yeomanry
title as all its members were originally mounted on horseback. Unlike nursing organisations, the FANY saw themselves rescuing the wounded and giving first aid
, similar to a modern combat medic
.
Their founder, Sergeant Major later Captain Edward Baker, a veteran of the Sudan Campaign and the Second Boer War
, felt that a single rider could get to a wounded soldier faster than a horse-drawn ambulance. Each woman was trained not only in first aid but signalling and drilling in cavalry movements. The original uniform was a scarlet tunic with white facings, a navy blue riding skirt with three rows of white braid at the bottom and a hard topped scarlet hat with black leather peak. In 1912 the uniform was changed to a khaki tunic, khaki riding skirt and later a khaki soft cap.
By 1914 the FANY was run by Grace Ashley-Smith (1889–1963), who had joined in 1909, and Lillian Franklin.
on 27 October 1914, but drove motor ambulances instead of horses. FANYs ran field hospitals, drove ambulances and set up soup kitchens and troop canteens, often in highly dangerous conditions. By the Armistice
, they had been awarded many decorations for bravery, including 17 Military Medal
s, 1 Legion d'Honneur
and 27 Croix de Guerre
. Ashley-Smith wrote a 1917 account of her experiences Nursing Adventures: A FANY in France, retitled A Nurse at War: Nursing Adventures in France for America.
, called the Women's Transport Service, and it also served as a parent unit for many women who undertook espionage
work for the Special Operations Executive
. Recruits were trained in one of four fields: Motor Transport, Wireless Telegraphy, Codes or General. They worked on coding and signals, acting as conductors for agents and providing administration and technical support for the Special Training Schools. Their work was top secret and often highly skilled. Members operated in several theatres of war, including North Africa, Italy, India and the Far East.
Thirty-nine of the agents sent by SOE to France were commissioned into the Corps: twelve were captured by the Germans and died in concentration camps. Three of these (Odette Sansom
, Violette Szabo
and Noor Inayat Khan
), were awarded the George Cross
- the last two posthumously, and Nancy Wake
the George Medal
for their service.
Abroad, they served the Finnish Government, a section was attached to the Polish Army, and a Kenyan section formed in 1935, was made the official East African unit by the War Office in August of 1941, and was very active during the war. This section took women from all over the southern half of Africa.
A memorial at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge commemorates 54 members who gave their lives on active service with the Corps in this war.
, within the M25
. Corps members are trained in radio communications, first aid skills, map reading, navigation and orienteering, shooting, self-defence and survival techniques, advanced driving and casualty bureau documentation. Their working dress is similar to that of the modern British Army
; on formal occasions they wear a uniform similar to British Army Service Dress. They also have their own rank system.
The FANY was officially renamed the Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps in 1999, after being given permission by HRH the Princess Royal to use her title, and is now referred to as FANY (PRVC). The original name has greater recognition, and greater prominence even in official publications and on its website.
The Corps celebrated its centenary in 2007.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
independent all-female unit and registered charity affiliated to, but not part of, the Territorial Army, formed in 1907 and active in both nursing and intelligence work during the World Wars.
Formation
It was formed as the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry in 1907 as a first aidFirst aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
link between the field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
s and the front lines, and was given the yeomanry
Yeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
title as all its members were originally mounted on horseback. Unlike nursing organisations, the FANY saw themselves rescuing the wounded and giving first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
, similar to a modern combat medic
Combat medic
Combat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...
.
Their founder, Sergeant Major later Captain Edward Baker, a veteran of the Sudan Campaign and the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, felt that a single rider could get to a wounded soldier faster than a horse-drawn ambulance. Each woman was trained not only in first aid but signalling and drilling in cavalry movements. The original uniform was a scarlet tunic with white facings, a navy blue riding skirt with three rows of white braid at the bottom and a hard topped scarlet hat with black leather peak. In 1912 the uniform was changed to a khaki tunic, khaki riding skirt and later a khaki soft cap.
By 1914 the FANY was run by Grace Ashley-Smith (1889–1963), who had joined in 1909, and Lillian Franklin.
