Jack and Eve: Two Women In Love and At War

by Wendy Moore

Vera Holme, known as Jack, left a career as a jobbing actress to become Emmeline Pankhurst's chauffeur and mechanic. Evelina Haverfield was a classic beauty, the daughter of a Scottish baron and fourteen years older than Jack. They met in 1909, fell in love, lived together, and became public faces of the suffragette movement, enduring prison and doing everything they could for the cause.The First World War paused the suffragettes' campaign and Jack and Eve enrolled in the Scottish Women's Hospital Service and soon found themselves in Serbia. Eve set up and ran hospitals for allied soldiers in appalling conditions, while Jack became an ambulance driver, travelling along dirt tracks under bombardment to collect the wounded from the front lines.Together, they carved radical new paths, demonstrating that women could do anything men could do, whether driving ambulances, running military hospitals, becoming prisoners of war or bearing arms. They refused to compromise in their sexuality - they were lifelong partners even though Jack enjoyed relationships with other women. Determined to be themselves, 'forthright, flamboyant and proud', Wendy Moore uses their story as a lens through which to view the suffragette movement, the work of women in WWI and the development of lesbian identity throughout the twentieth century.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, LGBT, Lesbian, Queer, War, Historical

496 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Wendy Moore worked as a journalist and freelance writer for more than 25 years. She has always been interested in history, and as a result, began researching the history of medicine.

The Knife Man is her first book.

Reviews

[Alwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of two women who met and became lovers and partners despite vastly different backgrounds and life experiences. It wasn’t always the easiest of relationships, as time passed Jack’s flirtations and affairs with other women – including Scottish painter Dorothy Johnstone aka Dodo – became almost routine but it lasted until Eve's premature death. Evelina Haverfield aka Eve was born in Scotland in the 1870s, she had an aristocratic background but was brought up in relatively spartan surroundings. At first, she followed a conventional path, she married an older army officer and had two children. But after she was unexpectedly widowed, adventurous Eve took time out to travel in Mexico and the US. She later remarried but it never really took. Vera Holme aka Jack was born towards the end of the nineteenth century to a middle-class family in Lancashire. Her father died when she was a child, her mother remarried and Vera was sent away to school. When she returned, she struck out on her own to make a living on the stage, inspired by popular music-hall artists like Vesta Tilley one of the many women making a living through so-called ‘male impersonation’ acts. Eve and Vera, now known as Jack, might never have met if it hadn’t been for the rise of the suffragette movement, a chance encounter at a ‘votes for women’ meeting brought them together. They were soon inseparable and quickly moved in together.

Moore’s account of Jack and Eve's lives combines history with biography. Together they took on volunteer roles during WW1, eventually arriving in Serbia where Jack drove ambulances and Eve worked as a field hospital administrator. It was a gruelling experience, they worked to treat a flood of wounded, dealt with a devastating typhus outbreak and later spent time as prisoners of war. Jack and Eve formed a long-term attachment to Serbia and to Serbian society, raised funds for the relief of Serbian prisoners and returned after the war to provide support for the many orphans of war – two of the many British women who, appropriately or not, dedicated their lives to ‘good’ causes during that era. Moore’s primary focus is on constructing an accessible portrait of the couple and their relationship. But during the episodes featuring their war years, Moore’s emphasis is more on the general situation of women travelling to war zones to tend the wounded – there are times when Jack and Eve are very much in the background.

Jack and Eve’s experiences were often fascinating and Moore’s research is impressive. But the detail here could be a little overwhelming and/or dry – although likely to appeal to anyone with a general interest in women’s activities during wartime. I was really interested to find out about Jack and Eve but there were times when this felt a little too distanced, particularly when it came to queer and lesbian identity and culture. There are brief mentions of the codes that women used to recognise each other, as well as Jack and Eve’s links to broader lesbian circles. But I would have loved a more considered discussion of issues around gender, for example, particularly when it came to choices around naming and self-presentation – some of the women mentioned here would now most likely identify as trans or non-binary, others specifically adopted stereotypically male titles or clothing to signal their identity as lesbians. Yet others like the so-called “masqueraders” - who aren’t really considered here - were working-class women who adopted ‘male’ personas so they could find work as carpenters or builders, be or do things otherwise effectively barred to them as women. Jack and Eve's wartime work took place in field hospitals run exclusively by women an offshoot of an unusual Scottish-led organisation, these were a fertile space for lesbians providing a kind of freedom that clearly allowed many women to flourish in ways not possible in the civilian world. But again I’d have liked more about how this culture worked in practice, less about what happened and more about why it was possible and what it meant for the women involved.

