In this excellent book, Anne Powell has provided excerpts from the letters, diaries and memoirs of fifty-one (mostly) British women serving in World War I as nurses, VADs, orderlies, ambulance drivers, doctors, and surgeons in France, Belgium, Serbia, Poland, Russia, Italy, Romania, Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia, the Dardanelles, and Malta.

Early in the war there was resistance to woman serving near the front, leading some to create their own organizations. The Women's Hospital Corps and the Scottish Women's Hospital were created when women doctors were turned away by the War Office or the Royal Army Medical Corps; both of these groups were composed mostly of women doctors, surgeons, nurses and orderlies, as were the field hospitals organized by Mabel Stobart on the Eastern Front. Some of the women represented in this book were recruited by the Red Cross, volunteer ambulance services, or other agencies. Women serving in the war zones came to earn respect and acceptance due to their professionalism, courage and dedication.

They worked in base hospitals, casualty clearing stations, field hospitals, ambulance trains and hospital ships. Those who worked closer to the front lines often had to manage in tents with no heat or electricity, and a few had to set up wards and operating theatres in ruined buildings. Many were hampered by shortages of food, beds, medical supplies, transportation, and even water. There were not nearly enough doctors and nurses to treat the thousands of wounded and sick soldiers, especially during and after major battles, and some were also called upon to treat nearby civilians and refugees. Some women worked under fire from long range enemy guns, or worried about being spotted by enemy aircraft. In these honest accounts of their experiences, they discuss all of these things, describe their work, often in detail, and express their feelings and frustrations about the war and about taking care of horribly wounded and very sick young men.

In her introduction, Powell writes: "The memories of their experiences remained with them for the rest of their lives. They had often been frightened, exhausted, cold, wet, dishevelled and dirty, but through all their adversities they remained resourceful, cheerful, spirited and courageous, They all deserve to be remembered and honoured for their sacrifice and their humanity."

This large tome comprises the writing, letters and diary entries that have been gleaned and bought together to provide a women's view of the suffering the First World War inflicted upon so many men. Naturally enough their very presence meant that many women suffered whilst holding the wide variety of roles of which this book bears witness.

For me this was compelling reading and was an insight into the world and the role of women at the time. I had read fiction of the period, most notably Not So Quiet by Helen Z Smith and All Quiet on The western Front and this book complemented and enriched those reads. The women in question drove ambulances and suffered pretty badly with lack of sleep, poor diet and many of the deprivations of the men for whom they cared.

What an immense tribute to all those women who committed and dedicated themselves to caring for the agonies induced by man's inhumanity to man during The Great War. The work bought together, after an almost indecent period of time the writings of many women, ranging widely and geographically - from Albania to France.

The writings provide excellent pen portraits of women and I was quite dumbfounded when I read of how many had actually lived into my life time but had never 'told their story' or had it recognised so as to speak.

I am left in aweful reverence for these largely unsung heroes. From a distance I can smile at the outrageous prejudice and pettiness many encountered. Overall an excellent book and highly recommended. ( )