First World War
During the First World War, lieutenants Ashley-Smith and Franklin, arrived in CalaisCalais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
on 27 October 1914, but drove motor ambulances instead of horses. FANYs ran field hospitals, drove ambulances and set up soup kitchens and troop canteens, often in highly dangerous conditions. By the Armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
, they had been awarded many decorations for bravery, including 17 Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
s, 1 Legion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and 27 Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
. Ashley-Smith wrote a 1917 account of her experiences Nursing Adventures: A FANY in France, retitled A Nurse at War: Nursing Adventures in France for America.
Second World War
In September of 1938, the FANY Corps was asked to form the initial Motor Driver Companies of the Auxiliary Territorial ServiceAuxiliary Territorial Service
The Auxiliary Territorial Service was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War...
, called the Women's Transport Service, and it also served as a parent unit for many women who undertook espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
work for the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
. Recruits were trained in one of four fields: Motor Transport, Wireless Telegraphy, Codes or General. They worked on coding and signals, acting as conductors for agents and providing administration and technical support for the Special Training Schools. Their work was top secret and often highly skilled. Members operated in several theatres of war, including North Africa, Italy, India and the Far East.
Thirty-nine of the agents sent by SOE to France were commissioned into the Corps: twelve were captured by the Germans and died in concentration camps. Three of these (Odette Sansom
Odette Sansom
Odette Sansom Hallowes GC, MBE, Chevalier de la légion d'honneur was an Allied heroine of the Second World War.-Early years:...
, Violette Szabo
Violette Szabo
Violette Reine Elizabeth Bushell Szabo, GC, was a Second World War French-British secret agent.-Early life and marriage:...
and Noor Inayat Khan
Noor Inayat Khan
Assistant Section Officer Noor Inayat Khan / Nora Baker, GC, MBE , usually known as Noor Inayat Khan was of Indian Muslim origin...
), were awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
- the last two posthumously, and Nancy Wake
Nancy Wake
Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, AC, GM , served as a British agent during the later part of World War II. She became a leading figure in the maquis groups of the French Resistance and was one of the Allies' most decorated servicewomen of the war.-Early life:Born in Roseneath, Wellington, New Zealand in...
the George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
for their service.
Abroad, they served the Finnish Government, a section was attached to the Polish Army, and a Kenyan section formed in 1935, was made the official East African unit by the War Office in August of 1941, and was very active during the war. This section took women from all over the southern half of Africa.
A memorial at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge commemorates 54 members who gave their lives on active service with the Corps in this war.
Ranks of the Women's Transport Service (FANY during World War II)
Below is a chart of WTS/FANY ranks compared to the British Army.| Women's Transport Service rank | British Army rank |
| Driver | Private |
| Lance-Corporal | Lance-Corporal |
| Corporal | Corporal |
| Sergeant | Sergeant |
| n/a | Staff Sergeant / Colour Sergeant |
| n/a | Warrant Officer Class III |
| Warrant Officer Class II | Warrant Officer Class II |
| n/a | Warrant Officer Class I |
| Ensign | Second Lieutenant |
| Lieutenant | Lieutenant |
| Captain | Captain |
| Commander | Major |
| Staff Commander | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Commandant | Colonel |
| n/a | Brigadier |
| n/a | Major-General |
| n/a | Lieutenant-General |
| n/a | General |
| n/a | Field Marshal |
no authorized rank - n/a |
|
Post war
Today, the Corps provides response teams in support of the Civil and Military authorities within London during a major event or incident, as well as providing UK-wide assistance for civil and military planning and exercise roles. It is open to volunteers between the ages of 18 and 45 who reside or work near LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, within the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
. Corps members are trained in radio communications, first aid skills, map reading, navigation and orienteering, shooting, self-defence and survival techniques, advanced driving and casualty bureau documentation. Their working dress is similar to that of the modern British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
; on formal occasions they wear a uniform similar to British Army Service Dress. They also have their own rank system.
The FANY was officially renamed the Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps in 1999, after being given permission by HRH the Princess Royal to use her title, and is now referred to as FANY (PRVC). The original name has greater recognition, and greater prominence even in official publications and on its website.
The Corps celebrated its centenary in 2007.