(Redirected from FANY)
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 women who 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 in official publications and on its website.
The Corps is planning a programme of events to celebrate its centenary in 2007.
References
1. [1]
External links
★
First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (The Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps)
★
Memorial