Fannies

Hi folks,

And NOPE ... this does not belong in Sargents Mess because it ain't about heinies or keisters or bums ....

I just read a reference to "Fannies" ... civilian MT drivers ... and wonder what you all know about these "Fannies" ... sounds very England-ish to me, am I correct to assume it's a British term for their civies who participated in helping the war effort during WW2?

I suppose I could have googled, but today IS REMEMBRANCE DAY and maybe a good time to remember FANNIES by sharing some of the service history knowledge. I'm sure if they were driving in Europe that many lost their lives and should be remembered on this day too? (I don't remember if we've ever talked about this in MLU before, so am sorry if info is already here and I forgot, or just missed it)

Karmen

[dougiebarder]

If they were English, the word means something very different to us now

Cheeky thing you

Okay ... I gave in and did a little Google run and found this ... "Fannies" as was written in the post I read, is actually in reference to FANY ... I haven't finished reading the info on the site but thought that some of you might want to visit the links:

The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
(Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps)

http://www.fany.org.uk/archives/2006...canadians.html

Main page: http://www.fany.org.uk/

[Richard Farrant]

Our Queen served with the FANY during WW2 and learnt to drive ambulances and maintain them, she was Princees Elizabeth then of course.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally posted by Richard Farrant
Our Queen served with the FANY during WW2 and learnt to drive ambulances and maintain them, she was Princees Elizabeth then of course.

Richard..
E-mail her a link to MLU..
maybe she would add some wisdom to our discussions..
She probably has a yarn or two she could spin..
I have seen photos of her on CMPs when she was on active service..

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Alex Blair
Richard..
E-mail her a link to MLU..
maybe she would add some wisdom to our discussions..
She probably has a yarn or two she could spin..
I have seen photos of her on CMPs when she was on active service..

Hi Alex,

I have not seen any photos of her with CMP's, but there are a number of her working on and driving Austin K2 ambulances and Austin 10 Utility (Tillies). Recently there was a special event at Buckingham Palace for the FANY's and relevant vehicles from their service life were invited with their owners, a number of our club members took part, and were "inspected" by the Queen. One striking thing about FANY is that the uniform has changed very little, at least, the cap is still the same pattern.

By the way, I tried emailing Liz, but not getting a reply

[Ian Pullen]

This is something that has been overlooked. Thank you gentlemen. Today I will stand at attention and remember
"The Fannies"
I also propose that we rasise our glasses for a toast:
"Gentlemen, The Fannies, Lest We Forget"

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

There's one around my office I certainly can't forget...

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Ian Pullen
I also propose that we rasise our glasses for a toast:
"Gentlemen, The Fannies, Lest We Forget"

I'm with you there, Ian

Hi All,

I've seen clips and photos images on TV documentaries that showed Queen Elizabeth in service ... a young and beautiful looking woman.

I've just been browsing the FANY site, and it's great, giving lots of information about these women, who, FANY women STILL SERVE TODAY! So they are still happening and have had reunions since way back when. I don't know when they started having reunions, but the site mentions that FANY was brought into existance in 1907 ... if you visit the site be sure to check out the HISTORY section, including the "BOOKS" part of the history section, as it lists a number of books, some sound amazing ... many of these women had horrible deaths while serving ... in concentration camps, prisoners of war, tortured - which I assume means raped and tortured sexually because of their femaleness ... horrible ... these women in the front lines were amazing in that they were women, period, for those days and gender roles, and yet they put themselves in harms ways for their countries and the rest of us, knowing many of the risks ... they did it anyways and accomplished amazing things according to bits I've read about some of these womens heroism actions. Many received high medals, some received posthumously ... a special breed of woman they are/were ... many of these women fell in the line of duty ...

WW1 History:

http://www.fany.org.uk/history/ww1/ww1_page_03.html

Books:

http://www.fany.org.uk/history/books.html

Karmen

[Jon Skagfeld]

IIRC, FANY was a conduit to female participation in clandestine ops in, particularly, Occupied France.

Some agents, once part of OSS, OSE (?), having been trained at Camp X in Ontario, Canada, moved on to further training in England.

Sufficient training having been achieved, some females of FANY origin were parachuted into France to assist with controlling certain networks.

Without reference to material immediately at hand, I can shotgun a couple of names......

Noor Inayat Khan ("Madelaine") who should most probably never have been sent to France.

Violette Szabo(nee Bushell..."Louise", portrayed by Virginia McKenna (she of "Born Free" fame), in the movie "Carve Her Name With Pride".

Pearl Witherington, Virginia Hall, et al.

Much debate there was in Baker Street about the use of women in warfare. Gubbins was instrumental in leading, with success, the party that contended against the Nazis that no holds ought to be barred. (Quote:MRD Foot, SOE 1940-46, BBC 1984.

...OK, so I found some reference material!!!

[Dean (Ajax)]

Female Members of the SOE in the UK wore the FANY Uniform as a cover...no FANY's at Camp X...but any female that trained there then went to the SOE finishing schools in the UK were sure to have worn the FANY uniform there..the Camp X historical Society has one of these Womens Capbadges in their collection

Dean

[malcolm erik bogaert]

when I served in the who cares who wins reserve sqn ln the 70's we often trainned with these girls who had some role or other in the even of us being mobilised!I seem to remember they where always out and about on radio trg.regards from a very wet north-northumberland :witch