First Aid Nursing Yeomanry

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, the Territorial Army.

It was formed as the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry in 1907 as a first aid link between the field hospitals 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 FANY formed the initial driver companies of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, as well as serving as a parent unit for many females that undertook espionage work for the Special Operations Executive. Three of these (Odette Sansom, Violette Szabo, and Noor Inayat Khan) were awarded the George Cross, and Nancy Wake the George Medal for their service.[1]

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 near London (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 the Auxiliary Territorial Service in the Second World War (although their working dress is similar to that of the modern British 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 on official publications and on their website.

The Corps is currently planning a programme of events to celebrate their centenary in 2007.

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