Sisterhood at the front: Friendship, comradeship, and the feminine appropriation of military heroism among World War I First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY)

SynopsisThis article focuses on friendship and comradeship among First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) volunteers serving on the Western Front during the First World War. I discuss the distinction between, and the gendering of, friendship and comradeship, and make the case that the conditions of FANY service were not destructive of female friendships as they were for male combatants. I argue that the sustainability of emotional connection in the context of FANY autonomy and independence instead provided the foundation for the development of a comradeship that resulted in the feminine appropriation of military heroism. Such appropriation gave authentic claim to this masculine space and helped set the stage for women's participation in other aspects of public life.