For International Women’s Day, we wanted to celebrate some of the most courageous and inspirational women in first aid. And what better place to look than at those that served during the First World War?

The First World War was a turning point in history for the women’s movement which is why it is a poignant period to select. Women created pressure for their own uniformed services like the Women’s Volunteer Reserve and Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), as well as wanting to take roles alongside men in the military.

There are many stories of bravery and lifesaving efforts but here are a few that stood out to us.

Elizabeth Knocker and Mairi Chisholm

Elizabeth, known as Elsie, and Mairi created a First Aid Post in Pervyse near the Belgium front line in November 1914. Elsie was a trained nurse and she believed that if soldiers were given treatment near the front line they had a greater chance of surviving.

They worked at their own risk for four years at Pervyse often under fire and they only left after being badly gassed. They received recognition for their courage and dedication in saving the lives of soldiers with the Belgian Order of Leopold in 1915 and the British Military Medal in 1917.

Elsie Maud Inglis

When the First World War broke out, Elsie was a qualified surgeon so she offered her skills to the Royal Army Medical Corps but she was told to stay at home. As a proud supporter of the women’s suffrage campaign, she was not deterred and started her own organisation called Scottish Women’s Hospitals. They treated soldiers in Serbia and Russia until the Russian Revolution in November 1917.

Elsie was the first woman to receive the Order of the White Eagle which is the highest honour bestowed by Serbia.

Mary O’Connell Bianconi

During the war, Mary, known as Molly, served in France in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) as an ambulance driver. In a notable attack in July 1918, she and six other drivers drove tirelessly ferrying the wounded whilst under fire to save as many lives as possible.

As a result of her bravery and hard work, she was awarded the Military Medal.

As you can see these women were inspirational, incredibly brave and pioneers for their time as women, and through their courageous efforts they saved countless lives.