Women's Military Service in the First World War

Join historian Jane Clarke as she examines the experiences of servicewomen during the First World War and the lasting impact of their involvement.

Women first joined the Army in 1917 with the formation of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). They served in roles such as cooks, waitresses, clerks and telephone operators. The Corps was disbanded in 1921.

In this talk, Jane Clarke will examine the long-term impact of women’s contributions to the British war effort during the First World War. By utilising the journals of former servicewomen, she will analyse how their wartime experiences were constructed and reinterpreted after demobilisation in 1918.

The discussion will primarily focus on how service in the women’s auxiliary forces influenced the identities of many former servicewomen as they sought to preserve the strong sense of camaraderie and friendship that had defined their wartime experiences.

About the speaker

Dr Jane Clarke completed a PhD at the University of Manchester and the Imperial War Museum, focusing on the experiences of women in auxiliary branches of the armed forces.