Duty Calls

03/02/2025

A belated Happy Birthday post to the Army Nurse Corps.

The U.S. Army Nurse Corps anniversary on 2nd February, celebrates Army nurses who have served honorably in a variety of situations, from war to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, as well as in times of peace.

The Nurse Corps was formally recognized on 2nd February 1901, however, the Continental Army first requested nurses to take care of wounded and sick soldiers in 1776. Women were chosen from among the mothers, wives and sisters of the troops.

I was attending Stoneleigh Militaria Fair over the weekend, hence the post being a day later than intended. Great to see everyone after the long winter period.

27/01/2025

Let’s talk about books! 📚

These are our top book recommendations. Books can be quite daunting, especially as a beginner in the hobby; nobody wants to waste their money on items they made not need or books that may actually not be very helpful. Whilst some of these books are not particularly cheap, they will save you a whole lot of regretful purchases and bad buys. Investing in books can save you much further down the line.

As with collecting anything in any hobby, you really want to have some good visual and written knowledge to refer back to or study when it comes to putting uniforms and impressions together. These books have a plethora of both knowledge and items within them, which is great to have to hand when you’re unsure about that item you’ve just seen online or down at the stalls.

First up we have ‘Women For Victory’ volumes one and two, by Katy Endruschat Goebel. I picked up both of these books at a militaria fair some years ago but they are also available to purchase online. These books contain an excellent range of information on the WAAC, WAC, Army Nurse Corps and Navy Nurse Corps. I will also link the online compliation of Katy’s books which covers American Red Cross, USMCWR, W.A.V.E.S and much more. - http://www.blitzkriegbaby.de/homepage.htm

Next up, we have ‘Dressed For Duty’ volumes one and two. These books were written by Jill Halcombe Smith and cover a lot of wartime information on women’s military history (and items relating to). These books are packed with knowledge and contain some post-war history which is handy to know and useful for telling wartime and post-war items apart. Again, these books can be found online, though they are harder to find in comparison to others.

‘G.I Collectors Guide’ volumes one and two. Now, you may be thinking to yourself that these books are just for the guys and that they’re useless to us ladies. You are mistaken! These books each have a section on female militaria. Whilst the sections are quite small in comparison to entire books on the subject, they are still useful books to have. Particularly if you take part in living history events or displays. These books contain information on a wide range of items from webbing to field stoves and field desks - items that the women also used and had access to. These are actually two books that my parents had in their collection when I was growing up in the hobby (which certainly says something!).

Finally, we have ‘American Women At War In World War II Vol. 1‘, a compilation book put together by George Petersen. This book is one of my personal favourites as it is essentially a reprint of the Quartermaster Supply Catalog for women with some added extras. This one is a paperback and is quite old now. Whilst this isn’t readily available to purchase online, they do pop up from time to time. I do have a link to the QM Catalogue which I can link if anyone is interested.

Hopefully this post will help someone out there who has been contemplating which books they may find most useful. We do have plenty of book posts yet to come for research and in relation to specific branches of service. Stay tuned!

22/01/2025

On this day in 1944, Operation Shingle began. Operation Shingle (also known as The Battle Of Anzio) was an Allied amphibious operation launched in Anzio & Nettuno on January 22, 1944.

The invasion was conceived to break the Cassino stalemate by landing Allied forces behind enemy positions at the coastal sites of Anzio and Nettuno. The idea was the landings would draw Wehrmacht units away from Monte Cassino, forcing a breakthrough to open the way to Rome. Amphibious operations of this size and scale are inherently risky and necessitate a preponderance of shipping, supplies and manpower to pull off. Forcing and holding a beachhead are also important measures for success.

You may wonder why we’re posting about this invasion specifically or how it relates to the women of WW2. Female personnel actually landed on the Italian beaches just six days after the troops. 120 Nurses of the 93rd and 95th Evacuation Hospitals landed at the beachhead, as did the 33rd Field Hospital.

