Mabel Annie Stobart

Mabel Annie St Clair Stobart (3 February 1862 – 7 December 1954) was a British suffragist and aid-worker. She created and commanded all-women medical units to serve in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. She became the first woman to achieve the rank of Major in any national army.

Stobart was born in London to a wealthy family. She was educated at home and at a boarding school in Switzerland. After graduating, she worked as a governess for several years. In 1890, she married Henry Stobart, a doctor. The couple had two children together.

In 1912, Stobart was inspired by the work of the Red Cross in the Balkan Wars. She decided to create her own all-women medical unit to help the victims of war. The unit, called the Women's Sick and Wounded Convoy, was funded by public donations.

The Women's Sick and Wounded Convoy arrived in Serbia in 1913. They set up a hospital in Belgrade and treated thousands of wounded soldiers. Stobart was known for her bravery and compassion. She often went to the front lines to treat the wounded. She was also known for her strict discipline. She demanded that her nurses be well-trained and professional.

In 1914, the First World War broke out. Stobart and her unit continued to work in Serbia. They were evacuated from the country in 1915, but they returned in 1916. They worked in Serbia until the end of the war.

Stobart was awarded the Serbian Order of St. Sava for her work in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. She was also awarded the British Royal Red Cross Medal and the French Croix de Guerre.

After the war, Stobart continued to work as an aid-worker. She helped to set up orphanages and hospitals in Eastern Europe. She also wrote several books about her experiences as a war nurse.

Stobart died in 1954 at the age of 92. She is remembered as a pioneering aid-worker who helped to improve the lives of thousands of people.

Mabel Annie Stobart was a complex and fascinating woman. She was a pioneer in the field of women's rights, a dedicated aid-worker, and a gifted writer. She is a role model for women around the world.