- First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps)
caption=Cap badge of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
dates=1907-
country=United Kingdom
branch=Independent
type=Yeomanry
command_structure=2 Signal Brigade
role=Communications support
size= One Regiment
current_commander=
garrison= London
ceremonial_chief=HRH The Princess Royal
ceremonial_chief_label=Commandant-in-Chief
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=Honorary Colonel
nickname=
motto=
colors=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Tactical Recognition Flash
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps) (FANY(PRVC) - pronounced "Fanny") is a British independent all-female unit and
registered charity affiliated to, but not part of, theTerritorial Army .It was formed as the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry in 1907 as a
first aid link between thefield hospital s and the front lines, and was given the "yeomanry " title as all its members were originally mounted on horseback.In the
Second World War , the F.A.N.Y. was formed into the initial driver companies of theAuxiliary Territorial Service , called the Women's Transport Service, and it also served as a parent unit for many women who undertookespionage work for theSpecial Operations Executive . Three of these (Odette Sansom ,Violette Szabo andNoor Inayat Khan ), were awarded theGeorge Cross andNancy Wake theGeorge Medal for their service. [ [http://www.gc-database.co.uk/facts.htm George Cross Database - GC facts and statistics ] ]Since the end of the war, the corps has specialised in communications for the Army and the
City of London Police and is open to volunteers between the ages of 18 to 45 who reside or work nearLondon (within the M25). Corps members are trained in radio communications, paramedical skills, map reading, navigation and orienteering, shooting, self-defence and survival techniques, advanced driving and casualty bureau documentation. On formal occasions they still wear a uniform similar to that worn by theAuxiliary Territorial Service in the Second World War (although their working dress is similar to that of the modernBritish Army ). They also have their own rank system.The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry was officially renamed the Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps in 1999 and is now referred to as FANY (PRVC). The original name has greater recognition, as well as greater prominence even in official publications and on its website.
The Corps celebrated its centenary in 2007.
Ranks of the Women's Transport Service (F.A.N.Y. during World War II)
Below is a chart of WTS/FANY ranks compared to the British Army. [D. Collett Wadge: "Women in Uniform", pages 360-361. "Marston", (1946)]
Notes
External links
* [http://www.fany.org.uk/ First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (The Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps)]
* [http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/wts.htm Memorial]
* [http://www.1st-mac.com
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