Untold stories - Women in the Armed Forces

My name is Maureen Dickson. I would like to raise funds to complete and publish a book about young women around the world who joined the armed forces to fight for their country. . (See Video)

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Part of my inspiration to write this book comes from the research for my first book, Pilots and Soldiers of the Caribbean: Fighting Men of the Caribbean where I found that the young West Indian men who joined the UK Armed Services had an up-hill battle to serve, but they still had a much easier time than the Caribbean women.

They faced the judgement of the War Office who did not want them and found that could only join the Armed Services if they financially viable enough to pay their own fare to the UK. However, they could still be rejected based on class, manners and “character”, but they did not allow these obstacles to deter them.

In 2016 a ruling was passed which allowed women in the British Armed Services to take full combat positions in battle. Before this date, women in Britain were only allowed to take supportive or non-combat positions.

However, I have discovered that for centuries women have found a way to avoid the restrictions that were placed on them. Records show that as early as the 17th century women disguised themselves as men to fight in conflicts such as the Battle of Landen (in modern-day Belgium), the War of Spanish Succession and in 1815 the Battle of Waterloo.

In history there are courageous women who have received notoriety in their own right, but for every Boudicca or Joan of Arc there are thousands of women whose stories remain untold.

It became apparent to me that the women in particular had been totally forgotten. It also flagged up the fact that many veterans today need our help emotionally and physically.

To increase my awareness of the veteran's situation, I became an RAF Associate and joined an army group that helps veterans with issues.

In light of the problems experienced by military veterans, I will donate a portion of my book sales to a charity or organisation that looks after their welfare.

Help fund my book and be part of the journey supporting women in the armed forces.