What's in a name?: The Scottish Women's Hospitals in the First World War

The Scottish Women's Hospitals was not the only, or first, all-woman wartime medical organization, but it was the largest and most famous, working in France, Belgium, Serbia, Romania and Russia. It was founded, supported and run by feminists, notably Dr. Elsie Inglis, a leading suffragist. This article examines the writings of women who both served in the SWH and supported it and focuses on the debates surrounding its identity as a Scottish organization. It addresses issues of nationality, gender and social class, and considers the women's attitudes towards race, empire and war.