FIVE SECRET FEMALE SOLDIERS
Across the centuries women’s role in warfare has been questioned, downplayed and even erased from history. Nonetheless, for as long as there has been war, women have served on the frontline, often being forced to use clever and elusive means to hide their
Hiding their true identity, these women distinguished themselves on the frontline
When we think of women contributing to the war effort, we naturally have an image of a woman working in armaments, driving ambulances or nursing during the First or Second World War. In reality, women have been serving in the military for centuries, often keeping their identities hidden. Among the earliest and most popular accounts of a female on the frontline is Mulan. The Ballad of Mulan, from some time in the fifth or sixth century, tells the story of a girl who dresses as a man and joins the army. Mulan changed her clothes, cut her hair and disguised her face, fooling her fellow soldiers. Fighting side-by-side for years, they were not aware Mulan was a woman. After years of military campaigns and service to her country, she returned home an accomplished warrior. Though the reality behind her legend is debated, what’s true is that women have been disguising themselves as men for centuries. Here, we look at five women who passed themselves off as men to wage war. Each was on a mission, be it for adventure, discovery or survival, and in doing so they proved gender was never an obstacle to service.
What connects all of these women is the only way they could fulfil their mission was by disguising their true identity. Courage, endurance, strength, determination and bravery – attributes easily associated with men in the military – are attributes equally demonstrated by these women in their military campaigns.
During the Nine Years’ War and Wars of the Spanish Succession, Christian Davies earnt battle honours across several campaigns, all while trying to find her missing husband. Davies’ exploits were even chronicled in a book by Daniel Defoe, The Life And Adventures Of Mrs
Christian Davies, published in 1740.
It is said Davies’ husband Richard had been tricked into joining the British Army and was shipped to Flanders to serve in the war. Enraged, Davies decided to disguise herself as a man and set out to find him – soon she was on a ship bound for the Netherlands.
Davies first saw action at the Battle of Landen (1693), one of the bloodiest engagements of the Nine Years’ War, where she suffered a leg injury and was captured by the French. After being released (without her true identity being discovered) Davies was cared for by a local woman, but in a bid to protect her from a sergeant, Davies ended up in a duel – which she won. She was discharged from the army but re-enlisted in the North Royal British Dragoons in 1697 and fought with them until the Peace of Ryswick, which ended the Nine Years’ War.
Upon the renewal of hostilities in 1701, Davies once again re-enlisted in the army, taking part in the Battle of Blenheim (1704). It was here that she found her husband among French prisoners, but he was now in a relationship with a Dutch woman. Davies refused to take him back, but the couple fought together as ‘brothers’ until Davies fractured her skull at the Battle of Ramillies (1706). When a surgeon treating her discovered her true identity, she was discharged and returned to life as a woman. In recognition of her bravery, she was given a full military pension and was even honoured by Queen Anne as a Chelsea Pensioner.
“DAVIES REFUSED TO TAKE HER HUSBAND BACK, BUT THEY NONETHELESS FOUGHT TOGETHER AS ‘BROTHERS’ UNTIL DAVIES FRACTURED HER SKULL AT THE BATTLE OF RAMILLIES”