Uniform is universally seen as both a stamp of authority & of official acceptance. But the sight of a woman in military uniform still provokes controversy. Although more women are now taking prominent roles in combat, the status implied by uniform is often regarded as contrary to the general perception of womanhood. In association with the Imperial War Museum, this is the first book to look at the image of uniformed women, both in conflict & in civilian roles throughout the twentieth century. Kate Adie examines the extraordinary range of jobs that uniformed women have performed, from nursing to the armed services. Through contemporary correspondence & many personal stories she brings the enormous & often unsung achievements of women in uniform vividly to life, & looks at how far women have come in a century which, for them, began restricted in corsets & has ended on the battlefield in camouflage.