No Task too Great: VADs in the Great War

In this talk by Sue Light, she looks at the role of nurses and VADs (Voluntary Aid Detachment) in the First World War.

These women, often with limited nursing experience, provided crucial support in various roles, including canteen work, cooking, and even ambulance driving, especially in military hospitals. While initially viewed with scepticism by some, their dedication and increasing responsibility, particularly in hospitals with fewer trained nurses, became vital to the war effort. They served in Britain and abroad, including locations like the Western Front, Mesopotamia, and Gallipoli.

The VADs primarily worked in larger general hospitals, often in base towns, rather than in casualty clearing stations or field ambulances.

While some VADs initially served in less skilled roles like canteen work, their responsibilities grew as the war progressed and trained nurses became scarcer.

Despite initial reservations, the contributions of VADs were significant and were recognized with decorations for distinguished service in some cases.