Author Diane Atkinson Coming to Fulham Library

Talk about new book on two women on the Western Front

Diane Atkinson will be giving a talk at Fulham library on July 23 on her newly published book Elsie and Mairi Go to War: Two Extraordinary Women on the Western Front.

The book tells the story of Elsie Knocker and Mairi Chisholm, the two most famous women of the First World War. They met at a motorcycle club in Bournemouth, and when war broke out they roared off to London 'to do their bit'.

Within a month they had set up their own first-aid post a hundred yards from the villiage of Pervyse, near Ypres.

News of their courage and expertise spread back to Britain and the 'Angels of Pervyse' became famous. Journalists and photographers told their story, royals and VIPs visited them.

Afterwards, Elsie and Mairi were decorated with seventeen medals for bravery and self-sacrifice.

Diane's talk will begin at 7.30pm on July 23. Tickets for this event are free and available at the library or by emailing debby.wale@lbhf.gov.uk.

July 13, 2009