The Princess Royal learned about the work of a unique group of women Army volunteers during a visit to Gloucester Barracks.
Her Royal Highness is Commandant in Chief of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps), a military organisation made of female volunteers who provide support in times of emergency. Their role is not simply to provide first-aid, but to carry out ground and communications tasks of all kinds.
On arrival at Gloucester Barracks, The Princess Royal was escorted to the Operations Room by FANY Commandant Lynda Rose. There she viewed a presentation on the activities of the volunteer corps.
| The Princess Royal visits the annual FANY camp |
The Princess Royal meets FANY recruits taking part in practice manoevres at the annual camp |
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Formed in 1907, the Corps was originally founded 'to be of assistance to the military and civil authorities in times of emergency.' Their purpose remains the same today.
Her Royal Highness had an opportunity to see the corps in training when she was shown around the camp by FANY recruits. Nearly 60 volunteers were taking part in activities ranging from parachuting to cooking ration packs.
New recruits who had been learning how to strip and assemble a gun had the opportunity to show off their new skills.
Training - carried out during weekly London meetings - also includes signalling, map reading and navigation, first aid and major incident response.
| The Princess Royal meets FANY recruits |
The Princess Royal meets FANY recruits from the parachute division taking part in training exercises |
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Her Royal Highness later attended a reception at which she met a number of FANY volunteers, including new recruits.
The First Aid Yeomanry was created in 1907 as a first aid link between front-line fighting units and the field hospitals. During the First World War, FANYs ran field hospitals, drove ambulances and set up soup kitchens and troop canteens, often under dangerous conditions.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Corps formed the nucleus of the Motor Driver Companies of the ATS. Another section was attached to the Polish Army, and a Kenyan unit formed in 1935 also joined the war effort.
Other members of FANY served in the Special Operations Executive, engaged on top secret work. Twelve agents sent to France died in concentration camps.
Since the war, the Corps has been known chiefly for its work in the field of military and civil communications, a legacy of its distinguished wartime record.
In 1999, the FANY was officially renamed the Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps (PRVC), and it is now known as FANY(PRVC). |