A lot of brave troops lost their lives in Italy. Sadly men were not the only ones to have their lives cut short in Italy. Army Nurses and an American Red Cross worker were also killed. Notably, Esther Richards was the first ARC worker killed in action in WW2. She is pictured below, peering from foxhole under her cot in her tent on the Anzio beachhead. A few days later German aerial bomb struck the tent, wounding her fatally. I’ve included some images below showing the hospital tents, Army Nurses and of course, an image of Esther.

Troops referred to the Anzio beachhead as ‘Hell’s Half-Acre’. Looking at original images and reading the personal accounts, you can certainly understand why.

17/01/2025

Ladies, some really useful tips below! 👇🏻

13/01/2025

On this day in 2002, Lt Colonel Charity Adams Earley (3rd Company, 3rd Training Regiment WAC, 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion) passed away. December 5, 1918 - January 13, 2002.

Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley served as the highest-ranking black female officer during World War II. She paved the way for future generations of black women in the military. Overcoming both wartime challenges and racial discrimination to become the first Black woman officer in the Women's Army Corps and commander of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

She left behind an extensive record of her incredible service. In 1989, she published One Woman’s Army, reflecting on her journey into service.

Adams enlisted in the U.S. Army's Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in July 1942. She was the first African-American woman to be an officer in the WAAC. At the time, the U.S. Army was still segregated, so she was placed in a company with fellow female African-American women officers and stationed at Fort Des Moines.

In 1943, she was assigned to be the training supervisor at base headquarters. In early 1944, Adams was reassigned as the Training Center control officer in charge of improving efficiency and job training. She also had typical additional duties, such as surveying officer (finding lost property) and summary court officer (handling women's minor offenses).

In December 1944, Adams led the only company of Black WACs ever to serve overseas. They were stationed in Birmingham, England. The women began to socialize with the citizens and broke through prejudices on both sides. Adams was put in charge of a postal directory service unit. Another part of her job included raising the morale of women. Adams achieved this by creating beauty parlors for the women to relax and socialize in.

In March 1945, she was appointed the commanding officer of the first battalion of African-American women, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. They were stationed first in Birmingham. Three months later they were moved to Rouen, France, and then to Paris. They were responsible for the delivery of millions of pieces of mail to soldiers during World War II.

By the completion of the war, Lieutenant Colonel Adams was the highest ranking African-American woman in the military. At the conclusion of the war, when asked about her groundbreaking achievements, Adams responded simply: "I just wanted to do my job." After celebrating victory, she left the service in 1946 to continue her education.

03/01/2025

Nella, the AT-6 flown by WASP at Avenger Field 1943-1944, will require an overall in late 2025; without a backup engine she will be out of service for a year.

Her spreading of the WASP Legacy would be impacted as would her flying audience of approximately 325 passengers per year. Your contribution will help keep her flying and delivering on her mission.

It’s not too late to donate – read about her story and mission, and donate now at https://fundrazr.com/92Ted1

Photo by Lavery Av Photog - Aviation Photography and Digital Art

01/01/2025

Starting off this fresh new year is January. What is everyone looking forward to the most in the hobby this year?

New shows?
Overseas trips?
New collections?
New impressions or displays?
Restoring collection pieces or vehicles?

Let us know below! 👇🏻

31/12/2024

We’d just like to wish our friends and followers a Happy New Year! A big thank you for all of the invitations to events this year and the support of the page.

2024 has been a fantastic year full of opportunities, new shows and of course the big 80th anniversary of D-Day - of which many of us travelled over to France for the commemorations.

We look forward to what 2025 brings and have plenty of exciting things in the works for next year. Stay tuned for more female living history displays and content.

Here’s to 2025! 🥂🌟

25/12/2024

Wishing everybody a Merry Christmas! 🎄

17/12/2024

This year has truly flown by! Christmas and New Years are fast approaching. Time for some well earned annual leave for the holidays. 🎄

07/12/2024

“The breath-taking Islands were that and more until Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 at 0755. At that precise moment, I was a patient at Tripler Hospital where I was assigned. …at that hour, I set my breakfast tray on the bedside stand when the Japanese dive bombers came roaring and explosions rocked Oahu. I followed the ward nurse to the back porch of the second floor wing where we saw the most enormous fire ever at Pearl Harbor. In minutes, my patient garb was changed and I was in charge of the ward when the second wave of planes began to bomb again. Patients were frightened; all the lights were on like Broadway. Hectic days followed.”

