This year marks the centenary of the FANY – the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. To mark the occasion we’ve been hearing from a number of women who served with the organisation during the Second World War.
When war broke out, Norah Grajnert was 19 and already a good driver. She decided to volunteer to drive a mobile canteen serving refreshments to rescue workers in Bristol during the Blitz. But then she wanted to do more, so she decided to ‘do her bit’ by joining the FANY.
At her interview, the FANY’s Commandant realised that Norah spoke excellent French, as did many of the thousands of Polish soldiers who’d been evacuated from France after escaping from Poland. They were encamped at special bases in Scotland, and Norah was asked to join the large FANY unit which had been specially formed for the Poles’ welfare. She talks to Martyn Cox about her experiences.
