The Trousered Nurses.

In today’s world the kafuffle over nurses wearing trousers to tend the wounded would simply not happen. But in 1914, eyebrows were certainly raised and excuses were made to help combat some out-raged sections of society.

The British Nursing Journal in September 1914 tries to explain the uniform to its readers.

"British Field Hospital For Belgium.

News has come from Miss Theresa Bryan that the Field Hospital of which she has charge, and which went to Belgium last week, received the warmest and most enthusiastic welcome, and is arranged in one of the big hospital buildings in Antwerp, where it is of the greatest use at this juncture, as owing to the terrible battles close by the staff have been deluged with work since their arrival, and have wired urgently for more doctors and nurses to be sent, and the following went over on Tuesday, Mrs. Dalton, Miss Mitchell and Miss Tanner, three more started on Wednesday. The hospital is under the direct command of the Queen of the Belgians and of the Belgian Red Cross Society.

A good bit of criticism about “trousered nurses ” has appeared in the press. To be quite accurate, four lady farmers form part of the unit of the Belgian Field Hospital, their dress of trousers, long covert coats, high riding boots, and hats certainly gives these ladies a masculine apperance. We learn that their duty will be to attend to the domestic work, such as cooking and washing, and not ‘I snatching the wounded from the field of battle.” No doubt they will discard the “master of foxhounds’” costume when engaged at the wash tub."


From ‘A War Nurses Diary’, this volunteer explains what it is like to see these ladies for the first time at Victoria Station.

"Arriving in London we found our Directress much distressed because some of the nurses had backed out - they felt it too dangerous, I expect. Quickly I urged my friend to accept a vacancy and accompany me. She saw the Committee, was approved, and we sent the following seductive wire to her parents, "Lord - - and the Committee have accepted G - - as nurse. Please wire consent." Later on came the answer "Cannot refuse. God bless you."

We all met on Victoria Station, a motley crowd. Nine nurses in flowing violet cloaks and sky blue dresses, four or five men-doctors in khaki, three students from the London Hospital, also in khaki, four lady-doctors, three or four lay-helpers - ladies well known in society, three or four gentlemen-chauffeurs, and last, but not least, four lady farmers. These latter were dressed in officer's uniform-khaki tunic and breeches, with sun helmets. They were highly connected and highly interesting personalities. They brought with them a farm-wagon and a dray-horse, presumably because we were called a Field Ambulance! Later on we abandoned the wagon and horse, with other impedimenta."



In the photograph in “The War Illustrated” The caption reads: "A party of Red Cross nurses about to depart for the front. Those on the left will be mounted on horses enabling them better to minister to the needs of those that have fallen on the battlefields. "

So there you have it, the B.N.J. says that they will not be 'snatching' the wounded from the battlefield, but 'The War Illustrated" says that they will be 'mounting horses enabling them to tend the wounded on the battlefield.'

The Lady Famers in their trousers certainly caused quite a stir back in 1914.

Photos : The Great War in a Different Light