The Girls Who Went to War: Heroism, heartache and happiness in the wartime women’s forces

by Duncan Barrett, Calvi

The personal accounts of three young women who joined up in 1940.

In the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone against Germany. The British Army stood at just over one and a half million men, while the Germans had three times that many, and a population almost twice the size of ours from which to draw new waves of soldiers. Clearly, in the fight against Hitler, manpower alone wasn’t going to be enough.

Eighteen-year-old Jessie Ward defied her mother to join the ATS, Margery Pott signed up for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, and nanny Kathleen Skin the WRNS. They left quiet homes for the rigours of training, the camaraderie of the young women who worked together so closely and to face a war that would change their lives for ever.

Overall, more than half a million women served in the armed forces during the Second World War. This book tells the story of just three of them – one from the Army, one from the Navy and one from the Air Force. But in their stories are reflected the lives of hundreds of thousands of others like them – ordinary girls who went to war, wearing their uniforms with pride.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War II, Historical, Biography, Womens, Audiobook

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2015

About the author

Duncan grew up in London and read English at Jesus College, Cambridge. He is the editor of Ronald Skirth's First World War memoir The Reluctant Tommy (Macmillan, 2010) and co-author of Star Trek: The Human Frontier (Polity, 2000) and Zippy and Me: The Remarkable Life in Puppets of Rainbow's Ronnie Le Drew (forthcoming, 2011). He also works as an actor and occasional theatre director.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Put together from thousands of hours of interviews are the true stories of three women, one in each of the Armed Forces, army, navy and air force. An eye opening and intriguing read, recounting the war years for these women, the jobs they did, what they learnt and how they were treated (sometimes poorly, sometimes really well). Over 640,000 women served during the Second World War! 8 out of 12, Four Stars for the experience, knowledge and stories shared, although I do feel that the book at times is written from a rose-tinted perspective.

2019 read

[Giulia China · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you leave the residence of the english Prime Minister and get on Whitehall Road you will find yourself in front of a big monument dedicated to the woman of World War II. A big metal rectangular block, almost 7 meters high, in which we can see 17 different set of clothing running around its sides, symbolizing the different jobs women did undertake during the war.
Passing past it I always asked myself: who were those women? What did they do during the war time?

Knowing almost nothing about this matter, and having quite a lot of misconceptions on the role of women during those years, I gladly picked up this book when I saw it on depositary book. It also was a bargain for less than 5 euro, couldn't let this opportunity slip by.
The Girls Who When to War by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi, tell the true stories of three english women who volunteered for the Army Auxiliaries Services in WW II.
As it's said at the back of the book, the writers tried to stay as faith full as possible to the original stories, but having as more than 70 years passed since the event, the memories of the veterans were understandably incomplete. As in those case they filled the blanks with research and their wits.

Jessie Ward, who joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), Margaery Pott, who signed up for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), and Kathleen, who desperately wanted to join the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), are the amazing and brave women we are presented in this book. They all joined the army feeling the need to do their bit for the country. The writers takes as into their life full of bravery and romance. Man and women working together in the Army did spring for sure the best and sometimes most heartbreaking love stories. And this three girl had their fare share.

The narration and writing style are quite plain, but the content did made up for this lack.
Even though I don't like historical book I enjoyed reading about this woman and it made my even more interested on this subject.

4/5 STARS

Blog review with original video:

http://bookscrumbles.blogspot.it/2016...

[❀⊱RoryReads⊰❀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although said to be non-fiction, this is a highly fictionalized account, based on interviews with three actual veterans, young women who joined the women's military services in Britain during World War II.

The language level is for young readers in the fifth or sixth grade. Each of the three women was intelligent enough to pass exams qualifying them for duties with added responsibilities, yet they are made to sound like children.

I'm sure that as far as the facts are concerned it's probably a fairly accurate description of the women's experiences but the novelized and romanticized style undermines the authenticity of what they went through. They've turned real women into shallow stock characters. The emphasis on romance and dating is soppy and silly, like a 1950's paperback Harlequin.

There are excellent memoirs and biographies in this category that are both thrilling to read and don't take ridiculous and unnecessary liberties with the women's life stories. Give this one a pass.

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a lot to say. Another WWII book. Though this does cover what the ladies do after the war. Average book.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent story about three women from England that wanted to do the right thing - join the armed services and do whatever was necessary for their country during WW2.
The authors put together an easy flow of separate stories that will keep you interested till the very end. The women never met each other. But they had heartwarming and sometimes sad stories to tell.
Found this book at a Half-Price bookstore and glad I did.
You won't be disappointed reading this outstanding book. ENJOY.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much and found that the simplicity of the writing made it less like a history book and more like a novel. I grew up seeing war movies that showed the horrors as the fighting men experienced them, but there was little or nothing about the girls and women who played a part, so this is a bit of catching up for me. It is fitting and proper for these stories to be told and for the reader to honor the contributions made by these women. They are an inspiration for us all.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been a solid five stars if only they had resisted the temptation to cut the stories up and shuffle the segments, as if it were some sort of ITV docudrama. Instead of telling a clear, coherent story of each girl's time in the armed forces, the writers chose to "organise" the text into sections dealing with each time period: conscription, training, wartime service, demobbing and post-war experiences. I found this annoying in the extreme, as each chapter chops off the flow of the narration, and I had to think back about who this person was and where I had left her so many pages back. This is a common failing of the Barrett/Calvi team, and the reason I stopped reading The Sugar Girls: Tales of Hardship, Love and Happiness in Tate Lyle’s East End. Perhaps if the reader feeds more on TV docudrama than actual books, they're more accustomed to it, but from where I sit it's a huge detraction from an interesting subject.

At first I was brought up short by the emphasis on marriage as the be-all and end-all of a woman's career, but this was the 1940s, and things really were like that in those days, no matter what modern sensibilities may think. Modern sensibilities wouldn't be where they are today without some of the women who went through the war and realised they were at least as intelligent as the men and could do the same things when required.

[Jennifer Anastazja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored it. If you like your history told as a 3rd person adventure story, you will too. Its retelling of the real lives of three active women durring world war II, in three different military branches: Airforce (WAAF), Navy (WRNS), and Army (ATS). I meant to read it at night to put me to sleep. It kept me up instead. My only complaint is that it alternates between the three women every chapter, so if you want to read all of Jessie's story first you have to read it Chapter 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and 19. Small sacrifice to make. If I wasn't reading it one chapter a night before bed, I might have read them all in book order. As it is, I was too invested in the first character to give up the spotlight to someone else before finishing their story.

[Shauna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this is supposed to be non-fiction it reads like a mass market romantic novel. It failed to engage my interest on several levels. Firstly, the writing style is very basic, almost as if it is aimed at children, not adults. This very soon became tedious as did the decision to tell each of the three women's stories in chunks. This meant that just as something interesting happened to them the story stopped and reverted to another character. It made it difficult to stay focussed on what was happening and where and to whom. I also thought there was far too much concentration placed on their love lives, which undermined the fact that they were fighting for their country. I doubt there would be the same focus if this book were about the lives of three men in the various armed forces.

[Kazimiera pendrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a copy of this book from my local library as they have a very good selection of non fiction books and I have a particular interest in the history of the Second World War. This was a great read as it was well written and very interesting . I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the .Second World War

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable informative read, I was nearly in tears on reading the last.pages. One thing I would have preferred would be the stories to be separate, rather than swapping over. But all in all a great book.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

From reading this book I learned what it was like working in the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) in the 2nd World War. Jessie the main character learnt the struggles she would have to go through, but also the fun, eye-opening experiences she would have as well along the way. A way we see one of Jessie's struggles is when her newly wed husband dies in the war while Jessie is in the ATS training camp. The Head of Office people tell her, “It is my painful duty, to inform you of the death of your husband, Private Cecil James Winkworth.” Jessie's heart instantly breaks, but she has no choice but to keep training and get over it because the war does not stop when your heart does. What we learn from this is that working in a time of war was never flawless, it had many struggles and heartbreaks. Jessie had to learn to hide her heartbreak and keep going with a masked smile on her face. We learn this to understand the emotional sacrifices people like Jessie had to make during wartime. It shows that serving in the ATS was not only physically demanding but also came with deep personal pain, which women were expected to hide while carrying out their duties. By sharing Jessie’s heartbreak the author helps us see the strength, resilience, and courage it took to keep going when the war didn't allow time for grief. This teaches us to appreciate the hidden struggles of those who served and to value the resilience it takes to keep moving forward even in the face of personal loss. An eye-opening moment is when Jessie has her first real bomb raid plane shooting experience late at night. A line from the book that shows this is, “The men and women of 518 mixed battery were far too professional to cheer or applaud, but silently everyone shared the thrill of the moment as a smile crept through Jessie's lips.” From this we learn that even in the middle of the war, there could be moments that opened people's eyes to pride, unity and purpose. Jessie's first raid bomb showed her that the work she was doing truly mattered, and it gave her a new perspective on her role in protecting her country. We need to learn this because it reminds us that eye-opening experiences can change how we see ourselves and the world, helping us realise the value of what we contribute. A lot of people in society tend to think one of their small actions won't matter in the world, so they don’t bother. But actually every action counts, no matter how small. So, the first extract from the text shows the struggle working in the ATS at wartime brings you. All the sacrifices you have to make to serve your country no matter how hard it might be. The second extract shows the eye-opening experiences you can have during war as well, and how it can change your perspective and shape who you are as a person. Combined, the quotes show that life in the ATS mixed private sorrow with sudden moments of collective meaning. Resilience meant carrying grief while discovering purpose, and the book asks us to value both the visible courage and the hidden cost. This shows how courage is not only about visible acts, but also about the quiet, inner strength it takes to keep going and grow as a person, even when facing loss, fear, and uncertainty.

[cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mesmerizing true account of three young women in WW2 England from working class backgrounds who joined up and changed the path of their lives forever. True stories much like many of “the Observations” written in this period of time. Representative of the extreme dedication and bravery of the British population. Excellent read.

[Ozias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe how little we're taught about the women of WW2

[AngharadCymru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually, I would never be into this type of genre so to speak, but being influenced by another author, Eileen Younghusband, I had to give this a read. It's about three young women who each go into the three different forces, the Air Force, Navy and Army. This book is truly captivating, non-fiction, yet sounds like it was imagined, It has opened up what usually would lay hidden and showcases the hard work that these women put in to help us win the war. As well as this it conveys the reality of war, not just the fighting but the romance that occurred when soldiers didn't know if they were ever coming home.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the war, or even if you are not :)

[Ellesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully well written book with the tales of three different women joining the armed forces in the Second World War. They take us on their adventures around the world showing us what it was like to be a women in a traditionally male environment. I'd recommend the book to anyone who want to find out a snippet of history within these women's experiences, I will most definitely be looking for other books by the author as it was engaging thought out.

[Alison Boniface · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, a real insight into women's services during WW2. I'm not ashamed to say this book made my heart ache for some of the women and to cry. It also made me laugh with them . A truly inspirational book as these lady's showed amazing courage and strength of character in what must have been terrifying times.
A must for all women

[Tiana Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is based on the real life experienced of three women who joined the services in 1940 to help the war effort during WWII. In the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone against Germany. The British Army stood at just over one and a half million men, while the Germans had three times that many, and a population almost twice the size of ours from which to draw new waves of soldiers. Clearly, in the fight against Hitler, manpower alone wasn’t going to be enough. This book focuses on Jessie Ward an 18 year old, woman who defied her mother to join the ATS, Margery Pott who signed up for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, and Kathleen Skin who joined the WRNS. They left their boring and quiet lives for the rigours of training, the adventure of new places and experiences, and the camaraderie of all the other young women who worked together so closely. They ended up taking part in a war that would change their lives forever. More than half a million women served in the armed forces during the Second World War. This book tells the story of just three of them – one from the Army, one from the Navy, and one from the Air Force.

These three womens stories are told in a way in which we feel as if we are right there in the muck of it all, part of the story, we experience everything they experience because we can picture it, we can smell it, we can taste it and we can imagine what it feels like. These everyday women, carrying out their everyday military duties, show a pride and courage we can only imagine. They were thrown out of their comfort zone and just had to get on with it. Their training was intense, selection was intense, and the consequences and realities of war were intense. This is a story of love and loss, of strength and weaknesses, of risk and reward and of self-growth in the face of adversity. These women saw and experienced it all, and they came out the other side of it all, changed forever. Each of these three women have their own characters, experiences, and struggles, and as you get to know each of them, you can't help but be in awe of them. This is a must-read book for all people so that you get that insight into the world of war for women. Highly Recommended!

[Jayne Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A recent trip to the Imperial War Museum in London led me to bump into these authors signing copies of this book. Of course I had to snap one up and I am so glad that I did. I do have a love for any world war 1 and 2 related so this was right up my street.

This is based on the real life stories of three young girls that served in the second world war. First we meet Jessie. she signs up for the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) next is Margery who signs up for the WAAF (Woman's Auxiliary Air Force) and finally Kathleen who desperately wanted to join the WRNS (Women's Royal Navy Service) but recruitment was tough and after a first rejection she had to first put in service as a land army girl, followed by a stint working on the ambulances before becoming an auxiliary nurse. Eventually on her second application she was accepted into the prestigious WRNS.

This book does not fictionalise the war, it simply tells the stories of each of these remarkable women. From their loves and heartbreaks to the horror of serving in the war until the day the war is declared over and the girls have to return to civilian life.

Unexpectedly, Jessie spent a big portion of the War in Humberside working the guns and trying to protect the City of Hull. Having being born and still live in Hull myself that really struck a chord with me. Hull was badly damaged during the war time air attacks and to think that someone like Jessie and many more like her were doing their best to try and protect it was is totally awe-inspiring.

I loved this book from page one and really felt that I was getting to know these inspirational ladies. I cried with them, I felt their pain and I laughed with them.

If you are a lover of good inspirational war stories that this is the book for you.

[Elizabeth Finn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great audiobook to listen to on Hoopla. (Hoopla is a free app to listen to books, read ebooks and watch movies - all you need is your towns library card!) Very interesting perspectives and vastly different experiences of all three women!

“The personal accounts of three young women who joined up in 1940.

In the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone against Germany. The British Army stood at just over one and a half million men, while the Germans had three times that many, and a population almost twice the size of ours from which to draw new waves of soldiers. Clearly, in the fight against Hitler, manpower alone wasn’t going to be enough.

Eighteen-year-old Jessie Ward defied her mother to join the ATS, Margery Pott signed up for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, and nanny Kathleen Skin the WRNS. They left quiet homes for the rigours of training, the camaraderie of the young women who worked together so closely and to face a war that would change their lives for ever.

Overall, more than half a million women served in the armed forces during the Second World War. This book tells the story of just three of them – one from the Army, one from the Navy and one from the Air Force. But in their stories are reflected the lives of hundreds of thousands of others like them – ordinary girls who went to war, wearing their uniforms with pride.”

[Brian Davey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. So little written about the ladies who went to war so very interesting to read this. Three average ladies of their time, the stories of Jessie, Kathleen and Margery was both inspiring and informative. Should be an interesting read to those of all ages. To someone of my age it was special. My own mum was in the ATS. She died when I was very young, and she was only in her forties in 1966. I never had the chance to know her as an adult and hear her story as a young woman in the Second World War. Jessie's story was especially meaningful to me.

I have read many books about most aspects of WW2 but this is the first I can recall specifically about young woman of their time going to war. It is well written, poignant, entertaining but heartbreaking at times. A well recommended read.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading about women in WWII. This book follows three women for the duration of the war, alternating a chapter for each. Jessie joins the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service), Margery joins the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) and after a short stint in the Women’s Land Army, Kathleen joins the WRNS (Women’s Royal Naval Service).
The WRNS, or Wrens, was considered the force to be in as their uniform was the classiest and was the hardest to get into, unless ‘daddy’ had the right connections.

I did not know that when the WRNS was formed prior to WWI, they were to be called the Women’s Auxiliary Naval Corps until someone realised that the abbreviation might cause much hilarity among the sailors!

[Sofi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the fact that we have three different perspectives on the war and it gives me a glimpse of what women went through during the Second World War. As the action goes on, the story centers only on the girl's love affairs, which I didn't enjoy in particular. I was impressed by the beginning of the book, when I saw the motivation behind choosing to fight for the country.

I rated it only with four stars because I wanted a more realistic depiction of the war. But it is a good choice if you want to learn more about women during war, especially because it is based on three real stories.

[Susan]

4 1/2 stars. As someone who has a relative who reluctantly surrendered her child for adoption, this book was illuminating, shocking, but not surprising. My relative was told by her parents that she’d never amount to anything , that she had “ruined” their lives, and to never tell anyone. Needless to say, the shame and poor self-esteem followed her all of her life.
This was such a sad book to read. These women need to grieve their tremendous losses; all suffered under coercion and emotional abuse. My heart goes out to them.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The interweaving of the stories of three women who soldiered in WW 2 was a real awakening for me. I had no idea just how involved in the conflict these brave women were. I suppose I saw the English ladies as basically working in factories (which in itself was an enormous aid to the British cause) or in military offices. Their experiences kept my attention all throughout.

[Hero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, there wasn't a shred of emotion throughout this whole book. The most interesting parts were the introduction and the epilogue, which is pretty damning. Also, for girls who went to war, there was surprisingly little war. All in all I would have enjoyed this more if things had just been told like they happened, rather than this limbo between fiction and non-fiction, failing both.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed this insight into the experiences of women in the British armed services during WWII, I would recommend it more for the Young Adult readers. I found the writing quite simplistic.

[Jackie O'sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

definite "good read"
A Good overview of the role of women's war service covering the 3 main military arms as well as a bit of land army and hospital work.

[Erin]

Absolutely amazing these women are so brave

[Call Me Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way the author jumps from one person to the other and also how they author tried their best to honour the true stories told by theses women at war