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The Extraordinary Story of Our World War Nurses

Dylan Mitchell

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Published in The Anzac Girls: The Extraordinary Story Of Our World War I Nurses

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During World War I and World War II, thousands of women served as nurses, providing essential care to wounded soldiers. Their stories are both inspiring and heartbreaking.

The Anzac Girls: The extraordinary story of our World War I nurses

by Peter Rees

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8221 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	431 pages

World War I

When World War I broke out in 1914, there were few women trained in nursing. But as the war dragged on and the number of casualties mounted, the need for nurses became desperate. Women from all walks of life stepped up to answer the call.

These nurses worked in field hospitals, often under dangerous conditions. They cared for soldiers with horrific wounds, and they often had to work long hours with little rest. Despite the challenges, they provided compassionate care to the soldiers, and they helped to save countless lives.

One of the most famous World War I nurses was Edith Cavell. Cavell was a British nurse who worked in Belgium during the war. She was arrested by the Germans and executed in 1915 for helping Allied soldiers escape from occupied territory. Cavell's story became a symbol of the courage and sacrifice of World War I nurses.

World War II

The need for nurses was even greater during World War II. By the end of the war, over 1 million women had served as nurses in the U.S. military alone. These nurses served in all theaters of the war, and they played a vital role in the Allied victory.

World War II nurses faced many of the same challenges as their World War I counterparts. They worked in field hospitals, often under dangerous conditions. They cared for soldiers with horrific wounds, and they often had to work long hours with little rest.

Despite the challenges, World War II nurses provided compassionate care to the soldiers, and they helped to save countless lives. One of the most famous World War II nurses was Lillian Wald. Wald was a social worker and nurse who founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York City. During World War II, she served as a consultant to the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.

The Legacy of World War Nurses

The legacy of World War nurses is one of courage, compassion, and sacrifice. These women played a vital role in both World Wars, and they helped to save countless lives. Their stories are an inspiration to us all.