The Grey Partridges

I very recently took part in the launch of a new book covering the most remarkable chapter in the history of relations between Britain and Romania.

Professor Costel Coroban has researched and presented the extraordinary story of the Scottish women’s ambulance corps (known as the Grey Partridges because of the colour of their uniforms). This formidable group of women provided medical help to soldiers on the Romanian front in the most difficult days of the First World War. They came out of the suffragette movement in the UK which campaigned for women’s right to vote, and were trained doctors and nurses. When the war broke out they wrote to the War Office in London offering their services as medical staff. The reply they got was ”Madam, keep quiet and stay at home!”

Suitably emboldened by this response they approached Britain’s allies and were encouraged by the French to go to the Romanian front. They reached it after a long and arduous voyage through the Baltic Sea, across Russia and down to Odessa where they reported for duty to the Russian General Staff. Then they set out for the front and set up a hospital at Medgidia treating the wounded in terrible conditions under bombardment and in retreat as the front collapsed.

I know well the quality of these women from Scotland who so surprised the Russian generals with their efficiency and bravery. They came from Edinburgh, which is my home town. My grandmother came from similar stock. My wife did too, and my daughters are shaping up to be suitably feisty heirs to this tradition!

At the book’s launch, thanks to Costel’s hard work, we drew on the inspiration of these incredible women as an example of the friendship and solidarity that should exist between allies, their humanity and compassion in serving wounded and sick soldiers and the great spirit of duty which they showed as volunteers in the war effort. Their story is known and commemorated in Scotland and I’m glad that Costel has brought it to a Romanian audience too.