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Irish Women in WW1

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  • 27-05-2013 12:00pm
    #1
    wunsquurr
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭


    Does anyone know of any interesting cases or stories of Irish women who participated in WW1 (in whatever capacity)?

    The roles of Irish men are obviously more documented, but I know some Irish women did contribute, as doctors or nurses in many cases, and I'd love to find out more.
    Tagged:


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    #2
    johnny_doyle
    Registered Users Posts: 1,021 ✭✭✭johnny_doyle


    the 1916 Rebellion Handbook lists a number of women who participated on both sides as well as civilians who were embroiled. Margaret Skinnider and Mary Norway's books are available as e-books at :

    http://www.digitalbookindex.com/_search/search010hstirelandrebellion1916a.asp


    One book that lists a number of individual women is "Ireland and the Great War: 'A War to Unite Us All'?"


    Aileen Chevallier Preston from Armagh was the first woman to pass the AA Certificate of Driving, opened a driving school for women in London, drove Mrs Pankhurst to suffragette meetings and later drove ambulances at the front. Her brother Raphael Chevallier Preston was in the Royal Engineers and later the RFC/RAF.

    I believe that Marjorie Scholefield from Rathgar was in charge of the WRAF in Ireland but have yet to confirm this. She married Alfred Iredell who was principal RAF medical officer in Dublin with No 11 Group; he later became Air Vice Marshal Sir Alfred Iredell. Finding information about Marjorie Scholefield and the WRAF in Ireland has been a fairly fruitless bit of research.


    A list or nurses killed/died in WW1 is on a memorial in Belfast
    http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie/html/showPicture.php?pictureID=1972


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    #3
    wunsquurr
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭wunsquurr


    Thanks Johnny!

    That's really helpful. I particularly hadn't heard of Aileen Chevalier Preston, that's really interesting.

    Would you know of any diaries, letter ir first hand accounts by these women or similar women? I've been trying to find articles written by Irish women during the war, but so far I've come up with little, other than the diary of Mary Martin.


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    #4
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,121 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Worker Kate Irwin's grave in Mount Jerome has always intrigued me, dying as she did a couple of weeks following the Armistice. One of these days I will look up death notices, newspapers etc. and find out what happened her.


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    #5
    johnny_doyle
    Registered Users Posts: 1,021 ✭✭✭johnny_doyle


    wunsquurr wrote: »

    Would you know of any diaries, letter ir first hand accounts by these women or similar women?

    unfortunately I don't. Sorry.


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    #6
    tuisginideach
    Registered Users Posts: 2,052 ✭✭✭tuisginideach


    My mind has gone blank - I am trying to remember the name of a book (published in the last 2 years I'd say) about Irish women in the wars/WW1 - the title is very close to my description. it was edited by 2 women - i think one was a Gillian and I have an idea one was Scottish/had scottisH surname but I just cannot remember/trace it. I have seen the book so I know it is not a figment of my imagination! Can anyone advise?
    Many thanks.


    I have remembered: Irish Women at War: The Twentieth Century!


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    #7
    Son of Jack
    Registered Users Posts: 217 ✭✭Son of Jack


    Ina Boyle in Enniskerry was 25 when World War One began. As cousins and neighbours lost their lives in the war, she responded by composing music. This included a setting for voice and piano, of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘My boy Jack.’ You can read more here;

    http://enniskerryhistory.org/home/index.php/archives/2947


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    #8
    convert
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 9,338 Mod ✭✭✭✭convert


    The NLI had a WWI series of talks recently, and if I remember correctly there was one on the women's war effort. Here's a link to the programme: http://www.nli.ie/en/list/current-events.aspx?article=799f3bbc-2e8e-47db-b7e2-82d3ec4989e6

    ETA: Just realized that this thread is from last year! Sorry! :o


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