Supporting schools across the UK, the WRAC Association has provided books and learning materials to ensure the contribution of women in the British Army can be reflected by students studying history, English and creative arts, and those marking Remembrance.
100 Wonderful Women tells the stories of women who served in the British Army since they were first allowed to join up in 1917. The book includes accounts from women who served in the first and second world wars. From manning the Ack Ack guns to decoding at Bletchley Park, the accounts show how women made significant contributions to the military effort with a unique perspective. Later accounts reflect on the post-war, cold war and modern military eras.
Our Books to Schools initiative has provided free copies of our book to approaching 400 schools to date, with more copies available to schools which would like to use this great resource. Our learning materials sheet suggests ways to tie the bite-size accounts into the National Curriculum, and we hope the accessible format will allow lesson planners to come up with further ideas which support the topics being taught.
We may be able to provide a veteran to come and talk to your school. Please use the form on this page to request this, or printable PDFs of learning materials, additional books, or any other information. If you prefer, please email info@wraca.org.uk.
We would love to display your outputs on our website – please send any written work, art work or video/audio files as well as photos of your students working on the book in class along with permission for these to be published on this webpage and our social media.
Books to Schools Query Form
Suggested Lesson Plans/Activities
Please get in touch if you would like help identifying an account which supports a particular area you are teaching: info@wraca.org.uk.
Creative Writing
Ask your students to read a selection of the short accounts, select one and write one of the following:
- A letter home to parents describing one of the events described
- A report to a senior officer on the events described
- A contemporary diary account from the protagonist
Suggested accounts:
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- Margaret Annabella Campbell Gibson (WW1) P. 8
- Joan Huxtable – Join the ATS and see the World (WW2) P. 135
- Audrey Ross – My War Years – Special Operator, B1 Y Group (WW2) P. 77
- Herme Emary – The Turkish Invasion of Cyprus (Post WW2) P. 180
History
Pages 3 to 170 inclusive contain accounts from women who served in the first and second world war. From manning the Ack Ack guns to decoding at Bletchley Park, the accounts show how women made significant contributions to the military effort with a unique perspective. Later accounts reflect on the post-war, cold war and modern military eras.
Suggested accounts:
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- Mabel Dymond Peel (WW1) P.5
- Iris Fenn (WW2) P.63
- Charlotte (Betty) Webb MBE – From Bletchley to the Pentagon (WW2) P. 82
- Terry Simpson – Call Sign “Coffee Pot” (Post-WW2) P. 173
Drama
Ask your students to read a selection of the short accounts, select one and write/improvise one of the following:
- A conversation between 2 or more of those involved during or reflecting on what took place
- A scene portraying what might have led up to an incident described
- A scene portraying the aftermath of the incident
Suggested accounts:
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- Elizabeth Johnston (WW1) P.10
- Eileen Mander – The Day I Met Monty (WW2) P. 115
- Liz Kemp – Memories of Kosovo (Post-WW2) P.192
Remembrancetide
Often the men who gave their lives are the focus of people’s thoughts at Remembrancetide. If you would like to also remember the many women who served, pages 3 to 170 contain accounts from women who served in the first and second world wars. At this time of year, you may also wish to consider offering the book to your music and art students to inspire creative works.
Suggested accounts:
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- Ethel Parker (WW1) – P. 7
- Beatrice Ethel Lithiby (WW1 artist) – P. 12
- Doris Goss – The Welsh Guards’ Girls (WW2) – P. 75
- Iris Fenn (WW2) – P.63