Thanks to Netgalley and to publisher Atlantic for an ARC

Rating: 3.5

[Geevee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack and Eve tells the story of Vera "Jack" Holme and Evelina Haverfield. They meet in 1909 and become staunch and public figures within firstly the suffrage movement and then the suffragettes. Following this in 1914, when the First World War commences, the two ladies are central to the work women did in nursing on the front-lines (in Serbia, Rumania and Russia) as part of the Scottish Women's Hospital (SWH).

Wendy Moore's account is highly readable and using contemporary records such as newspapers and court records, as well as diaries, photographs and other sources she is able to give a rich picture of the deeds and lives of these two remarkable women and their relationship. Covering the early suffrage period and their then later move to the suffragettes, we see the determination and impact they had on the cause for the organisations and their campaigns. Thereafter, the [bulk of] story covers their journey to, firstly Serbia, to support the allied armies through nursing. Jack and Eve and their other formidable members of the SWH are shown creating their hospitals, securing and managing supplies, including medicines, bandages, food and other items needed to run functioning emergency and casualty units. The number of casualties and sheer difficulties put upon the women in all weathers and conditions is quite remarkable. Coupled with numerous withdrawals and full-on retreats they are often under or near fire and trying their best to transport their casualties from the front to the hospitals - did I not mention they drove, serviced and repaired these make-shift ambulances on unmade roads and unmarked tracks?

There is also much on the two women's relationship, and how this and their work and dress went against the norms of Edwardian society and they make fine case studies for the changes women enacted and took part in during the war. Wider, we also read of other women involved in the SWH and with Jack and Eve; both in their work and in friendships and relationships (many of a lesbian nature).

Overall, the courage, steadfastness, attendance to duty and their patients, along with putting up with often very dreadful weather and climate conditions with no heating, food and warm clothing and scenes no person should ever have to witness is both a testament and an advert (poor choice of word I know) to what women could be very capable of. One marvels at them and is grateful to Wendy Moore for bringing this story of Jack and Eve to the fore.

Of interest to readers of Britain's suffrage and Votes for Women, and the suffragettes; also to those with an interest in women's studies during WWI and the early 1920s; and for students of WWI, especially nursing and Serbia and the Eastern Front. It also provides some excellent interest on women's lesbian relationships and how these were conducted with each other.

My copy was a first edition hardback published in 2024. 392 printed pages, 37 black and white photographs and 2 small maps (the book really does need better quality and quantity of maps to help with tracing the ladies' travels and locations).

[Milan]

Dok sam čitao knjigu „Džek i Džil“ bio sam ushićen čitavom plejadom odvažnih, energičnih, jakih, ali pre svega neverovatno solidarnih žena sposobnih da osete tuđu patnju, da budu velikodušne prema drugima i da se bore za bolji svet.

U dokumentarnoj knjizi „Džek i Džil“ novinarke Vendi Mur ljubavni odnos između baronice Eveline Haverfild (Džil) i glumice Vere Houm (Džek) samo je povod da se prikaže snažan ženski pokret koji se širi britanskim društvom za vreme kralja Edvarda kao i učešće Britanki u svetskom sukobu, sa akcentom na rat u Srbiji.

