Standing up to the War Office: Women who refused to ‘Go home and sit still’ by Viv Newman
In August 1914, the eminent surgeon and leading suffragist, Dr Elsie Inglis offered her professional services to the British Army. A senior representative of the RAMC riposted, “Dear Lady, go home and sit still.” This widely illustrated talk which uses the women's own diaries and letters explores the wartime experiences of a number of women who ignored this advice and used social position, professional skills and even sheer bloody-mindedness to get close to the war zones and play their part in the unfolding hostilities.
Viv Newman was awarded a PhD by the University of Essex for what the examiners called an ‘outstanding’ thesis entitled Songs of Wartime Lives: Women’s Poetry of the First World War.
A member of the Royal Historical Society, she was selected by the BBC for their ‘Expert Women’ training and speaks widely about women in WW1 on radio, television, national and international conferences. She writes articles for academic journals and more popular magazines and has written several books on women and the Great War.
This meeting will be held in Cobham. Members of The Western Front Association and non-members are equally welcome. We ask for a modest £5 donation on the door. This includes tea, coffee and biscuits at the break (before the Q&A session with the speaker).
Members joining us at Cobham can use our new cashless card system and use their credit card/phone with the new reader that will be available at the signing-in desk.
To help make things easier and safer, we are asking those coming to Cobham to bring their own mug for coffee or tea.
Viv’s talk starts at 8pm. Doors open at Cobham at 7:15pm and the meeting starts at 7:45pm.