British Female Aid Workers
Some like Felicia Browne were combatants in militias. Browne went to Spain with a friend initially to find artistic spots to sketch and paint. She even went to the International Peoples Olympiad that was held in protest of the Olympics in Berlin. Her political ideals grounded in the British Communist Party pushed her to stay and fight when war broke out. Evelyn Hutchins was a British woman that contributed by driving trucks and ambulances. In a personal interview with her she describes how many thought she was too small to be doing such an important job but she continued to fight for the cause by driving trucks despite the comments on her size and gender. Her male family members had no problem getting to Spain but Evelyn had to get her own money and convince people to let her go. She had wanted to go before even the men did.
Most women served as nurses such as Madge Addy. She grew up in Chorlton and became a hairdresser. Later on she would become a nurse that would see horrible injuries during the Spanish Civil War and even an agent during World War II.Many of these women fought in their occupations to the best of their abilities to attack fascism when their own country would not even help them. Throughout this project I will explore the narratives of the women who did more than many who stayed in England to fight against Fascism. In their actions they were also attacking the Fascist idea of a subordinate woman. They were independent and strong enough to deal with the battles that would surround them. These women risked their own lives at a chance to make a difference in Spain.
