Another FANY Question
 

I ma trying to determine what the red cross insignia is that he early FANYs wore on their upper arm. Was it the standard army Red Cross badge in cloth, or something else?

Here's a well known picture which shows it.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...%20Uniform.jpg

Thanks,

Terry

Great Photo, not sure they are FANY, badges seem to be YC or VC or vice versa?

regards

Manchesters, it is indeed a picture of the early FANYs. The lady with the dog is Grace Ashley Smith, later MacDougall - a strong driving force of the early FANYs. The dog was their mascot, named Caspar. The picture is documented as being taken in 1910. As far as I know, the other ladies are not identified.

Here's a slightly later picture that shows a group of FANYs at one of their yearly camps in pre-war 1914. They are also wearing the round Red Cross patch.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...at%20Camp..jpg

Terry

Thanks Terry,

Very interesting. I see in the second photo they are wearing the usual FANY cap badge etc, but what are the cap and collar badges in the first photo?

regards

Hi Terry and Simon,
The CY badge is most likely "Cadet Yeomanry"
See attached image.
Cheers, John

So the first picture is not FANY but another related Womens Unit, the Cadet Yeomanry.

Is that correct?

regards

From the books I have and the current web site for the organization the first picture is also the FANYs. There is no mention of Cadet Yeomanry, but I'll check my books to see if maybe that was heir original name before becoming the FANYs and advise.

Terry

Well if you look at the magazine cover above and the badges worn in the first picture the CY clearly existed. Whether it was absorbed into the FANY I dont know.

Needs more research I think.

regards

OK, I just saw it, the magazine cover. I believe the badge they are wearing in the first photo is the one depicted on the upper left side of the magazine cover. The badge says "Nursing Yeomanry Corps". And, on the banner she is carrying it says "1st Aid Nursing Yeomanry Corps". The Cadet Yeomanry seems to be the badge shown at the upper right side. I will also continue to research the association between the two organizations.

Back to my questions, does anybody know anything about the red cross bade they are wearing on their upper arm?

Term

Terry,

It certainly has the appearance and size of the standard British Army Geneva (Red) Cross Medical Orderly badge, but its possible they had their own backing colour.

regards

Thanks Simon. Am going to guess that finding one would probably be pretty tough!!!

Also, I have the riddle of the Cadet Yeomanry and the FANYs solved.

"[The] Cadet Yeomanry.... was a separate organization, also founded by Baker, for boys from twelve to seventeen."

So, I doubt that the ladies in the first picture are wearing the cadet Yeomanry badge, but most likely the one on the upper left side of the journal cover. Maybe they wore that until they started being motor ambulance drivers and adopted a more wheel shaped badge that is now well associated with them.

Terry

Hi Terry,
Download the first image into your computer system and then enlarge it.
You will see the young ladies are wearing a CY badge both on their hats and collars.
Cheers, John

From FANY website :
"The original uniform was a scarlet tunic with white facings, a navy blue riding skirt with three rows of white braid at the bottom and a hard topped scarlet hat with black leather peak. In 1912 the uniform was changed to a khaki tunic, khaki riding skirt and later a khaki soft cap."

They also show a recruiting photo of with the "original" uniform from 1908.

And a great full uniform photo from 1909:
"1909: Original uniform
FANY wearing the original uniform of circular black skirt and scarlet tunic with white frogging"

https://www.fany.org.uk/history/photographic-archive

I've no idea about the badges worn , I'll leave that to others.

FANY or First Aid Nursing Yeomanry(Corps) and "1st Aid Nursing Yeomanry Corps" is one and the same. The uniform seen in first picture was the original uniform pre WWI and the ladies were a mounted unit riding side saddle. The khaki uniform and bronze cap and collar badges were adopted c WWI i believe.

The red cross was same as standard RAMC(V) pattern with silver bullion embroidery.

Attached images I believe are from IWM website showing original Tunic and skirt. The second red coat I believe is a later period uniform probably post WWI. Note bronze collar badges.

Link to a pdf with FANY history... http://storage-netro42-net.s3.amazon...erview_Pdf.pdf

From War Girls by Janet Lee (page 57) :
"The Cadet Yeomanry shared space in the original FANY magazine 'Women and War' and was founded to teach boys from 12 to 17 years of age horsemanship , cavalry drills , elementary veterinary work , ambulance drills etc."

The badge/logo on the magazine cover appears (to me) to show CYC , so possibly Cadet Yeomanry Corps but the cap/collar badges in the original post appear to be simply YC . :confused:

Is it possible/probable that because they wore a First Aid (Red Cross) patch they initially wore a basic Yeomanry Corps badge until the uniform change in 1912 when the Cap badge changed to incorporate the Red Cross emblem ?