- Anna (Urda) Busby

07/12/2024

Remember Pearl Harbor.

On the morning of 7 December 1941, at 7.48am local time, 177 aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. Nearly half (1,177) were sailors and Marines on board the USS Arizona, which sank during the battle. 68 civilians were also killed in the attack and a total of 1178 wounded.

Days before the attack, Army Nurse 2nd Lt. Anna Urda Busby became ill with an infection which put her in the women’s ward of the hospital where she worked. Though she was still recovering when the first Japanese bombs fell on the harbor, smoke started to billow into the morning sky and she left her bed, ignoring her own illness, and sprang into action. As wounded started to arrive in droves, Busby and her fellow nurses worked as fast and as efficiently as they could, ensuring that every man was tended to. The attack on Pearl Harbor proved to be a daunting challenge because nobody expected or prepared for it, but Busby made it through and continued her service in World War II. In 1942, Busby and her fellow nurses from Tripler were awarded a Presidential Citation signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, recognizing and honoring their bravery.

1st Lt. Annie G. Fox, Army Nurse Corps, was on duty at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. For her outstanding efforts, she was recommended for and awarded the Purple Heart. Annie was the second woman to be awarded the Purple Heart at the time. At that time the awarding of the Purple Heart did not require the service member to be injured. The requirements were changed after the attack of Pearl Harbor and Fox was then awarded the Bronze Star because she was not wounded in the attack. Annie G. Fox continued serving in the Army Nurse Corps and made the rank of major during her career.

82 Army nurses were working at three medical facilities in Hawaii on the day of the attack. None are known to have died that day.

We remember on Pearl Harbor Day each year.

30/11/2024

Another excellent evening at Hemswell Court last Saturday for the annual GI Jive. Our first time wearing our original USMC uniforms en masse.

Always a great evening in great company. 16 piece swing band ‘Sounds Easy’ were outstanding and definitely helped to bring the authentic feel to the event; we certainly danced the night away.

This tends to be our end of year social and is a really nice way to mark the end of the season until we reunite at Stoneleigh in the new year.

For those who may not be aware, Hemswell Court is located in Lincolnshire and is the former RAF Officers Mess which was also used in the Dambusters film. What a venue it is!

28/11/2024

Happy thanksgiving to our American friends and followers overseas! Wishing you all the best. 🦃🍂

10/11/2024

In November, we pause to remember and honour the brave men and women who served and sacrificed for our freedom.

‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them.’

Reflecting on the words of John Maxwell Edmonds: ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.'

02/11/2024

What a great photo. Always great to see original images of W.A.V.E.S.

US Navy Shore Patrol with a group of WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) in Chicago IL - 1943

LIFE Magazine Archives - Charles Steinheimer Photographer WWP-PD

30/10/2024

USMCWR Seersucker uniform.

This uniform is named to a Shirley M. Jackson. I picked up this set at Malvern militaria fair just over a week ago here in the UK. I was actually trading at Malvern this year but couldn’t resist having a little shop around. Having been searching and bidding on a number of WR seersucker uniforms in the past four years, it’s nice to have finally acquired one that fits like a glove!

The original shoes were found separately a few weeks prior on eBay. I have a funny story about those but that’s a story for another day. They also fit perfectly!

Original visor cap is one I have had in the collection for a few years now, named to a B. J. Kickasola. I have a photo and some research on her which I will likely make another post on sometime.

08/10/2024

Recently, myself and some friends took some time out to visit Cambridge American Cemetary (also known as Madingley) whilst in the area. I have wanted to visit for many years now to pay my respects, particularly to the WACs, Army Nurses and ARC ladies at rest there.

You can see below just how well maintained and respected this place is; it is immaculate. The level of detail in every aspect is really quite incredible. The visitors centre is also very informative, for those who may not know the facts and history of both the area and those at rest there.

The facts and figures are something that i’m sure we read about most days in our hobby but seeing the scale of such tragedy and the horrors of war really does make you reflect. The wall of missing alone is such an eye opener.