Gallery Tour: Women and the British Army

Join us on International Women's Day for an introduction to women's service and its impact on the Army.

About the event

In 2018, the government opened all combat roles in Britain’s armed forces to women. This built on a history of Army service that dates back to the First World War. Women had, however, been part of the Army ecosystem long before that.

This guided gallery tour provides an overview of this story. It examines the role of women as camp followers in some of the Army’s earliest campaigns, while also exploring how women have played pivotal roles in military nursing, espionage and front-line combat.

From the writings and political work of Lucy Hutchinson, and the paintings of war artist Lady Butler, to the role of Florence Nightingale and her nurses and the full incorporation of women across all units, the tour highlights pioneering figures who paved the way for women’s service.

The tour lasts approximately one hour.