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Sisters: Heroic True-Life Stories from the Nurses of World War Two
On 3 September 1939, the Prime Minister declared that Britain was at war with Nazi Germany.
Thousands of young women, many of them barely out of school, were sent headlong into gruelling training regimes that would see them become wartime nurses.
Sisters features over 150 previously unpublished stories from the archives of the Royal College of Nursing. The vivid, poignant and riveting stories capture these nurses' incredible bravery and touching friendships.
Thousands of young women, many of them barely out of school, were sent headlong into gruelling training regimes that would see them become wartime nurses.
Sisters features over 150 previously unpublished stories from the archives of the Royal College of Nursing. The vivid, poignant and riveting stories capture these nurses' incredible bravery and touching friendships.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryNursing
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 3, 2018
Good to read about WW2 from a different perspective in the form of short interviews and stories from nurses dealing with patients being treated for, for example, plastic surgery, mental health, wounds, starvation in concentration camps, D Day wounds/suffering.
October 16, 2016
A very interesting book - probably not a book you'd pick up if you are only interested in what happened at the front lines. That is in here too, but much of the book focuses on the home-front (and there is a very interesting section on life on the occupied Channel islands), and how to deal with both war-wounds and civilians (who still get sick and hurt, even if there is a war going on).
Some of the interview-snippets were short, perhaps even too short to add much to the story, but the longer ones were really interesting and insightful.
It's a celebration to the war-time nurses - and it works really well.
Some of the interview-snippets were short, perhaps even too short to add much to the story, but the longer ones were really interesting and insightful.
It's a celebration to the war-time nurses - and it works really well.
December 21, 2019
Research book.
March 10, 2014
I was given this book by my sister as she knew of my fascination with all things WW2 and also my interest in nursing based on my own educational background. I was also interested in reading this because my father served as a doctor in the RCAMC during the second world war and I hoped it might give me a better insight into the kind of conditions which he might have faced during the war.
What I found in this book was not just a history of nursing during the war, but also a history of the education of nurses and the determination it required to become a nurse in an era when it wasn't something that a woman from the "upper" classes would be encouraged to do.
The story is told through snippets from many different nurses, including some who were refugees from the war who then trained in the U.K. Because these snippets are quite short, this is an easy book to pick up, read for awhile, put down and then come back to without losing anything. It makes a great book for bathroom reading!
The early part of the book focuses on what nursing was like in 1939 as the war was beginning. Each chapter of the book advances further throughout the war. Titles include:War Clouds Gather; Refugees and Nurses; Dunkirk to the Blitz; The Home Front; Nursing with the Military; Wounded Body,Wounded Mind; Nearing the End; Occupied by the Enemy and Beginning Again.
There are quite a few photographs spread throughout the book which help to tell the story. I found of particular interest the chapter on the Occupation of the Channel Islands.
I think anyone with a love of history of the war or nursing would find this a fascinating book.
What I found in this book was not just a history of nursing during the war, but also a history of the education of nurses and the determination it required to become a nurse in an era when it wasn't something that a woman from the "upper" classes would be encouraged to do.
The story is told through snippets from many different nurses, including some who were refugees from the war who then trained in the U.K. Because these snippets are quite short, this is an easy book to pick up, read for awhile, put down and then come back to without losing anything. It makes a great book for bathroom reading!
The early part of the book focuses on what nursing was like in 1939 as the war was beginning. Each chapter of the book advances further throughout the war. Titles include:War Clouds Gather; Refugees and Nurses; Dunkirk to the Blitz; The Home Front; Nursing with the Military; Wounded Body,Wounded Mind; Nearing the End; Occupied by the Enemy and Beginning Again.
There are quite a few photographs spread throughout the book which help to tell the story. I found of particular interest the chapter on the Occupation of the Channel Islands.
I think anyone with a love of history of the war or nursing would find this a fascinating book.
June 21, 2015
There have been numerous films made and books written about the heroism during World War Two. But, few, if any give credit to the women who changed their lives to give service to the ill and injured. Barbara Mortimers compilation of memories about nursing in Britian tells an amazing story. It tells the story of pre war through the rebuilding in a very organized manner and with excellent storytelling. One thing that was very impressive was the extensive amount of training the women undertook and their specializations almost akin to today's nurse practitioners. But the make do attitude combined with dealing with the shortages and everyday dangers of wartime Britian are amazing. It is hard to describe the antecdotes, but it is easy to say the reader feels not only a sense of pride in the contributions of these women, but a sense of kinship. Well done and well worth the time.
April 14, 2013
Without sounding like an absolute 'Gore-Whore' I thought this novel would tell the tale of the war through the words of the nurses treating the injured and dying soldiers. I thought that it'd be a graphic telling of how devastating the war was.
I found however, that the book was more about the history of nursing as told by the nurses, which just so happened to be at the time of the war, which was great if you were interested in this aspect of history, but didn't really entertain me for very long.
I found however, that the book was more about the history of nursing as told by the nurses, which just so happened to be at the time of the war, which was great if you were interested in this aspect of history, but didn't really entertain me for very long.
March 26, 2013
one of the best books of this type that i have ever read a must read for anyone who has an interest in the history of nursing and the second world war
August 9, 2020
3.5 stars.
I find it really difficult to rate non-fiction, because it is just made up of personal accounts and facts which seems like a difficult thing to say is 'good' or 'bad', so I'm going purely off an enjoyment factor.
I really liked the layout of this book, working through the war chronologically made a lot sense and I liked the addition of photographs throughout to show the people who had shared their stories.
This book seemed incredibly well researched, with a helpful timetable at the beginning and index at the end for reference. Some chapters and segments were more interesting and engaging than others, but that's entirely up to personal interest and preference.
Overall an informative and interesting book. Whilst I already knew some of the facts I did still learn a lot, and the use of so many personal accounts was an engaging way to tell the history of the war for these incredible nurses. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in WW2 history.
I find it really difficult to rate non-fiction, because it is just made up of personal accounts and facts which seems like a difficult thing to say is 'good' or 'bad', so I'm going purely off an enjoyment factor.
I really liked the layout of this book, working through the war chronologically made a lot sense and I liked the addition of photographs throughout to show the people who had shared their stories.
This book seemed incredibly well researched, with a helpful timetable at the beginning and index at the end for reference. Some chapters and segments were more interesting and engaging than others, but that's entirely up to personal interest and preference.
Overall an informative and interesting book. Whilst I already knew some of the facts I did still learn a lot, and the use of so many personal accounts was an engaging way to tell the history of the war for these incredible nurses. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in WW2 history.
April 18, 2025
I found this book difficult to get through. it was interesting to hear about all the different perspectives but a lot of views felt the same.
I am glad I stuck with it though. I found the parts on freeing people from the camps really interesting. it was a shame there was not more on there.
I am glad I stuck with it though. I found the parts on freeing people from the camps really interesting. it was a shame there was not more on there.
May 17, 2020
Have read this a few times a very good book of nursing through WW2/
August 26, 2021
Fascinating! Stories collected from the Royal College of Nursing Archives' oral history collection.
December 12, 2025
Lots of little stories / memories of nursing during the war which was not of that much interest to me.
July 10, 2014
A good insight into nursing in the war from various levels
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews