Flora Sandes, World War I, United Kingdom from

Flora Sandes: The Irish Heroine of World War I

Early Life and Career

Flora Sandes was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1876. She was the daughter of a British army officer and an Irish mother. Sandes grew up in a military family and developed a love of horses and adventure from an early age. She joined the British Army Nursing Service in 1910 and served in the Boer War.

World War I

When World War I broke out in 1914, Sandes was eager to serve. She joined the Serbian Red Cross and was assigned to a field hospital. In 1915, she was captured by the Austrians and held as a prisoner of war for six months. After her release, she joined the Serbian Army as a volunteer and fought against the Germans and Austro-Hungarians.

Heroism and Recognition

Sandes quickly distinguished herself as a brave and skilled soldier. She fought in many battles and was wounded twice. In 1916, she was awarded the Serbian Military Cross for her heroism. She was also the only woman to receive the Serbian Order of the White Eagle, the highest military honor in the country.

Later life and Legacy

After the war, Sandes returned to the UK and worked as a journalist and author. She wrote several books about her experiences in the war, including "The Serbian Army in the Great War" and "A Woman's Experiences in the Great War." She died in London in 1956 and was buried with full military honors. Flora Sandes is remembered as a heroine of World War I and an inspiration to women worldwide.