Iako potiču iz različitih društvenih slojeva u kastinski veoma podeljenom britanskom društvu, Džek i Džil upoznale su se na velikom skupu sifražetkinja koje su se borile da i žene dobiju pravo glasa. Akcije koje zajedno preduzimaju samo su produbile njihovu ljubav. Kada Džil odlazi da sa Bolnicom Škotlanđanki pomogne srpskoj vojsci u Velikom ratu, odmah za njom stiže i Džek. Kada se srpska vojska povuče, ove žene odlučuju da ostanu sa srpskim narodom i neko vreme u Kruševcu provode kao ratne zarobljenice, da bi se, opet preko Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva, a na molbu Nikole Pašića, obrele na Istočnom frontu kako bi pratile dve srpske jedinice sastavljene od lokalnih Srba, ali Slovena prebeglih iz austrougarske armije. Tamo ih zatiče i revolucija, pa malo budu osumnjičene i za špijunažu. Ipak, do kraja ostaju sa srpskim vojnicima pokušavajući da ih spasu od nove revolucionarne vlasti. Nakon što je Veliki rat završen, vraćaju se u Srbiju kako bi osnivale domove za ratnu siročad, istovremeno koristeći svoj uticaj i poznanstva da bi izdejstvovale pomoć za zemlju koja uništena u masakru u koji su je gurnuli Rusija i Pašićevi ludaci i kvislinzi.

Veoma inspirativna knjiga. Ne mogu da se otmem utisku oduševljenja jer sam tokom čitanja otkrivao divne, hrabre, žene koje se bore za svoje ideale i vrednosti. Takođe me je dirnula i solidarnost britanskog naroda prema Srbiji i kvantitet akcija koje su organizovali i u kojima su učestvovali da pomognu nesrećnom narodu u vihoru rata.

Večna ljubav naslovnih junakinja je samo predivan šlag na torti ove uzbudljive istorijske pripovesti.

[Tilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having really enjoyed Endell Street I looked forward to Jack and Eve. And I wasn’t disappointed, the two really differently women are very clearly drawn by the author, as is their relationship.

The things they, and the other women from the Scottish Women’s Hospitals, went through is astounding. Setting up field hospitals for hundreds of men just miles behind the front line, securing supplies and navagating a constantly changing situation. I know people say women took new roles in WWI but I can really see how sexists hearing about the bravery of these women and the breadth of their exploits would have no leg to stand on saying they were too delicate for work outside the home. One in the eye for misogyny for sure. Plus as Eve is my relation I feel pretty chuffed at the things she achieved. Also I really knew very little about Serbia and WWI so that was interesting.

[Luisa Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was aware of Vera Holme before reading this book, but not of Evelina Haverfield or of their remarkable partnership and work in the Balkans. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to read this book and learn more about them.
This is a fascinating biography of two women who defied the conventions of their time and lived truly remarkable lives. As the author states: “Jack and Eve were pioneers who championed women’s rights and freedoms but also dedicated their lives to working for humanity as a whole.” They deserved to be more widely remembered for their humanitarian work as well as for their role in women’s history and LGBTQ+ history.
Jack and Eve is an engaging read, with an impressive level of detail. I particularly enjoyed the way other remarkable women like Dr Elsie Inglis, Flora Sandes and Dorothy Johnstone also featured strongly in parts of the book.
The narrative flows brilliantly and I found myself marvelling at the women’s exploits. Even today, their achievements would be worthy of respect and admiration, but in their time they were truly outstanding examples of people who defied traditional roles. This is no hagiography, though: the author portrays them as complex human beings. I found myself wondering how I might have responded to them in real life. I imagine I might have found such strong characters fascinating but not always easy. It was a pleasure to read about them and I’m grateful to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC which I received in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two remarkable women. This is their remarkable story. Vera Holme, usually known as Jack, was an actress who became Emmeline Pankhurst’s chauffeur. In 1909 she met Evelina Haverfield, an upper class women 14 years her senior, who had been married and had two children. An apparently unlikely pairing, but they fell in love, lived together and remained committed for the rest of their lives, in spite of Jack’s frequent relationships with other women. They were trailblazers in so many ways. They were involved with the suffrage movement. They served in the war effort in the Balkans, especially in Serbia, a country they devoted themselves too, suffering danger and extreme hardship in terrible conditions whilst bravely caring for Serbian and other soldiers. They were never ashamed of their sexuality, accepting it as part of who they were. They defied convention all their lives, fighting for what they believed was right. Suffrage history, women’s history, lesbian history, military history, medical history – it’s all here on one fascinating well-researched book.

[Elizabeth Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Vera "Jack" Holme and Evelina "Eve" Haverfield. You follow their lives through the suffragettes and volunteering in WW1.

I thought this was a really interesting story. I learnt a lot about people I had previously never heard of or only briefly. It is written in an engaging way, so that all the information doesn't feel like reading a text book. It is very thoroughly researched, the only thing I would note about that it would have been nice if there was a map marking where they had been in Serbia and there travelling. Would have given a little more context. One more thing I would add the part of the book after the war starts feels more like a general account of the SWH and the women in it. It felt like Eve and Jack were somewhere at the back of the story there. But it is a good general account.

Wendy Moore couldn't have chosen more interesting and diverse people for this biography. I especially recommend it for people interested in Suffragettes, Queer and Lesbian history in the beginning of the century, WW1 and women's nursing.

[Sarah Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting biography of two women and their lives and relationship in the Edwardian era, WWI and its aftermath.

I found this book to be well-researched and easy to read with a thorough exploration of both Jack and Eve's lives and the era they lived in.

During the WW1 sections it did occasionally read more like a general biography of the Scottish Women's Hospital and its members, which whilst fascinating, did leave Jack and Eve feeling like an after-thought in their own book. I appreciate this was done to gave context for what their experiences were and the world and people around them, but I do not think the balance was quite right.

Overall though, this was still an engaging and informative read and I would recommend for anyone with an interest in learning more about the experiences of women in WW1 or queer women's lives in the early 20th century.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a remarkable true story. Not only do you get an insight into the lives of two LGBT women in the first half of the 20th century, but you get an insight into the suffrage movement and the important role of women in WW1. Evelina Haverfield and Vera 'Jack' Holme were two extraordinary women that people should know about.

I also loved learning about the other people in their lives, such as Scottish doctor, Elsie Inglis. I had never heard of her. To be fair, I knew very little about the Eastern Front of WW1 and the war in Serbia, so it was interesting to learn more about that.

This book is an adventure. Highly recommend!

[Danijela · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ Prva granata vam je nešto kao prva ljubav - nikad je ne zaboravite. ~

~ Mnogi savremenici, podjednako muškarci i žene, gledali su i na samu pomisao o ženama u uniformi, koje uzimaju na sebe poluvojnu ulogu, kao na ozbiljnu pretnju društvenom poretku i uznemirujuće podrivanje tradicionalnih uloga dvaju polova. Žene koje marširaju i rukuju puškom smatrane su "neprirodnim" i "neženstvenima". Ne samo što su rušile uobičajenu sliku o ženstvenom ponašanju nego su osporavale i prihvaćenu ulogu muškarca. ~

~ Osećam da je moje životno delo u toj napaćenoj zemlji. Ulažem i srce i dušu u staranje o toj napuštenoj deci, za koju izgleda nema mesta nigde na svetu, ako im ja ne stvorim neko. ~

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack and Eve are the key characters who feature in this book. It has themes of lesbianism, suffragists and women’s role in WW1. They were both involved in the suffragettes movement. It also illustrates the challenges that faced women to be taken seriously by the establishment (mainly men) to contribute to the war effort. Not to be deterred Eve and Jack found a way of contributing by helping the Serbs. Eve maintained this interest and involvement in Serbia until her death. Jack lost interest once it became Yugoslavia. In her later life she could be described as an early LGBTQ supporter.

[Abi_Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF unfortunately, I read this via audiobook and it was good, it just wasn't very exciting to listen to. I find the audio books I've tried tend to sound quite tinny and it really ruins the book for me. Shame as the two women this book is about sound amazing.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What amazing women!

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read, how two people did so much in their lives, risking danger and death whilst defying convention.